Gift Idea? An Homage to the Bidet

Contributed by: Trish Gau, The Hive Overland Park

This originally posted in July and was a favorite of our subscribers. Plus, it's a great gift idea so we are sharing again!

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Last summer I laughed out loud when reading a university FB parents group post about their daughter worrying about not having her bidet in her dorm room. My apologies to whoever that was for being so judgmental!

I’m not sure what happened in the months between or what fabulous advertisement made me do it, but I ended up buying six bidet attachments as gifts 5 months later without ever trying one (I figured I would install mine and return the rest if they were awful…I mean, there was a discount!!)

I have some friends that I do a gift exchange with and I went back and forth between thinking it was a genius gift and thinking that they would think I was crazy. When I finally got around to installing one in my own bathroom, however, I became an immediate fan. Where had this been all my life? Why had I never tried this before? Why doesn’t everyone have one of these useful contraptions? Perhaps I am a little more bathroom obsessed than most, what with having Crohn’s disease and usually knowing the location of the nearest bathroom wherever I go, but why hadn’t my gastroenterologist suggested this to me 30 years ago?

The benefits of using a bidet are numerous: they are economical (you use less and buy less TP), eco-friendly, hygienic (would you wash bird-poo off your arm or just wipe it off with paper?) and easy to use to name just a few. I now get annoyed if I use a bathroom in our house that doesn’t have the bidet (usually because someone else is occupying it). And don’t get me started on how much I missed it while on vacation!

It is more common to find bidets in parts of Europe or Asia than here, but not common enough in my opinion. I read that it’s now the law to install one in all new bathrooms in Italy. Bravo Italia! Let’s all embrace the bidet! They are also a fabulous gift for the elderly or anyone who may need assistance in the bathroom. . .using the bidet gives them some dignity back.

The one I installed is the Tushy Classic 3.0. It is a great way to try out a bidet without splurging on the fancy shmancy toilets that come with one. Their included instructions and marketing materials are hilarious which also makes it great for gifting! Look below to see how easy it is to install a Tushy bidet.

All you will need is your Tushy box, a wrench, screwdriver and a towel or two. The booklet has a QR code that links to professional video instructions and helps with different toilet styles. If your water supply is connected to your toilet with a rigid hose, you will need to purchase a flexible 7/8" x 3/8" hose as well.

The first step is to turn off your water supply by turning the valve clockwise, then flush your toilet to empty the tank.

Next, using a screwdriver, remove your toilet seat making sure you save the bolts and fasteners to reinstall when you are finished.

Disconnect the hose from under the toilet tank by turning it clockwise - use your towels to wipe up any water that may come out. Now is the time to replace the rigid hose from the water supply with the flexible one if your toilet has that. Attach the Tushy included flexible hose to the side of the plastic mega adapter and the hose from the water supply to the bottom of the adapter. Screw the top of the adapter counter clockwise to the base of the tank. Do not over-tighten. Screw the hose from the side of the adapter into the base of the bidet attachment.

Lay the bidet across the toilet, lining up the nozzle with the back middle of the toilet bowl and the bolt openings with the Tushy bolt openings. Make sure there is a little space behind the nozzle to adjust the angle (the switch on the top of the device).

It's finally time to re-attach the toilet seat. Place the seat on top of the Tushy, lining up the bolt holes. Thread the screws through and attach the fastener underneath.

Tighten things up, turn the water back on by turning the valve counter-clockwise and check for leaks. You are ready to enjoy your very own Tushy bidet! May you love yours as much as I love mine!

Do you have a bidet or ever experienced using one?

Comment below (we're all friends :).