Are Americans finally embracing bidets in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic?
Across the nation, toilet paper stocks in grocery stores have been diminishing at an alarming rate during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to panicked shoppers stocking up — over-stocking, really — on supplies.
Since most people can’t embrace their favorite Charmin mascot in bulk right now, they’re turning to alternative methods of maintaining their nether region hygiene.
People in the U.S. are starting to embrace the bidet, a common European bathroom fixture that uses clean water from a pressurized jet (or faucet-style spout) to clean your delicate area after you finish doing your business, USA Today reported.
Since its conception in France centuries ago, most Americans have turned up their noses at the foreign basin, while countries such as Japan and Italy have adopted it as their primary toilet method of clean hygiene over toilet paper.
This could be because most Americans have deemed them too complex for their liking. Believe it or not, some Americans have confused bidets for urinals when traveling abroad, according to The Atlantic.
Americans have been more quick to accept wet wipes or wet naps, which can cause sewer damage and harm marine life, over a simple spray of clean water.
“It’s a literal foreign concept to most people,” James Lin, president of online bidet retailer BidetKing, tells NBC News. “Not many Americans have considered a better solution.”
But the coronavirus is rapidly changing that.
Because the demand for toilet paper has skyrocketed, more people are exploring the idea of installing bidets in their bathrooms or buying easy-to-install bidet attachments.
In fact, sales for bidets have jumped since the coronavirus pandemic started scaring shoppers into clearing out the TP shelves at their local markets.
“Sales are 10 times what they were since word spread of toilet paper shortages,” Jason Ojalvo, CEO of bidet maker TUSHY, told NBC News. “These last few weeks have created a completely ‘new normal’ for our company.”
Bidet attachments, which fit onto your existing toilet, can run as low as $20. If you’re looking for a more high-end model, Kohler sells a smart toilet for $6,750 at Home Depot.
It’s unusual to see Americans falling in line with Europeans on the “TP vs. Bidet” war. Moreover, media outlets are poking fun at the sudden surge and how Americans viewed bidets before the pandemic.
The satirical digital media company The Onion posted an article in their opinion section, asking what Americans think of the recent booming bidet sales.
“No thanks. I just can’t get used to the idea of cleaning yourself with water,” one commenter said.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Are Americans finally embracing bidets in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic?."