A bidet is a plumbing fixture that is used for cleaning the genitals and anus after using the toilet. It consists of a basin with a water jet or faucet, and is typically placed next to the toilet in a bathroom. Some bidets are separate fixtures that are designed to be used in conjunction with a toilet, while others are integrated into the design of a toilet and can be used in place of toilet paper.
The bidet was invented in France in the the late 17th century by Christophe des Rosiers. It got its name from a French word meaning ‘pony’ as it looked like an undersized horse.
The first written record of a bidet appears in a 1710 account of the Marquis d’Argenson, who noted that he had an audience with one Mademoiselle de Prie “as she sat astride her bidet.”
The first written record of a bidet appears in a 1710 account of the Marquis d’Argenson, who noted that he had an audience with one Mademoiselle de Prie “as she sat astride her bidet.”
Early bidets were long, low wooden cabinets, with a metal or china bowl inset in the middle. A lady would sit astride it and wash her nether regions.
By the mid 18th century bidets were prized designer items in France. Madame La Pompadour possessed two particularly fancy examples. One had a rosewood cabinet decorated with a floral inlay; the other was in walnut, with a red leather backrest. Ladies received guests, both men and women, while sitting astride their bidets.
In Italy, the bidet became more common after World War II, although it has been used in the country for much longer. Maria Carolina of Austria, Queen of Naples and Sicily, was an early adopter of the bidet, and she had one installed in the Royal Palace of Caserta in the second half of the 18th century.
The bidet seat came about in the 1960s and was improved in the 1980s with the creation of the “washlet.” Using remote-controlled wands that spout water jets and finish with a warm-air dryer, the washlet is especially popular in Japan.
The bidet seat came about in the 1960s and was improved in the 1980s with the creation of the “washlet.” Using remote-controlled wands that spout water jets and finish with a warm-air dryer, the washlet is especially popular in Japan.
Today, bidets are commonly used in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe and Asia, as an alternative to toilet paper for cleaning after using the toilet.
Bidets are not as commonly used in the United States as they are in other parts of the world, such as Europe and Asia, as the use of toilet paper has been deeply ingrained in American culture and is seen as the norm for cleaning oneself after using the toilet.
Some people believe that using a bidet is more hygienic than using toilet paper, as it can help to remove bacteria and other contaminants from the body more effectively.
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