This Simple Gadget Saves Me $300 a Year in Toilet Paper
Hey there! It’s Jamie, Collin’s sassy sidekick!
Tired of fighting about whether the toilet paper goes over or under? Have you exhausted your supply of toilet paper tube crafts? Did the cat eat your stash of two-ply? If you’ve got issues with your tissues, you might be wondering why you haven’t considered a bidet of your very own.
My husband regularly travels to Asia for work. While there, he texts me pictures of breakfasts, site seeing, and bidets, the latter a standard fixture in many hotels. Snapped pictures eventually became a hesitant Father’s Day gift of a seat bidet. Oh sure, the idea of us owning a bidet was met at first with raised eyebrows and the requisite butt puns (thankfully, he turned the other cheek). Once the seat arrived, we quickly changed into fans of heated seats (and fans).
Further research also led me to the other reasons to dip my toe (though not literally) into the bidet waters.
Can you spare a square?
In 2017 alone, the average American used 100 rolls of toilet paper. That’s roughly 50 pounds of toilet paper per person. Multiply this by a family of 6, and that’s 600 rolls annually (or 300 pounds of TP).
Hear that sound? At $0.84 per roll, that’s $504 per year of your hard-earned cash being flushed away in the form of backside-wiping gloriousness.
Even worse, toilet paper and flushable wipes are causing issues for sewer systems since they tend to clog pipes, fill septic tanks, and cause expensive problems to fix.
So what’s a bidet?
I thought you’d never ask.
A bidet is primarily used to wash your nether regions. While it looks a lot like a toilet, it’s more like a sink attached to your usual, garden-variety toilet bowl. And while they’re not meant to totally replace toilet paper, they do a pretty good job of refreshing your undercarriage in between showers.
What are the benefits of using a bidet?
Bidets are made to be blissful. They aren’t really a prank you play on guests (hey! Push that blue button, Bob! hahaheehee!). Many models offer water and seat temperature settings alongside a warm air dryer function. Some even use motion sensors to light up at night! And because bidet seats attach to your existing toilet, your business stays in the bowl.
You don’t need soap between showers. Warm water does the trick. Besides, regular use of harsh and abrasive soaps to clean your undercarriage can result in infection, skin ruptures, and inflammation.
You don’t need a plumber to install a bidet. The seat models simply plug into your standard GFCI outlet and use the existing water connection to your toilet tank. This gives you convenience without having to worry about taking the hot water from someone else’s shower.
Prepare to never want to travel again. Your first bidet experience will likely be a little weird. But after you get used to sitting on a heated toilet seat, cleaning with warm water, AND having a warm air-dryer, you won’t want to leave home.
No poo, Nancy Drew!
Now let’s talk about the issue of hygiene. Studies suggest:
- 80% of communicable diseases are transferred by touch.
- Only 20% of people wash their hands before preparing food.
- Every time a toilet is flushed with the lid up, a fine mist containing bacteria like E. Coli and Staph can be spread over an area of 18 square feet.
- The number of bacteria on your fingertips doubles after using the bathroom (most people only wash the palms of their hands).
- The bacteria count is highest on your dominant hand, though right-handed people focus on their left hand more thoroughly than their right hand (and vice versa).
The good news? The bidet does most of your dirty work, so your hands stay out of the matters at hand, as it were.
What’s the best seat bidet?
While I scored an open box model of a Coway bidet back in 2014 for $500, prices on similar seat bidets have not only become more affordable, they’re easier than ever to find on sites like Amazon.
Looking for something that fits a round toilet bowl? No problem. Elongated? They’ve got it. Looking for a Kohler? Done. A remote? Who doesn’t love a remote?
🚽 Bio Bidet Ultimate BB-600 Advanced Bidet Toilet Seat comes in an elongated or rounded style. Easy DIY installation, luxury features from the side panel, adjustable heated, slow-close, seat, and water. The dual nozzle has a posterior and feminine wash.
$317 – 4.4 stars – 603 customer reviews
🚽 SmartBidet SB-1000 Electric Bidet Seat comes in an elongated or rounded style. Multi-wash functions with self-cleaning nozzle and oscillation, adjustable water pressure and nozzle positions, 3 water temperatures, heated seat, and a warm air dryer, all with a slow-closing lid and seat.
$249 – 4.4 stars – 428 customer reviews
🚽 Luxe Bidet Neo 120 – Self Cleaning Nozzle isn’t a toilet seat bidet so much as a device that easily attaches to your toilet seat. The chrome-plated water pressure control knobs are clean and look nice. The high-pressure faucet uses quality valves with metal/ceramic core and braided steel hoses, and, like most toilet seat bidets, the nozzle sanitizes retracts when not in use.
$34.75 – 4.5 stars – 6,479 customer reviews
🚽 BioBidet Bliss BB2000 Bidet Smart Toilet Seat is the Lexus of toilet seat bidets. This 3-in-1 stainless steel nozzle offers posterior, feminine, and vortex washes and features a streamlined comfort-adjustable heated slow-closing seat and water. You get an oscillating wide clean and pulsating bubble infusion, and a built-in heater, for continuous warm water.
$678.17 – 4.5 stars – 221 customer reviews
A few tips before you buy a bidet:
- Don’t use the bidet if you’re not seated on it. (See above). These things are sanitary, but they’re not something you goof around with. You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.
- The remote doesn’t work through walls. Don’t expect to use the remote for pranks! Most of the remotes are infrared, so they only work from within the room.
- Don’t stand on the toilet seat. The seats are largely constructed of plastic, so while they’re super sturdy, you’re likely to break your lid if you place a great amount of weight in the middle of one.
- Don’t use harsh chemicals on your toilet seat. Again, because these seats are high-quality plastic, use gentle cleansers and no harsh abrasives.
- Hide your bidet. Our bidet is actually tucked away in our master bathroom, because kids + anything cool and expensive = a major bummer.
It’s time to embrace the bidet. Who doesn’t want to emerge from the bathroom with a fresh bottom, and have a toilet seat that’s as heart-warming as it is cheek warming? That’s the power of the thing. Look out for number one when you go number two, I always say. And leave your dirty behind behind you.
Lol! Jamie you had way to much fun with this post.
I bought a bidet thru Squatty Potty a couple of years ago and have yet to install it! Guess I better get on it!!
Both literally AND figuratively!
😂😂😂
I got a bidet for my husband 2 years ago, along with a squatty potty. He loves both of them. I use it all the time. Especially for just urinating. We definitely use less toilet paper. Idk if this seems gross to other people but i dont use toilet paper when i pee. Just when i go number 2. Instwad i use a towel to damp dry since i keep the water on my private area to get it all off. I just wash the towel when i need to. Otherwise i would be using so much toilet paper because i used to urinate a lot and i am also pregnant so i do it even more now lol.
I mentioned a wash cloth to my family and they were not going for it 😂.
Very eye opening, thank you for sharing!
I agree! Could be a big money saver!
Where are the gif comments when you really need them! HAHA…this is a hard pass for me. 😉
Serious question….after you hose down your parts, do you then drip dry?
I’ve always wondered about this too. I was hoping the article would explain… Thanks for asking. : )
The models listed have warm air dryers
wow, didn’t realize that some of them are so luxurious. seems that the base models less than $100 do not contain the dryer, so i would think that one would use tp to pat dry or as i saw farther down in comments, looks like some even use washcloth.
I’m like how is stuff getting dry ?! I too would like to know , I’ve never known much about these but this seat definitely has it’s benefits in the cleanliness Dept. Great post!
Most seat bidets have air dryers to leave you feeling fresh as a summer daisy!
No we still use toilet paper but less than you would normally need to.
Glad these things like squatty potty and bidets are being used atleast now! Wish I could have explained so well to others who are new to this
$500 for a bidet? Wow and Lol! I grew up seeing my mom clean up with water after number and 2. She hated toilet paper. There was no fancy hose or sprayer, just plain old plastic container, fill with water and clean. My husband does too and I do after number 2. When done, towel dry and remain fresh and so clean clean all day. Don’t be fooled, toilet paper does nothing to clean you.
Wow! Toiletry needs have come a long way! My grandmother has told stories about using an old Sears catalog for toilet paper in the “outhouse”
It’s just a more convenient/efficient way of using water to clean yourself after using the bathroom- which is a centuries-old practice. This pre-dates the use of toilet paper, which is a modern invention.
Using water is different from paper. Paper cannot clean you. And using water is not a sanitary need. It is the correct way to clean yourself. If you only use toilet paper, especially after number 2, sorry but you are not a clean person and need to change
Sephora_shopper just agreed with you LOL and you told her she wasn’t clean. How strange, and rude.
Lol was replying to marie, not to Sephora_shopper. Look at the comments chain.
Marie was telling a story about history. This product is innovative to some people and maybe they never heard of it until now so there’s no need to put them down and look down upon them.
We stayed in a fancy hotel on our honeymoon that had a bidet and I was scared to use it at first. Then when we got home, I hated not having one! Didn’t realize there were actually affordable options out there. Thanks Jamie for the information and entertainment! “You’ll shoot your eye out kid”…lol! 😂
kids + anything cool and expensive = a major bummer! So true 😂 I constantly say, “ and this is why we can’t have nice things! “
What about the cleaning part? No disinfectant bleach? Deal breaker for me😞
What do you mean, no disinfectant bleach? Most bidets have a self-cleaning setting- mine was just $30 and comes with one. I wipe down the outside of the bidet with Clorox wipes and squeeze some toilet cleaning gel onto the nozzle parts. Then I use the self-cleaning option and that’s it. It’s really not that hard to clean a bidet.
$300 a year for toilet paper? We are a family of six and we don’t spend close to that amount. A huge package of Scott’s can cost $20 but that lasts us six months.
Exactly my thoughts!!!
Okay but the point was that if you invest in a bidet then you really don’t need to even be buying toilet paper anymore. Nothing cleans better than water lol
The title of the post states saving $300 per year.
Read the post. You missed the point here…a $30 bidet still costs less than your $40 a year on toilet paper and will leave your family of 6 much cleaner.
Sorry if this gets to graphic, but i always thought it might blast stuff from a #2 to my #1 area. And i don’t like the idea of the blow dry. Am i just crazy?
You’re not alone. I’ve had the same thought!
My thoughts exactly. Someone needs to explain this!
I have had the $35 one for a couple years now. It works great! I still wipe with toilet paper before and after using it (no dryer feature) I probably do use a bit less toilet paper but I mainly got it because it makes me feel extra clean.
That doesn’t happen b/c of the trajectory of the water in each setting. There are 2 settings- posterior and feminine area. You first select posterior and then water only reaches that area. Then you have to switch to the feminine setting and it will clean that area, as well as any fecal matter that may have possibly reached that area. I have used bidets all my life and have never had any health or hygiene issues w/ UTI’s and such. And you can get a basic model that doesn’t have a dryer setting and just use a washcloth to wipe water off instead…same thing as using a towel.
I bought a cheap one off Amazon when I was pregnant and it was amazing. Obviously we still have it installed and I love it. I used to use “flushable” wipes and have since found out that they aren’t flushable at all and are causing huge problems throughout the country. I haven’t used a flushable wipe once since install ours. These seats are better for the environment for sure!
Amazon has an option to buy it used 🤭
OH MY GOODNESS!
Gross!
I’m all about environmentalism, but some things should not be bought second hand! 😂
She probably means the Amazon warehouse deals, opened box. A.k.a. used
Our favorite gadget in our home 😀
This post is just weird, sorry! I don’t even know what else to say except no thank you!
I love remotes as much as the next person, but I can’t see any point to having one for a bidet. Am I missing something?
Maybe if you have issues with mobility and reaching a button on the side of the tank is difficult?
You’ve got it! Limited mobility and sometimes those standing up to go to the bathroom might splatter. A remote keeps those controls wee-free. Ours is very closeby…just next to the toilet paper roll on the wall.
I’m from Italy and we have bidets in every bathroom (which I love!). I recently bought one for our new house and I didn’t pay any more than $30 for it on Amazon.
To answer most of you, the way it works it’s really easy. You just do your “thang” then turn the water on, use some delicate care soap and dry off with a little hand towel. That’s how we do it back in Europe and it feels much cleaner and fresh than any toilet paper. Plus you save. Just replace the towel when needed like you do with your shower towel.
Just be careful cause the water can be very powerful and spray everywhere 😛 It’s a game changer for sure!
I think I need one of these! I used them when I lived in Europe long before I owned my own house. I love the idea of being fresh and clean all day…after #1, #2, after sex, during that time of the month and during ovulation. All of these could use a bidet 😱😆😂
I understand needing to feel refreshed after all the things you listed except the ovulating part LoL. That doesn’t make me dirty 😉 ..unless I’m missing something Lol. . But during your period, a big yes!
Right before and during ovulation most women will have a change in their discharge…the consistency of it becomes such that it’s known as “egg white cervical mucus”. So you can probably imagine why a person would want to be able to rinse that off during that time. It’s not “dirty” but obviously can feel uncomfortable.
As someone who loved in japan for a few years, YES. When i moved back to the states and purchased my home, i immediately installed one. Gamechanger!
Whether you love or hate the bidet, can we all agree that we should be washing our hands more? Those hygiene statistics certainly do explain why every illness under the sun made its rounds through my daughter’s school this year. Please wash your hands even if you don’t wipe!
Agreed! Gross!
I can see the cat getting involved with this. She takes curious cat to the max. LOL
I am an Asian Lady specifically a Filipina(Philippines). The moment that I saw your post I knew this is from neighboring Asian high-tech country called Japan. Back at home, I am used to washing my private area using mild soap and water since it’s expensive for use to buy toilet paper. So, when I came here my ex-husband think of the same way of how I can wash my behind and this just so brilliant because I don’t have to use a pail and a bucket but this so expensive though. I still stick to running the water on an already wet tissue and wiping my pee and my poo…😉😉😉
Exactly. Still cheaper to put water in a bowl and clean. Wash your hands when done. It is not rocket science.
Cheaper maybe, but a bowl is cumbersome and needs to be refilled so that option isn’t practical. Not everyone’s bathroom has a sink right next to the toilet. Many homes these days are designed with the toilet in a separate room, at a distance from the sink…so if you need a refill while using the toilet then you’re out of luck. But at least people are using water nowadays instead of just toilet paper…thank God.
I’ve been curious about bidets since watching the movie Why Him. If only I had a master bath in my current home – I’d be sure to buy one. I worry about my kids playing in it or breaking it.
Spare a square! Elaine approved.
JANE: I’m sorry I don’t have a square to spare, now if you don’t mind
ELAINE: 3 squares? you can’t spare 3 squares??
JANE: no I don’t have a square to spare, I can’t spare a square
ELAINE: oh is it two-ply? cause it it’s two-ply I’ll take one ply, one ply, one, one puny little ply, I’ll take one measly ply
JANE: look, I don’t have a square and I don’t have a ply (flushing and leaving)
Elaine: no no, no no, don’t don’t, I beg you
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Love it!
Costco hav the Bio bidets currently on sale for $250 (was $400). And if you have& use Costco citi card that’s 4%back, if executive member. I was planning on buying one for our master bathroom to surprise hubby, I’ve been talking about buying one for almost a year. 🌺
I’m curious, so those of you who have one of these, where do you plug them in?? When I look around in my bathroom, there is usually 1 or 2 outlets, high up on the wall near the sink. Do you run an extension cord?
I don’t know about the dryer ones but the water only ones don’t plug in. They just connect to the water. They are only like $30 on Amazon so I don’t know why people are paying hundreds. If you ever use one you will be embarrassed that you went so long without. It’s hard to believe they are not commonplace in America. I first used them living abroad and installed them immediately when we moved back. My kids hate using a toilet without one. When a piece broke on ours we went to Home Depot to see if we could find a replacement valve. The guy working there said he had no idea why they don’t sell them because people come in asking for them all the time.
I have a TOTO bidet., and I love it. you do need a separate GFCI dedicated plug near the toilet. I had a toto in every house I have built. the electrician then puts a GFCI plug right behind the toilet. (these are plugs that are needed anywhere there is water to prevent an electrical shock.
the benefits for me on a TOTO bidet is, I always had gotten UTI’s (unitary tract infections) and since owning bidet’s for over 20 yrs. I don’t get them anymore.
I love the way the water comes out warm and their are different settings for the water to come out osicilatting or stream. mine have a front wash and a rear wash. also a seat warmer, which comes in handy during winter months, and a dry button, dries your private parts too.
my son who lived in Japan, had one and told me about it. I can never go back to using toilet paper. don’t get me wrong. I still will put a roll on the dispenser.
also the last and best feature it has a deodorizing button, for after no.2, that makes the bathroom smell good. I purchased mine for $600 and the best I ever spent. once you have one, you don’t go back. it self cleans itself, has power saving features, a timer too.
it cleans you better than you can clean yourself ! you feel fresh and clean…
and no you cannot use an extension cord. that is dangerous. they need their own GFCI plug. hope this helps. 🙂
I have the simple $35 one so no electricity needed.
You will save money and help the environment by not using toilet paper but what about your water bill? How much more will you end up paying?
We’ve used bidets for 35 years in my family…it doesn’t impact your water bill in any significant way, b/c you only use a little bit of water to clean yourself (it’s just a small stream, not like gallons shooting out). And we use the bidet for both pee and poop, so if it did increase our water bill then we’d definitely know it!
Living in So Cal always under drought warnings. Which is better now? T.P. or bidet?
I also live in California and have a separate stand alone bidet in my master bath like you would see normally in many European homes. The water use is minimal and I have saved hundreds over the years by not needing to buy much toilet paper! 🙂
What person who follows a couponing site is paying $.84/roll???
Who has a GFI or any outlet near the toilet. My toilet is in a separate room.
I am from Japan, so this is a “must”! I love it especially during the period. I still use tissue paper to dry although ‘dryer’ is one of the function. I am sure I use a lot less since I am just using it to dry off. It is so worth it. I feel refreshed and clean all the time.
For the naysayers Here’s a thought to think on: It’s not unheard of to get poo on you one way or another… bird poop dog poop whatever. But what is unheard of is that anyone would be satisfied to simply wipe it off with a tissue!
So why is it okay for your patookis?
We have had one of these on our master bathroom toilet for several years now and I can’t imagine going back to wiping myself with a tissue.
I keep a stack of microfiber cloths in a basket and use those to dry off.
But how is this sanitary? One person’s fecal matter will drip on or into the bidet and will be sprayed on the next person who uses it. Also, doesn’t dirty water just drip all over the bottom?
You guys are not as clean and healthy as you think in America. Considering the amount of sicknesses and diseases you have. Please, get over yourselves. People have been cleaning with water way before toilet paper and have had less issues like infections.
Fecal matter doesn’t go flying around the way that you’re imagining, unless you blast the water at your private areas and nobody does that…you just have a slow stream of water coming out. Just clean your bidet like you do your toilet and you’re fine. Also, by your logic sitting on a toilet itself isn’t sanitary as they are covered in fecal bacteria but we still do it…except at least w/ a bidet you are actually cleaning yourself properly after using the bathroom.
Water is a lot more sanitary than using toilet paper. Imagine spilling peanut butter on a rug…would a paper towel be sufficient to wipe it up or would you use water to clean it?
Hi, T! That is a GREAT question/concern. The nozzles on the bidets are self-cleaning, so they clean themselves off prior to retreating back under the seat. I had the same concerns, but the bidet has been pretty sanitary.
I clicked on this after eating and read everything. Big, big mistake. I appreciate the information, but wow was my timing really bad. Ack.
I use a periwash bottle – like the ones they give you after giving birth in the hospital. It’s cheap, maybe $4 for a couple delivered on Amazon. I’d invest in a bidet but I like that my toilet seat is easily removable for cleaning around all the nooks.
I always thought bidets were expensive. When we were in Japan, the hotels have bidets in the toilets. Even the public restroom have bidets, at least the ones that I saw. And i still used tp. I asked my son’s friend who took us around Tokyo if the regular houses have bidets and he said yes, and they call it washlets.
This all sounds very time consuming to me. Who has time to wash with jets and/or use a dryer every time they go to the bathroom?
It’s really not time-consuming at all, b/c water is much more efficient at cleaning filth than sitting there and wiping until you’re clean lol. It only takes a few seconds to clean both front and back after using the toilet, and you can dry off w/ a washcloth right away. You would spend longer brushing your teeth than using a bidet.
I just have one of the inexpensive handheld ones that spray from lowes. Works great, but you still have to “dry off,” just use a towel or less toilet paper.
Finally, America is embracing bidets. Actually in Europe, standard is a toilet bowl and next to it, it’s a bidet.
If you work in the garden, and get manure on your hands- I hate working with gloves- you don’t just go wipe it off with a paper towel, do you? Nope, you wash it with water. Same idea 😉
I was always grossed out by the idea of “family cloth” but I have wanted a bidet since I visited Europe as a teenager. I just thought you had to buy and have room for a bidet in addition to your regular toilet. This article about seat models has been enlightening.
So although this model is slightly different. I’ve wondered how waste doesn’t infiltrate the output nozzle. On many models the outflow sits just inches from the outflow and then that waste water goes back on the outflow. How is that sanitary? That seems counterproductive. I could imagine the little spray thing being covered by all manner of germs. What am I missing?
I have one of these that is made by Panasonic. It has all Japanese markings. I have not installed it. I got it from a friend who is half Japanese. Father is Japanese immigrant. They gave it to me when they bough a more deluxe model. I was wondering if any of you who have them could give me an idea of the cost offset. You have to keep them plugged in and they also use extra water. Is it more economical than TP or does it end up costing more or the same? I definitely don’t want to hike my power & electrical costs. Thank you to anyone who responds! I would appreciate any comments!
Thanks for the post. I agree about the “flushable” wipes. They can wreak havoc on plumbing systems.
Thank you, Frances!
Not washing your hands is so disgusting. I see women do it all the time in public restrooms, just walk out of the stall and out the door. Yuck! Personally I think it’s gross. I wash mine like 10 times a day!
We have a bidet. My husband can’t live without it. I love it too. Ours doesn’t have the fancy dryer, but I think we will upgrade soon. It’s worth it’s weight in gold. I however use the same amount of TP after bidet.
We love the bidet so much I bought my Dad one, & his wife was visibly upset. She acted like I gave him a turd for Christmas. 😂🙈
I’m so glad you like yours, too. The air dryer is REALLY nice.
Many of them have a Self-Cleaning Wand. This means it cleans the area that sprays you with water before and after every use. I think the idea is great. Toilet paper is so gross when you actually think about it. First, you don’t get clean with it. This would be great for children who often don’t clean very well down there or use tons of toilet paper to do so.
Take a tour of your local waste water treatment plant. Many allow it. Then you will truly grasp exactly what toilet paper does. Now THAT is gross!
What about families with small children? Our house is built in 1920s and has only one bathroom. So we don’t have the luxury of a master bath. I am interested in the bidet concept, but wonder if younger ones can use. I wouldn’t want my 4 or 5 yr old getting sprayed on their backs or what have it since they can’t sit back as far with their tiny bottoms. Anyone have young ones that use them?
You can teach a child to use bidets- they’re used in a lot of places outside of America so people just train their kids early since not everyone has multiple bathrooms. But if you still have reservations about younger children using a bidet like this then you can always have them use a peri bottle instead, since it’s the same concept. All they have to do is hold the bottle and squeeze it to clean themselves after using the toilet. My 6 year old started using these bottles when he was 3, so it’s definitely age-appropriate and doable for them.