I first wrote about the Tushy bidet in April when the lack of toilet paper was rampant and the bidet option wasn't just a novelty. it was a necessity. Looking back on September and I remain a bidet convert. Not only is it preferable to using TP, it is also cheaper.
Want to see what all the fuss is about? For a limited time, Tushy is offering his Classic Silver Bidet for $ 69.99 and you get 10% discount on your entire order (including accessories) with coupon code LABIDET10.
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The company loaned me a Tushy Spa (and I doubt they'll want it back), the one pictured above. It's an advance on the Tushy Classic in that it supports both hot and cold water pipes. I never got around to plugging in the hot water for reasons that I explain below. Thanks to reasonably clear instructions, I was able to install the bidet in about 15 minutes.
How does it work? After you have taken care of business, gently turn a knob and rustle! A cold, clean spray hits you right in the poop chute. The temperature is only bothersome for the first or second shocking second; I found I didn't mind and I'm pretty cold about all cold things.
That is, it is strange for the first couple of weeks. My brain is hardwired to reach for TP. It took me a while to stop. And after using the bidet, it's hard to tell if it did an effective job since you don't have any visual evidence. Sorry, I have to deal with the gross part for a minute: after the first few times with Tushy, I caught up on a few TPs to check the sample. Those tests came back negative every time - meaning I was squeaky clean - every time but once. But what did I do differently this time? I'm not sure.
In fact, I still have a few questions. How long should I use this thing? Ten seconds? A minute? There doesn't seem to be a straightforward answer. Next, should I move my butt a little for more coverage? Again not immediately clear.
On the hot water aspect, if you didn't have a water heater without a tank, you'd have to run hot water for a minute or two before sitting down - quite a bit of a hassle that I believe most people would heartily not do welcome. Depending on your bathroom layout, additional plumbing issues and possibly some drilling may arise. As mentioned above, I can only eat cold. I never bothered about the hot connection.
Aside from the learning experience, I'll say it makes me feel cleaner overall down there and that in fact I can use less TP because it's just a pat-dry situation. I think some people keep a stack of washcloths handy for this purpose as well.
Another consideration: TP costs money and uses up a significant number of trees. A bidet can pay for itself fairly easily and is almost certainly better for the environment.
Her thoughts?
Continue reading: Is toilet paper running out? Make your own bidet from $ 20
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