Imagine with me that there’s an approaching disaster or maybe one has just struck and you rush to the store to buy necessities for your family so you can shelter in place for a while, and what should you discover when you get there? No toilet paper. Not one roll in the entire store! Sound crazy? Unfortunately, we have seen recently that it is not. Toilet paper is right up there with bottled water with hot items to stockpile in a disaster. If you missed the run on toilet paper, don’t despair. There are solutions for doing your business and still getting clean that don’t involve TP. And an easy one to implement is the bidet.
The concept of a bidet (pronounced “bih-day“) goes back centuries and bidet use is still common in many countries. The idea is that after you use the toilet, instead of wiping any residue left on you with paper products to remove it, you rinse with water. Cleaner, gentler, and doesn’t require toilet paper!
If you are considering purchasing a bidet, here is what you need to know about bidets for emergencies and a few great options we have researched with information on each that might help you decide which style is best for you.
The “attached to your toilet bidet“. There are various styles of bidets that attach to your toilet, most requiring you to shut the water source off after use as they are not designed to stay pressurized for extended periods of time. This one, however, can be installed and does not need to be turned off between uses. The benefit to a bidet that is installed on your toilet is that it is always ready to use. You don’t need to do any prep work before you sit down to do your business. Drawback is that if your water isn’t running because of your emergency, your bidet won’t work either.
Another drawback to this style is that it hooks into your cold water line, so you’re always getting a cold water rinse. If you want to get fancy and get warm water, you can get a water mixer valve to add some hot water so your bidet will spray at a temperature that is more comfortable. (Scroll to the bottom if you want more luxury than just warm water!)
But an added benefit to the attached bidet is that with a handy contraption like this one, rinsing other nasty stuff like cloth diapers or soiled undergarments becomes a lot more simple!
Not ready to mess with your plumbing? This next option might be more your style.
The “handheld bidet”. Handheld bidets are simple. They are designed to hold water in a reservoir bottle and have a sprayer tip that can reach the under region easily. This style of bidet can be used even if your water supply is interrupted. They are portable and don’t require adjustments to your plumbing which means you can use them even if you are renting your home! You can also fill the bottle with warm water instead of cold if it is available. They are less expensive than the installed versions, but you will want to get it filled before sitting down, so plan on getting to the bathroom with enough time to get prepped.
Handheld or portable bidets come in both squeeze-to-spray and battery operated varieties.
Emergency already at your doorstep with no time or place to buy your bidet? There’s always this last option!
The “super low-tech water bottle bidet”. Did you miss the toilet paper, but got the bottled water? Or maybe, like us, you have a half empty bottle or two in your vehicle! Simply poke a few holes in the lid of one of your bottles with a pin (a safety pin works great), fill with water (warm or cold), and it’s ready to spray. It only sprays straight so it might be a little harder to get to some areas, but hey, it’s practically free!
If you want to upgrade the water bottle option, one of these attachments can make your water bottle spray at an angle that should be easier to work with.
None of these options good enough for you? Feeling fancy? There’s a bidet for you, too! With heated water, a heated seat, warm air dryer, and night light, this is the Cadillac of bidets for those who believe their tush deserves the very best.
So if you didn’t get stocked up on toilet paper, you can still stay clean. And now you have the information you need to make an informed decision for your own bidet!
Do you use a bidet? Do you have other plans for staying clean without toilet paper? Let us know in the comments!
Keep preparing!
Angela
***************************************************************
Subscribe to my email newsletter for updates and special deals.
Please be sure to follow Food Storage and Survival on Facebook which is updated every time there is a new article. You can also find me on Pinterest, and purchase my book, Food Storage for Self Sufficiency and Survival on Amazon.
***************************************************************
Shop the Thrive Monthly Specials or my favorites, the freeze dried vegetables and yogurt bites!
***************************************************************
