Bidet shower

A bidet shower ("bum gun", bidet spray, bidet sprayer, shattaf, or health faucet), is a hand-held triggered nozzle that is placed near the toilet and delivers a spray of water used for anal cleansing and cleaning of the genitals after using the toilet for defecation and urination. The device is similar to that on a kitchen sink sprayer. It was reputedly invented by a Thai living in the US who adapted a sink sprayer for toilet use.[1]

Description

The bum gun is a source of water for people who prefer using water rather than other methods of cleansing after defecation or urination.[2] The shower is an alternative for the traditional sources of water for this action, such as the bidet, copper pot or bucket and mug, being more hygienic and compact. There is no contact between the spray of water and the used water drainage.

Usage

The user typically grasps the faucet in the right hand and uses the thumb or forefinger (depending on the trigger location) to aim a spray of water at the anus or genitals to assist cleansing after using the toilet.

Prevalence

The bidet shower is common in all predominantly Islamic countries and in most parts of Asia where water is considered essential for anal cleansing. This includes Nepal, Pakistan Egypt, China, Iran, India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia. In those countries it is commonly installed in Western-style (sitting) toilet installations. In Thailand, it is common in both Western-style toilets and squat toilet installations. It is so ubiquitous that Thai parliamentarians were outraged on learning that the toilets in their new parliament building was not equipped with bum guns.[3] The bidet shower is similar in intent, if not method of use, to the Japanese washlet-style toilet seats, or so-called "electronic bidets".

Bidet showers are used by Muslims in Muslim countries and all parts of the Arab world as well as in Asia in order to cleanse themselves with water after using the toilet.[4][5] Here, water is commonly used instead of, or together with, toilet paper for cleaning after defecation.

In Europe, the bidet shower is used for example in Finland and Estonia.[6] Bidets are more common bathroom fixtures in many southern European countries.

The average American uses 50 pounds of toilet paper each year; every roll is estimated to require 37 gallons of water to produce and an additional 1.6 gallons to flush down the toilet.[2] Given the environmental impact of toilet paper and wet wipes, bum guns are growing in popularity.

See also

References

  1. Ewudolu, Stella-maris (6 September 2018). "And now, a movie about the humble 'bum gun' (video)". AEC News Today. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. Nguyen-Okwu, Leslie (9 May 2016). "Trade the Toilet Paper for a Bum Gun". Yahoo News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. Boonbandit,, Tappanai (15 August 2019). "MPs dump on parliament's lack of ass-blasters in toilets". Khaosod English. Retrieved 17 August 2019.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  4. Arab Cultural Awareness:58 Factsheets (PDF). TRADOC DCSINT Handbook No. 2. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States: Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. January 2006. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2014-09-12. When served a beverage, accept with the RIGHT HAND ONLY! When eating, drinking, offering, or passing use right hand only! ... When eating with Arabs, especially when taking food from communal dishes, the left hand must never be used, it is considered unclean.
  5. Cook, Sharell. "5 Indian Etiquette Don'ts". About.com. IAC/InterActiveCorp. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
  6. "Bidets in Finland"


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