Yes, you don’t need to wipe after using a bidet, but you still need something to dry you off if your bidet doesn’t come with a powerful dryer. Instead of using one or two sheets of toilet paper, you can choose a more eco-friendly option: a bidet towel.
I know it may be a completely new thing to you and even seems a bit gross. Therefore I want to lay out this bidet towel guide to let you know how to use, store, wash, and make them at home. You can save more trees and water by using bidet towels in the right way.
Contents
- What is a bidet towel?
- How to use bidet towels
- Can you share bidet towels?
- Is it safe for women to use a bidet towel?
- How to store bidet towels
- How to wash bidet towels
- How to make homemade bidet drying towels
- Family towel vs. bidet towel
- Sum up
What is a bidet towel?
A bidet towel refers to the towel you use to dry your butt after using a bidet. So the primary purpose of these towels is to absorb the moisture leaving on your nether region because other debris and dirt have been washed away by a bidet.
We often use a bamboo towel as a bidet towel as it has excellent absorbability and antibacterial ability. In addition, it is very soft to touch as long as you wash it correctly. But there is nothing wrong with using a towel made of cotton or other materials as long as it is clean and absorbent.
Another upside of using bamboo towels is that they are biodegradable to cause fewer negative effects on the environment.
How to use bidet towels
There is no big difference between using toilet paper and a bidet towel. After using a bidet, you will take a toilet towel to dab your butt. Once your butt is dry, you put the used toilet towel into the container used to collect them. So it is easy peasy, right?
As most bidet towels can’t absorb the water as quickly as toilet paper, so you have to dab your butt for a longer time to get it dried off thoroughly.
You may be curious about how frequently you should change to another clean bidet towel. Personally, I will use a new towel every time after using a bidet. It just makes me feel more secure.
However, some people will replace their towels every time they have a bowel movement. Others will change the bidet towel every day. There is no evidence to show which way is better yet, but I think you should change the bidet towel every day at least.
Most commonly, no dirt will leave on your skin after using a bidet. However, if it happens, you need to clean the dirt leaving on your towels immediately and try to adjust the settings of your bidet again.
No, don’t do that. For everyone’s personal hygiene, each people have to have their towels. It is the same as everyone needs to use their shower towels. Towels can spread germs, and you can get infections by sharing towels.
Therefore, even though you can’t find any dirt on a bidet towel, you can’t share it with anyone else.
If you are not living alone, I advise you to prepare different towels for your family members or roommates. For example, ask each member to use a specific color or pattern of towels.
Is it safe for women to use a bidet towel?
Technically yes. Compared to men, women are susceptible to UITs and other infections, making the sanitary of bidet towels even more critical for women and girls.
As long as the towel is clean, it could be safe for women to use. You can use different towels to dab your front area and back area separately, or fold the towel and use a different quarter for your different part.
In this way, the bacterias from your anus will not go to your lady bits. So everything boils down to the cleanliness of towels. So I want to cover more on this later.
How to store bidet towels
You need to prepare two containers to store bidet towels: one is for clean ones, and the other is for used ones. I suggest you get two with different colors or patterns so you or your family members will not use the used ones accidentally. I also prefer the container with a lid because it can prevent any dirt get onto the towel when flushing the toilet.
If you intend to use a towel a few times a day, I think a hook is a must-have to let it air dry. If others share the bathroom, you need to prepare extra hooks for them. For guests, I think toilet paper would be a better choice because not everyone can accept a bidet towel, and they don’t know which one is for them to use.
After using the bidet towel, you can hang it on the container’s rim and move it in the container the next time you use the bidet. The reason why you should do this is to avoid any awkward smell due to the wet towel.
I suggest you prepare five or six towels for each user so that you always have enough clean towels to use.
How to wash bidet towels
Washing a bidet towel is not complicated.
If the towel is made with bamboo, you should follow the bamboo towel care instructions. Put the bidet towel in the washing machine and wash them in warm water with mild detergent.
Please don’t use any softener since it will decrease the absorbency, vital for dabbing the water quicker. Then you can tumble dry them with on medium heat.
For cotton bidet towels, you should wash them in warm water with a small amount of detergent and nonchlorine bleach if they are white. For colored cotton towels, cold water with detergent and a color-safe bleach is a better solution.
If your towel is made with other fabrics, you should check the instructions online or ask the seller.
I also think using laundry sanitizer from time to time is good for maintaining bidet towels and our hygiene.
How to make homemade bidet drying towels
You don’t need to get something called a “bidet towel” to use it as a bidet drying towel. In fact, any towel or fabric that is comfortable, soft, and has good absorbency is a good fit. The price of the same product varies based on different marketing purposes.
You could cut the big towel into a small piece or make use of your old clothes such as pajamas. One thing worth mentioning is that you should make sure the material is safe to use in your sensitive area.
The proper size of a bidet towel is about 25cm x 25cm. However, it is still up to you.
Once you cut the material into small pieces. You will need to secure the edges using a sewing machine or sewing kit. This allows the towel to staying longer.
After washing it, you can start your homemade bidet towels and save a bunch of money.
Family towel vs. bidet towel
Another towel often associated with “toileting” is the family towel. The family towel is used as a replacement for toilet paper. It means you will use it after using the toilet instead of using a bidet.
As you know, there are no residues on the skin, so the bidet towel is always clean. However, a family towel is used to remove these residues and will become dirty after each use. Even though some only use the family towel for number one, it still will leave more contents on the towel.
Sum up
I shared all the information I knew about bidet towels in this post. As a more eco-friendly choice, bidet towels are being accepted by more and more people. It offers you a way to ditch the toilet paper forever.
Using a bidet towel is not gross as long as you know how to use, store, wash it. It may take you more time to deal with it than throwing the toilet paper right away. But you could save more money, trees, and water.
FAQs
How do you use a bidet towel? ›
The bidet towel
These handy little towels are made with one purpose in mind: to dry you after a bidet wash. Simply grab one after your wash, gently pat yourself dry, and toss it in the laundry after you're done.
To learn how to use a bidet, set the water to a comfortable temperature. Lower yourself to the water stream gently to rinse your genitals. Pat dry gently with a soft towel. Avoid using perfumed soaps on your intimate area when using a bidet or washing.
How do you dry your privates after using a bidet? ›If you press the 'Dry' button, provided there is one, the air dryer will dry the area. If you are using the traditional bidet, you can dry using toilet paper or a towel. In most public toilets with bidets, towels are provided on a ring next to it. However, using a paper towel is a more hygienic and safe option.
Do you still have to wipe after using bidet? ›Some people like to wipe with toilet paper after using a bidet, but it's a matter of personal preference. The bidet should do a good job at cleaning your bottom, so toilet paper isn't necessary.
How long should you sit on a bidet? ›As with the non-electric version, you'll find a button that adjusts the water temperature and pressure. How long you run the water is a matter of personal preference. I've found spraying for 20 to 60 seconds is enough to get the job done.
Why don t Americans use bidets? ›Bidets haven't ever been widely embraced in American culture. A common origin story for this reluctance is that bidets were seen as lascivious because they were used in brothels as a form of emergency contraception.
How does a woman sit on a bidet? ›Position yourself onto the bidet by either sitting on the rim or squatting over it. (Unlike toilets, freestanding bidets do not have a seat you sit on.) Depending on which area you need cleaned, select the setting or mode that will get the job done. To clean after urinating, select our feminine wash setting.
Can you get a yeast infection from a bidet? ›Of course, if you use a bidet that has any type of bacteria in the nozzle, it's not a guarantee that you'll develop an infection or a virus. However, it is possible. Bidet use may pose a particular health concern for people with vaginas.
Do you use toilet paper before or after bidet? ›When you first use a bidet, clean off with toilet paper first before attempting the bidet spray. You don't need to use soap to use a bidet. Some people do use the bidet like a mini-shower after a bowel movement, sexual intercourse, or for freshening up, but it isn't a requirement.
Which country uses bidets the most? ›While households in the U.S favor dry toilet paper to this day, bidets are the dominant cleaning method in places like France, Japan, Italy, and Portugal.
What are the side effects of bidet? ›
However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI). Physicians are advised to instruct patients with anal pruritus to avoid excessive cleaning of the anus and those with AI to discontinue bidet use.
Can bidets give you a UTI? ›The bottom line. Because a UTI is caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract, getting thoroughly clean when you use the bathroom is an important step in preventing UTIs. A bidet is a safe, sanitary way to keep yourself clean and avoid contracting a painful UTI.
Can you get E coli from a bidet? ›Iyo et al. (2016) surveyed a sample of 127 bidet toilets at a university hospital and detected bacterial contamination of spray water, and found Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 5% and 2% of the spray water, respectively.
Do you wipe with a towel after using a bidet? ›Wiping after using a bidet is simple. Gently wipe or blot the wet areas to soak up the excess water. Remember that the area is already clean; one gentle wipe or dab should do the trick. We recommend using toilet paper, as most people already have it in their bathrooms, or a towel.
Do people share bidet towels? ›Are Bidet Towels Hygienic? Many bidet towels are made of antibacterial fabrics, so they're quite hygienic as long as you don't share them with others. You should also exclusively use them for their purpose and avoid mixing them up with face and hand towels.
Is it better to wipe or use a bidet? ›When it comes to benefits, bidets are a no-brainer. They're cleaner, gentler, and more eco-friendly than toilet paper. And wiping less means you'll be saving money on your shopping bill, as well.
What is proper bidet etiquette? ›- Step 1: Always use the toilet before you use the bidet. ...
- Step 2: Straddle or sit on the bidet. ...
- Step 3: Make adjustments to the water temperature and the strength of the jets so that you are comfortable with these aspects.
Position yourself onto the bidet by either sitting on the rim or squatting over it. (Unlike toilets, freestanding bidets do not have a seat you sit on.) Depending on which area you need cleaned, select the setting or mode that will get the job done. To clean after urinating, select our feminine wash setting.
Can bidets cause yeast infections? ›Conclusion: Habitual use of bidet toilets aggravates vaginal microflora, either by depriving normal microflora or facilitating opportunistic infection of fecal bacteria and other microorganisms.
Is a bidet good for your colon? ›Cleaning the anus after defecation using the bidets contributes to hand hygiene and local comfort, and it may be effective against constipation. However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI).