Using a bidet is a great way to keep yourself feeling clean after doing your daily business, but not everybody feels they know the proper protocol for how it should be done. If you’ve ever wondered about whether or not you should wipe after using a bidet, this article has the answers you need.
So, do you need to wipe after using a bidet? You don’t need to wipe after using a bidet because the bidet’s water pressure will be sufficient to get you completely clean. However, some people still choose to wipe after using the bidet because it’s the quickest way to dry yourself off.
Do you need to wipe after using a bidet?
Everybody has a different opinion about when the proper time to wipe during their bidet routine is, or if they should even wipe at all.
Choosing not to wipe at all
Lots of people don’t feel the need to wipe after using a bidet because they think the bidet does a good enough job on its own. For some, the whole point of having a bidet is so they don’t have to use any toilet paper.
If your bidet has strong water pressure, it should get you completely clean without the need to wipe.
If the bidet isn’t fully cleaning you, make sure you have it on a high enough pressure setting.
Also, check the spray mode you’re using and the positioning of the spray wand. A little shift in where the water is hitting could be all you need to get a complete clean.
Wiping before using the bidet
You could do what’s known as a “pre-wipe”. This is where you wipe after using the toilet, but before using the bidet.
It’s a similar concept to rinsing your dishes before putting them through the dishwasher.
You give yourself a quick wipe to clean up the bulk of the mess, and then use the bidet to make sure that the rest of the job gets done.
This technique is recommended if you have a standalone bidet.
With standalone bidets, the water has to drain away rather than getting flushed away, so any larger bits risk getting stuck in the drain. This won’t be pleasant to clean up!
Wiping after using the bidet
Another option is to do a “check wipe”, which means wiping after using the bidet to ensure that there’s no mess left over.
If your check wipe is clean, that means that the bidet did its job! If not, another run of the bidet or another round of toilet paper may be in order.
If you’re doing regular check wipes and they’re all coming back clean, then you might want to consider switching to the no wipe camp. This is a sign that your bidet does the job properly and you can stop spending money on toilet paper.
Wiping to dry yourself
A bidet will leave you clean, but it will also leave you wet. You might find yourself wanting to wipe in order to dry yourself off. This is the most common reason for people to wipe after using a bidet.
Dabbing instead of wiping means the toilet paper is less likely to rip. No-one wants lots of small pieces of toilet paper sticking to them!
Wiping after using the bidet can help you get dry fast if you’re in a hurry. However, you don’t need to wipe in order to dry off. There are other methods that don’t require wiping. I go over these in the next section.
How to dry your bum after using a bidet
Drying off after using the bidet is a necessity, as leaving your bottom wet is both uncomfortable and unsanitary
I’ve come up with 4 easy ways to go about drying your bum after using a bidet. I go over each of them, as well as their unique pros and cons next.
Let your bum air dry
If you like to take your time when you do your business, you might prefer to just let your bum air dry.
This can give you time to do other things such as scrolling on your phone or cleaning your ears.
Or it can simply give you time to relax and ponder life, allowing a nice break from your daily routine.
Your backside rarely gets the chance to breathe, so letting it get some air can help relieve any irritation you might suffer from.
However, if you’re in a hurry then air drying isn’t the best option. It can take a few minutes to feel completely dry which isn’t great if you need to get back to work or if someone else is waiting to use the toilet.
Use your bidets drying function
The more expensive bidets will come with a built-in dryer function. Using it will help you get dry faster than with air drying, and requires no wiping.
Driers feel very luxurious and turn a simple trip to the bathroom into a luxury experience.
However, due to the varying quality of bidet air dryers, this still isn’t the quickest method. Not ideal if you’re really in a hurry.
Also, not all bidets offer this function, for example, non-electric bidets won’t have any drying options.
If you want a bidet with a good dryer, opt for the Toto s550e. Toto washlets are high-end luxury bidets that come equipped with the best and latest bidet technologies.
If your drier allows you to control the temperature of the air, using hotter air will speed up the process. This is a feature usually reserved for the most luxurious bidets.
Use toilet paper
Wiping with toilet paper is a great way to get your bum dry in a hurry. If you’re short on time, grabbing a bit of toilet paper is the most convenient option.
However, since toiler paper isn’t made to handle a lot of water, I advise opting for a higher quality toilet paper like this one from Aria. Aria is an eco-friendly toilet paper brand that helps reduce the overall impact your daily routine has on the environment.
High-quality tissues will save you money in the long run because you’ll need to use less per wipe.
Use 1-2 sheets and fold the paper in half to create a thicker sheet. Thicker toilet paper will be better able to deal with the water and won’t tear.
Dabbing instead of wiping will also help to prevent tearing and stop small bits of toilet paper from clinging to your skin.
Wipe with a reusable towel
Even better than opting for eco-friendly toilet paper, a reusable towel is by far the most environmentally friendly option.
Of course, using this method to get your bum dry means you can’t simply toss the towel in the toilet when you’re done. You have to deal with the dirty towel which some people find a bit too gross.
However, it’s perfectly hygienic so long as you’re sure to wash your towels after each use.
Keeping a few on hand at a time will ensure there’s always a clean towel to use. And having a designated waste basket by your bidet that’s constantly cycled out will help make sure that all of your reusable towels stay fresh and clean.
Are the built-in bidet dryers any good?
The drying function on a bidet is very luxurious and does help to get your bum dry. However, some dryers struggle to get the job done completely, or in a timely fashion.
When I’ve tested bidets with in-built drying functions I’ve always been mildly disappointed. While the idea is certainly a good one, the execution is typically poor due to the air coming out of the drier not being pressurized enough.
The air simply doesn’t blow hard enough to get you dry in a reasonable amount of time.
If you want a good quality dryer then you have to be prepared to pay for the luxury. The Toto s550e and the s500e are my top picks.
This isn’t to say that you won’t get any use out a drying function on your bidet, just that you still may wish to use one of the other methods in addition to it.
When you wipe is up to you
Some people choose to wipe after using a bidet, while others opt not to. What you chose to do is up to you.
Wiping after bidet use is a great way to dry your bum when you’re in a hurry. Or you can wipe to check that the bidet has done its job.
But if you want to stop using toilet paper altogether, then there’s nothing wrong with not wiping. Just give yourself time and be confident in your routine before committing fully.