W EEKLY EDITION AUG 23, 2017
To Bidet or Not to Bidet
Americans have been consistently disinterested in owning
bidets, yet a change in perception toward the bathroom product
may be on the rise
In Japanese households, more citizens own a bidet than those who own a
microwave oven. A whopping 76 percent of thes e homes have a bidet in their
at - home bathroom. In many European countries, finding a bidet in your hotel
bathroom is almost as common as finding a shower or sink. Yet in the United States, having a bidet in your bathroom is an odd novelty
almost rarely se en. Which is odd, considering that "if Americans use bidets instead of all that toilet paper, they could save 15 million
trees a year, according to some estimates." Not to mention "people who use bidets are much less likely to have issues with ra shes and
d iscomfort and irritation." So what has been holding American's back? From where does this disinterest in the bidet stem?
According to Bill Strang, president of operations at TOTO USA (which manufactures bathroom fixtures and fittings), "the bigge st
challenge we have is, how do we tell this story in a way that is not intrusive or inappropriate, but also that's not sophomor ic." It is the
idea of talking about something that is so personal and private that makes the conversation "very difficult to start ." Yet it is interesting
that Americans have become accustomed to the countless advertisements for laxatives or erectile dysfunction drugs, only to sh y away
from the conversation "about getting you clean every single day." Because, in the most simple terms , "a wet wash is better than a dry
one. You're going to get cleaner… with water than just [with] paper."
But there is hope for bidet advocates and bidet manufacturers alike. Most bidet suppliers have reported large increases in bi det sales
as of late. Thi s may be due to a few factors. "Millennials, aware of environmental concerns, are trying out bidets and bidet seats," and
there is a potentially huge market "for aging baby boomers because of the health benefits of going virtually wipe - less." As Americans
overcome the "squeamishness" of the topic, it may just be time for the bidet to make a U.S. breakthrough. READ THE STORY
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