What Is a Deck Mount Bidet?

On the left is a deck-mounted bidet, a common fixture in European and Asian bathrooms.

First introduced in France around 1710, bidets are bathroom fixtures used to clean the anus and genitals following a trip to the toilet. Deck mounted bidets are an alternative to wall-hung models, and attach directly to the floor.

Function

With a basin shaped similar to a toilet and hot and cold water faucets, bidets direct a stream of water onto a users' anus and genitals removing unwanted bacteria, promoting hygiene. Bidets are believed to help relieve hemorrhoids, prevent urinary tract infections and allay menstrual cramps, according to BathroomCentral.com.

Use

Bidets don't replace toilets in the bathroom but supplement them for increased comfort and cleanliness. A user need only adjust the temperature of the stream of water and straddle the basin. Modern bidets can feature air dryers, electronic controls and a lid.

In America

Crotch cleaners are found throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. However, bidets are a rarity in U.S. households. They are seeing an emergence, however, among the elderly and those with mobility problems and in luxury housing.

Deck Mounted Bidets

Part of the bidet's unpopularity in the U.S. has been attributed to the floor space that it requires. As with a deck-mounted toilet, deck-mounted bidets offer lower repair costs and cheaper installation costs, while wall-hung models preserve floor space and make cleaning easier.

References

• Bathroom Central: How to Use a Bidet
• HiHut.com: Bidet Culture Around the World and Why It's Changing in America!
• The Nifty Stuff: Floor Mounted Versus Wall Hung Toilets
• The Poop Report: The Bidet: Not Just for Hairy European Women Anymore