This post was sponsored by TUSHY. All thoughts my own.
Look, I know how ridiculous this timing is. In the wake of mass toilet paper hysteria gripping the nation, I’m conveniently writing a bidet review.
As crazy as it seems, this is genuinely a coincidence. I’ve been aware of TUSHY for multiple years, have been in conversation with them since 2019, and have been in possession of a bidet for a good while before this all kicked off. It does, however, seem like a particularly useful time to publish this. There’s never been quite so much focus on our bathroom habits before, so why not take the time to explore some more sustainable options?
Why are we using toilet paper anyway?
Water is, famously, very good at cleaning things. Think about it: in nearly every instance of something getting dirty, from our bodies to our dishes, we turn to water first. And yet, for some reason, we don’t use this same logic for our own bums. As TUSHY so eloquently put it:
If someone crapped on your floor… would you wipe it with toilet paper?
It’s a strong point.
Like many other household items that we may not give much thought to, toilet paper isn’t actually the only option out there. It’s just the one we’re used to. Bidets have been in popular use for hundreds of years, and I think it’s high time they make a resurgence. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a bidet?
Put simply, a bidet is a device that helps you wash your bum/genital area with water, instead of wiping with toilet paper. Think of a fancy Japanese toilet, but usually with a slightly lower-tech design.
Bidets come in many shapes and sizes, but a TUSHY bidet is manual, adjustable, and easy to attach to any toilet. All you need is a connection to your tap water and you’ve got yourself a cleansing wash for a sparkling clean bottom.
It works very simply: do your poo, wash with water, pat dry.
Who are TUSHY?
TUSHY was founded in 2014, designed to upgrade the bathroom experience with a modern, affordable and easy to use bidet attachment. Where toilet paper uses large amounts of resources, can exacerbate health issues and is less effective, the simple power of water can keep butts cleaner and happier.
TUSHY fits all standard toilets and some one-piece toilets. It requires no electricity or complex plumbing, taking around 10 minutes to set up. Just unscrew the toilet seat, add your TUSHY, connect to water, and you’re ready to poop. This also means removal and reinstallation can be done just as easily, so your TUSHY can move house as many times as you do.
And don’t worry! TUSHY gets it’s water supply from your tap water, not your toilet water. The water itself is simply the temperature of your tap water. I personally don’t mind cold, as a cool spray can be quite refreshing, but not to worry if that’s not for you. TUSHY Spa also has an additional hose that runs to your sink’s hot water connection to access warm water. The Spa console comes with a temperature control dial, allowing you to adjust water temperature before you spray.
And as an added bonus, TUSHY also runs a give-back program. A portion of each TUSHY sale provides one family in India with access to clean community toilets by partnering with Samagra Sanitation.
Bidets benefit the planet and your wallet
It takes around 1 pint of water to properly was with TUSHY, whereas it takes 437 billion gallons of water, 253,000 tons of bleach, and 15 million trees to make conventional toilet paper each year. 15% of deforestation is attributed to toilet paper, The UK alone uses 1.3m tonnes of tissue annually, and the USA’s love for the stuff threatens natural habitats and numerous indigenous communities in Canada. Plus, for some reason, the industry is becoming less sustainable thanks to consumer focus shifting to plastic. Turns out, toilet paper comes with a pretty hefty environmental cost.
In fact, it’s estimated that one person’s toilet roll consumption over their life equates to 384 trees cut down. Using a bidet can reduce this consumption by 75 – 100%, which both helps the environment and saves you a significant amount money in the long rung.
Of course, this is not to say that you’ll never use toilet paper again. Firstly, because you might want to have some in for guests in your home, and secondly because you do still need to dry out that wet bum. While some people feel fine patting dry using a towel, you can also still keep
a toilet roll supply on hand for when you need it. What TUSHY will help with, however, is dramatically reducing the amount of toilet paper you go through. From multiple wipes to a few little pats-per-poop, you’ll find you barely spend money on toilet roll again.
‘But what about wipes?’ I hear you cry. Well, while wipes may be available and easy to use, they’re also terrible for the environment and your plumbing systems. Plus, chronic wipe use can lead to increased sensitivity and irritation as well as some pretty rough bum-health issues. Best to avoid at all costs and stick with the water instead.
Body benefits
In contrast, the TUSHY bidet can also come in handy for several body related reasons, mainly because it is easy to use, angle adjustable, and water often proves a gentler approach.
For anyone who menstruates, a TUSHY provides a great gentle cleanse, helping make the whole period process slightly more comfortable and leaving you feeling squeaky clean. It can also be used as a hygienic and easy cleansing method post sexy-times, and to provide extra help with cleanliness and comfort both during pregnancy and post partum.
Beyond this, TUSHY can provide soothing relief to symptoms for anyone struggling with yeast or urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids, IBS, or Crohn’s disease. Several of these conditions can lead to increased toilet use and pain can be exacerbated by the abrasiveness of toilet paper used so frequently. TUSHY helps avoid this altogether.
TUSHY also has some great benefits when it comes to the general needs of different bodies. The potential is widespread: from supporting seniors wanting to retain independence in the bathroom, providing a quick and easy way to stay clean for those dealing with urinary incontinence, helping potty-trained/training kids clean thoroughly and learn about hygiene, or providing simple solutions to those dealing with limited mobility. For people who find it difficult to reach back there, for example, the adjustable nozzle helps easily clean in front and behind with far less effort.
Over 70 million Americans have some form of arthritis or joint inflammation, often translating to a serious debility that limits movement. TUSHY allows people suffering from conditions such as these to regain the comfort and dignity of using the toilet by themselves.
My personal review
Look, I always knew I was going to love a bidet. Ever since I tried my first fancy bum-washing toilet many years ago, I knew I was a fan.
I’m not going to go too in-depth on the details, because let’s be honest no one needs to hear about my toilet habits, but I will say that bidets really do leave you feeling extra clean and cared for. It might take a little while to get used to them, but this really is because it’s just something that many of us haven’t been brought up with. In no time at all it starts to feel totally normal, and you’ll find yourself saddened when you have to use an alternative bidet-less loo (although that’s not exactly happening at the moment anyway).
All in all TUSHY is better for the environment, better for your long term finances, and better for your bum. It’s a winning combination, and one I’m more than happy to get my behind, behind.
