The toilet that sprays water is called a bidet. In its modern form, it’s typically a toilet seat or attachment with a small retractable nozzle that sprays a stream of water to clean you after using the bathroom. Bidets have been common in Europe and Asia for decades, and they come in several forms, from simple $100 attachments you clip onto your existing toilet to fully integrated smart toilets costing thousands.
Three Types of Water-Spraying Toilets
Not all bidets are the same. The term covers three distinct products, each with different features, installation needs, and price points.
Bidet attachments are the simplest option. These are thin plates with one or more retractable nozzles that sit between your toilet bowl and your existing seat. A dial or lever on the side controls water pressure. They connect directly to your toilet’s water supply line and don’t need electricity, which makes them the easiest to install. Most cost around $100 or slightly more.
Bidet seats replace your entire toilet seat. They have built-in nozzles, a control panel or remote, and often include features like heated water, a warm seat, and adjustable wash cycles. Electric bidet seats typically run $300 to $500, though premium models with more features can exceed $700. They plug into a standard wall outlet.
Integrated bidet toilets are one-piece units where the bowl, flushing system, and bidet functionality are all designed together. These are the sleekest option, often with tankless designs and fully automated controls, but they’re also the most expensive, sometimes running into the thousands.
How the Spray Actually Works
When you activate the bidet, a small nozzle extends from beneath the seat rim and directs a focused stream of water at your skin. On basic attachments, you turn a dial to control pressure, and the water comes straight from your cold water line. On electric seats, you can adjust both pressure and temperature using buttons or a remote control.
Most electric bidets heat water in one of two ways. Reservoir models store a small tank of preheated water, which means the warm supply can run out after 30 to 60 seconds. Tankless (or instantaneous) models heat water on demand as it flows through, providing a continuous supply of warm water without the standby energy losses of keeping a tank hot. Tankless models draw more power at peak use, up to 1,400 watts, compared to about 600 watts for tank-type seats.
After washing, some people pat dry with a small amount of toilet paper or a dedicated towel. Higher-end models include a built-in warm air dryer, though most users find the dryer takes noticeably longer than a quick pat dry.
Nozzle Hygiene and Self-Cleaning
A common first question is whether the nozzle itself stays clean. Nearly all electric bidets have self-cleaning nozzles that automatically flush with fresh water before and after each use, rinsing away anything on the surface. Beyond that, manufacturers use three main sterilization technologies. Silver nanoparticle coatings on internal components weaken and kill bacteria as water passes through. Ultraviolet light systems expose the water or nozzle to UV, destroying bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A third method, electrolyzed water, applies a small electrical charge to the water to sterilize it. Some premium models combine two of these methods.
Health Benefits
Bidets are gentler on sensitive skin than repeated wiping with dry paper. For people dealing with hemorrhoids or anal fissures, that difference matters. One clinical trial found that using a bidet was just as effective as a sitz bath (soaking in warm water) for managing pain after hemorrhoid surgery, with similar satisfaction scores and wound healing rates between the two groups. In a small study of patients with post-surgical perianal pain, nine out of ten had complete symptom resolution within three weeks of bidet use.
No published trials have tested bidets as a direct treatment for existing hemorrhoids or fissures specifically. The existing research has mostly looked at whether habitual bidet use is associated with developing these conditions rather than treating them. Still, the mechanical advantage is straightforward: warm water cleans without friction, which avoids aggravating already irritated tissue.
A Caution for Vaginal Health
Water spraying from front to back is important for hygiene, and most bidets are designed with this in mind. However, a prospective study of habitual bidet users found that regular warm-water washing was associated with higher rates of abnormal vaginal bacterial colonization compared to non-users (60.7% versus 44.2%). E. coli colonization specifically was significantly higher in bidet users (13.1% versus 3.3%). The study linked chronic bidet use to disruption of vaginal microflora, particularly in high-risk pregnancies. This doesn’t mean bidets are unsafe for most people, but it’s worth being aware of if you have a history of recurrent infections or are pregnant.
Water and Environmental Impact
Bidets use roughly one-eighth of a gallon of water per use. That sounds like it adds up, but consider the alternative: manufacturing a single roll of toilet paper requires about 37 gallons of water and 1.5 pounds of wood. The average American uses over 100 rolls per year. Even accounting for daily bidet use, the water math heavily favors the bidet. You’ll likely still use some toilet paper for drying, but far less overall.
Accessibility and Independence
For older adults or anyone with limited mobility, reaching to wipe can be painful, difficult, or impossible without help. A bidet with a remote control lets someone clean themselves independently, adjusting water temperature, pressure, and seat warmth without twisting or reaching. Research on technology-assisted toileting in older adults highlights that bidets support privacy and independence while reducing the physical burden on caregivers.
What Installation Looks Like
Non-electric attachments are genuinely simple to install. You remove your toilet seat, place the attachment plate on the bowl, reattach the seat on top, and connect a small hose to the water supply valve behind your toilet. No tools beyond a wrench, no electrician needed.
Electric bidet seats need a grounded, GFCI-protected three-prong outlet within about four feet of the toilet, since that’s the typical cord length. The outlet should be at least 15 amps. You don’t need a dedicated circuit unless you’re running other heavy appliances on the same one. Most bathrooms don’t already have an outlet behind the toilet, so you may need an electrician to add one. The seat itself installs on the bowl the same way a regular toilet seat does, with the water connection tapping into the existing supply line.
Integrated bidet toilets replace your entire toilet, which means removing the old one and potentially adjusting plumbing. This is typically a job for a plumber unless you’re comfortable with that level of work.