After the pandemic lockdown of 2020, large sectors of the work force were sent to work from home. This shift lead to a surge of home updates and renovations, sparking new consumer trends. Among them: The rise of the bidet.
A bidet is a device attached to a toilet that uses a strong, targeted jet of water to clean your rear. Bidets have always popular in Europe, but it became an increasingly popular trend stateside after the pandemic’s toilet paper shortages, leaving many consumers “scared sheetless” of running out of this household necessity. In response, consumers looked for alternatives, and found one in bidets.
But this trend may have been a good one for a few reasons. Toilet paper is increasingly expensive due to inflation and shortages. Since bidets use water instead, users never have to worry about having to make an emergency trip to the store at 2 AM after taco night.
Bidets also offer serious savings. A survey recently revealed that the average family spends $182 on toilet paper. Using a bidet to reduce toilet paper use by 75 percent can lead to savings of $136.50 every year.
Germaphobes also benefit from bidets. A recent study from Japan revealed that bidet use decreases the amount of bacteria found on hands after toilet use tenfold.
A typical bidet will only cost between $50 to $100 to install, meaning it will pay for itself in less than a year in toilet paper savings. With household finances tightening up for people across the country, it’s a welcome savings.
But the benefits of bidets extend beyond your pocket book and personal hygiene, as if those weren’t reason enough. Bidets are also more environmentally friendly. Toilet paper requires more trees, power, and water to create than a bidet, despite being effective in achieving the intended outcome of personal hygiene.
Bidets gained traction on social media in 2020, but continued to register views from user ever since.
In 2023, the hashtag #bidet reached half a billion views on social media. Bidet producers have enjoyed a minimum of 20% spike in sales every year since the beginning of the pandemic.
That same year marked another first: A record 3 in every 10 American households owned a bidet.
As one happy Reddit user explained, “My family gave me a really hard time a few years ago when I asked all of them at Christmas to chip in and buy me a Washlet. “Why would you spend $600 on a toilet seat?” they asked, horrified at the price. Fast forward five years — after coming to visit us and experiencing the magic, my parents, sister, brother, and in laws have all bought bidet toilet seats. Once you sit on one of these, you can’t go back!”
Another Redditor agreed, noting, “My brother has had a Toto for years. We always talked about paper being “uncivilized.” Only now do I understand. I got one for Christmas, too.”
While bidets are still not considered to be the standard for American toilet usage, the message is clear. This bathroom accessory is clearly on the rise. And between its financial, hygienic, and environmental bonus benefits, and it’s likely a trend that is here to stay.
