How do you use a bidet?

[TheClitterati]

I've no idea. Do you face forward or back? Does water get everywhere? Do you dry yourself with loo roll? That seems to defeat the purpose. Is the water cold? Is it nice? Will I get addicted? 😂

I've just booked a holiday in Italy and all the hotel bathrooms have bidets so I'm going to give it a go. But I really don't want to Google instructions- cause yikes!

Please enlighten me Mumsnet!

Either way round is fine. Use a towel not loo roll! Usually you keep a towel just for the bidet. Don't use cold water unless you're a masochist. 😆

Any direction is fine (although don't think sideways would work!)but my usual 'stance' is facing the taps. I've lived in Italy for a very long time and really cannot understand how I managed without one now. The small towels you'll most likely see in the bathroom are bidet towels! Water doesn't go everywhere and stick to warm water unless you're a masochist as PP said! We use what translates as 'Intimate Soap' too which you'll find in every Italian supermarket and home, it's PH balanced for your bits and there are hundreds of brands, here's an example Bidet Soap
Enjoy Italia!

I've always sat on them like a toilet as that's what I was told to do in hospital after childbirth. They had bidets on Maternity at Guy's Hospital in the 70s/80s. However, when Alan Carr did that on the programme about him and Amanda Holden renovating a house in Sicily the man in the shop laughed at him for sitting the wrong way.

Sounds like fun.

So there is temp control for the water? I never noticed that. But as I usually only give bidets the side eye that is understandable. I always thought the water was cold. Warm water changes everything.

I will look out for the little towels 😀

Bidet soap - incredible. I never knew.

Very very carefully

Forwards or you’d not be able to turn it on. It’s the best thing ever and I’m gutted we don’t have room for one. So hygienic. And yes, towels. Though if we had a bidet I’d insist on individual towels now. As a child we had one and I didn’t care and mostly just guddled around with the wee fountain and washed my feet in it!

Do they work? I mean…I can’t imagine just trickling water would get poo off, and I wouldn’t fancy using my bare hand, soap or no soap.

I just don’t get it.

Forwards makes sense re the taps.

But then you'd have to take your pants completely off right? People must take so much longer to use the loo.

On holiday in Italy I have mainly used the bidet as a footwasher after a long day sightseeing.

They are absolutely ideal for this.

Forwards to clean yourself up after sex, backwards to clean your bum after a poo.

Opening the tap is no issue, you just twist your body.

But there are no laws, just try things out and do what suits you!

Following for tips!

DH is Italian and apparently in his younger days would sit on the loo on his phone (as men do) and use the bidet as an ashtray, much to the disgust of FIL.

The primary use mine got was cleaning myself when on my period. The warm water also felt really good for the cramps. Frankly, I’ll be glad when I’ve hit that menopause milestone as from my first period, I have always thought they felt gross. I don’t have one now, they’ve gone out of fashion. They’re useful but do take up a lot of space.

It’s like a gentle cross between a jet and fountain of water. It’s not a trickle or how water comes from a tap. You can control height and pressure.

Hmm, that sounds more useful then.

Thanks everyone- I will approach my first bidet with gusto!

This reminds me that I grew up in a house that had one and we only ever used it as a foot bath when we had splinters and the like. 😂 😂
Getting funny images of people in my mind now - have fun OP!

I don't know about others, but in this household we don't jump on the bidet post poo without cleaning up using some paper first!

I don’t understand sitting forward. How does the water reach to clean the rear end?

Don't you wash your arse in the shower with your hand and soap? Anyway, it's not just a trickle and I wipe with paper first.

The nozzle on the end of the tap can be moved in all directions so it reaches but you use your hands too as you would in the shower. It's a normal tap strength of water so easily strong enough.

I've used bidets all my life and most people use them forward. In Spain we have a small towel beside it to dry yourself after. Regarding the water temperature, it's really up to you, you can regulate it like in the shower.

I really miss it in Australia. It's quick, hygienic, and makes having more than one shower in the day obsolete. It's also great for having a quick clean before and after sex or during menstruation.

This is one of those questions I always wondered but have never asked so bravo @TheClitterati I bet you’re not the only one wondering. May the (water) force be with you.

If you want to clean your rear end, you face it backwards. If you want to clean your pussy, you face it forward.

The majority of bidets, at least in Spain, are used by women wanting to give their vulva a quick clean or two during the day without having another shower.

"I grew up with a bidet. AMA".
😂