Do Bidets Spray Poop Everywhere? Here’s the Truth

Bidets are becoming more popular in the United States, but many people are still concerned about the toilets and their hygienic qualities. One of the biggest worries people have is that the bidet will spray poop everywhere.

Bidets do not spray poop everywhere. They have separate cleaning wands away from the toilet that are positioned away from the backside. Many bidets are also self-cleaning. In addition, the bidet user controls the water pressure coming from the wand.

In this article, I’ll explain how and why bidets don’t spray poop everywhere. I’ll also walk you through how a bidet works to alleviate your worries and give tips on how to use a bidet hygienically.

Busting the Myth That Bidets Spray Poop Everywhere

The myth that bidets spray poop everywhere is untrue. If you use a bidet correctly, this should never happen because the water flowing on your body is separate from any bodily waste. 

The wand where the water stream comes out does not ever touch the toilet water. If you’re worried about the poop hitting the wand before it falls into the toilet water, almost all bidets are designed so the wand is angled away from your behind while sitting on the toilet, so there’s no reason for this concern. 

In most cases, the bidet water wand will only appear when you’re ready to use it and you press a button or pull a lever. When not in use, the wand is protected by a guard. Therefore, it is protected from any poop before use. 

The primary reason why bidets don’t spray poop is that, in most modern bidets, the nozzle where the water comes out is designed, so it stays straightforward and away from the fecal matter. It sprays a concentrated stream of water directly to your backside and genital area, and this water doesn’t interact or mix with the water in the toilet bowl after you defecate. The stream of water is usually quite thin, so it isn’t as messy as you might imagine. 

Additionally, you have the power to control the water pressure, usually with a knob, lever, or with control buttons. If you are gentle with the amount of water you spray on your body, you can avoid splashing that might contain bits of poop.  

Furthermore, most bidet wands are self-cleaning, so they rinse themselves before and after use. When this function is activated, the nozzle oscillates, which ensures that the entire nozzle is completely clean. This extra step ensures that there isn’t any poop on the wand that could get sprayed anywhere. 

Some more advanced bidets even have UV sterilization functions. This technology uses ultraviolet light to clean bidet nozzles and reduce the spread of germs. 

Also, the water supply to your bidet is the same as that supplying your shower, bathtub, and sink. They do not use toilet water, especially not dirty toilet water.

One of the most hygienic bidet toilet seats available on the market today is the Inus N32 Korean Electric Bidet Toilet Seat from Amazon.com. This bidet toilet seat features a self-cleaning stainless steel nozzle, three levels of water temperature, and a smart touch side panel. I also appreciate the light mode, which makes this seat easier to use at night.  

How Does a Bidet Work?

Understanding why a bidet doesn’t spray poop everywhere is easier if you grasp how bidets work in general. Not all bidets are made equally, and how your bidet works depends on what kind of bidet you have. Let’s take a look at common bidet types and how they work: 

Bidet Attachment 

A bidet attachment is connected to your water supply and toilet seat and uses a nozzle to spray water when you need it. Using a bidet attachment puts you in the driver’s seat because you can control the water flow and pressure with a button, lever, or knob, making it a comfortable option.  

My favorite bidet attachment is the BioBidet SlimEdge Simple Bidet Toilet Attachment from Amazon.com. This attachment features a customizable tilted control panel, so you can program it to activate your preferred spray pressure and pattern. I also like that this attachment has a high-quality brass valve and inlet, ensuring the piece will last a long time.  

Bidet Toilet Seat 

Many people opt for a bidet toilet seat for more features and comfort. These toilet seats require electricity to work, but this requirement also means that you can usually control the temperature of the water you’re using to clean your body. If you’ve ever had to spray cold water on yourself, you know how much of a difference this can make! 

A bidet seat replaces your current toilet seat and attaches to the bowl. It takes water from the toilet’s supply line. With most bidet seats, you must press a button, and a wand will come out underneath your bottom and direct a stream of water to your body. 

I like this ALPHA BIDET Elongated Bidet Toilet Seat from Amazon because it has endless warm water because of the on-demand water heating and its quiet operation. I also like that it has an LED nightlight, which makes nighttime use easier, and the clear and simple remote control is easy for everyone, even bidet beginners.  

Standalone Bidet 

A standalone bidet is independent of the toilet bowl and isn’t nearly as popular as the above options. However, this type of bidet is still used in some older houses and buildings. 

A standalone bidet resembles a urinal, which can be installed hanging from the wall or directly on the floor. A standalone bidet uses water from the house pipes for cleaning. 

How To Properly Use a Bidet 

One of the best ways to avoid making a mess with a bidet is to ensure that you’re using it properly. If you use a bidet the right way, the chances of spraying poop everywhere or making a mess are slim to none. 

Bidet Attachment

If you don’t have the space or budget to install a standalone bidet in your bathroom, a bidet attachment makes an excellent alternative. It doesn’t require extra and complex plumbing and doesn’t need to be hooked up to electricity. 

Here’s how you should use a bidet attachment hygienically: 

1. Sit down on the toilet and use it as you normally would. 
2. Wipe your bottom with a piece of toilet paper if you feel the need to do some preliminary cleaning.
3. Grab the sprayer. 
4. Place the sprayer underneath your bottom, so the spray is aimed toward the part you need to clean. 
5. Squeeze the trigger to start the spray. 
6. Continue spraying your body until you feel clean. 
7. Release the trigger to stop spraying water. 
8. Dry yourself with a piece of toilet paper or a towel.  

If you plan on having a designated towel to dry yourself after using a bidet, you must find one that is soft and gentle on the skin. Otherwise, you risk irritating your skin and getting uncomfortable raw spots. 

I recommend using the Chakir Turkish Linens Store 100% Cotton Premium Turkish Towels from Amazon because the towels are made of 100% ring-spun Turkish cotton, which is extremely absorbent and soft, so it’ll get you dry without too much effort or irritation. I also like that the towels are eco-friendly, machine-washable, and come in many different colors, so you can select the ones that suit your home and your style the best.  

Bidet Toilet Seat

Using a bidet toilet seat is relatively straightforward, greatly increasing the comfort and hygiene of going to the bathroom. Here’s how to use the bidet seat: 

1. Sit down on the toilet seat and use the toilet as you usually do.
2. You can consider using a little toilet paper do perform a quick wipe before using the bidet. This will help make the process more hygienic because you’ll remove the bigger pieces of poop with this step, which reduces the chances of those pieces moving near other places on your body from the pressure of the bidet. 
3. Press the wash button on the control panel or the remote control. Where the panel is located depends on the type of bidet seat you’re using. 
4. Allow the nozzle some time to extend beneath your bottom.  
5. Once the spray begins, use the control panel to adjust the settings so you’re more comfortable. You can usually change the temperature, pressure, position, and spray width to ensure that you’re getting completely clean and as comfortable as possible. 
6. Once you feel clean, press the “stop” button to stop the stream of water. 
7. Allow the nozzle to clean itself and return to its hidden position. 
8. Pat yourself dry with toilet paper if there’s no dry function available on the bidet seat. 

Standalone Bidet 

Using a standalone bidet is different than using an attachment or a bidet seat because the bidet is completely separate from the toilet. Here’s how to use a standalone bidet properly and avoid making a mess or spraying anything anywhere: 

1. Use the toilet how you normally would. To straddle the bidet later, you’ll probably need to remove your pants completely or at least remove one leg completely. Doing this now is easier than after you’ve used the toilet. 
2. If you’d like, give yourself a quick wipe before using the bidet to pick up the biggest pieces of poop. I recommend doing this because you will be moving to the bidet, and if you don’t wipe beforehand, you’ll risk dribbling or dropping things as you move to the bidet.  
3. Move to the standalone bidet and straddle it. You can sit facing the water controls or away; it’s up to you. However, if you’re concerned about using the bidet, I recommend sitting toward the controls so you can manage the temperature and water flow more easily. Another thing to consider when deciding which direction to face is where the jets are. If you need to clean your front, you should face the jets.
4. If you can adjust the temperature, turn the cold and hot water controls until you’re comfortable with the temperature. If you’re in a place with a hot climate, be very careful so you don’t scald yourself. 
5. Activate the bidet. Usually, there is a WASH button on the side that activates the bidet. After you press this button, a nozzle will emerge and spray your body. 
6. Sit or squat over the stream of water. 
7. Once you feel clean, deactivate the bidet by pressing the STOP or OFF button. 
8. Allow the nozzle to retract back into the bidet. 
9. If the bidet has a dry feature, turn that on until you feel completely dry. If the bidet doesn’t have a drying feature, use a little bit of toilet paper or a towel to dry yourself. 
10. Run the jet water on the side of the bidet, so it is clean for the next user. Turn the water off once you’re satisfied.  
11. Wash your hands. 

If you take the time to use a bidet properly, you greatly reduce your chances of making a mess or getting any fecal matter or other unwanted debris on you. 

Tips for Hygienic Bidet Use 

Bidets are sanitary, often more sanitary than using a traditional toilet, but there are some things you can do as a user to make the experience more hygienic. Here are some tips: 

• Close the toilet seat before flushing. You should heed this advice even if you use a traditional toilet, not a bidet. Toilet plumes are collections of microscopic particles that may contain bacteria from the toilet bowl. If you flush without closing the toilet lid, that bacteria can survive on other surfaces for months. 
• Use low water pressure. With most modern bidets, the user is in control of the water pressure coming out of the nozzle. One of the best ways to avoid splashing is to use gentle water pressure so the water doesn’t shoot into the bowl and disturb that water. Usually, half-pressure is enough to clean your body without accidentally causing a splash. 
• Wipe first. Although using a bidet doesn’t require you to use toilet paper if you don’t want to, it can be helpful to use some for a quick wipe beforehand. If you wipe once first, before using the bidet, you’ll pick up larger pieces of poop from your bottom and, therefore, won’t spread it around with the bidet water. 
• Direct the water front-to-back. If you have a vulva, you must direct the water so that it goes from the front of your bottom to the back. If you don’t do this, you risk getting fecal bacteria in your vulva, which can cause many problems, including a urinary tract infection and bacterial vaginitis.  
• Purchase a self-cleaning bidet. If you don’t already have a bidet, I recommend purchasing one with a self-cleaning feature. Bidets without this feature can still be sanitary, but the self-cleaning function greatly improves the hygienic qualities of a bidet. 
• Get to know the bidet before you use it. If you’re using a bidet for the first time, take a moment to investigate the bidet and determine where the jets come from and the functions available to you. Using a bidet is more hygienic if you use it correctly, which is easier if you’re somewhat familiar with the mechanism before using the toilet. 

By following these tips, you can ensure that your bidet doesn’t spray poop everywhere and that you have the most hygienic bathroom experience possible. 

If you want to continue to use a little bit of toilet paper, you can still reduce your environmental impact by mostly relying on the bidet to get yourself completely clean. Additionally, you can use eco-friendly toilet paper to reduce your carbon footprint even further. 

I like this Cloud Paper Store Bamboo Toilet Paper from Amazon.com because it is soft, strong, lint-free, and gentle on sensitive skin. I also like that this toilet paper is one of the most sustainable options available on the market; it is both FSC-certified and chlorine-free. Additionally, the toilet paper is delivered in a completely recycled box. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, so it is a better alternative to tree paper products.  

What Is Toilet Plume? 

Now that you know that bidets don’t spray poop everywhere, you may feel better about using a bidet, but you’re not completely free of your fecal matter concerns. 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all toilets spray a bit of poop everywhere when you flush them, not just bidets. A toilet plume is the spray of microscopic particles that come from a toilet when you flush it. These particles might contain traces of urine, feces, vomit, and other bacteria. 

If you don’t close the toilet lid before you flush, the toilet plume can land on surfaces in your bathroom, and the bacteria can survive for weeks or even months if you don’t regularly clean your bathroom. For this reason, you should always close the toilet lid before you flush and take the time to clean your bathroom as often as possible.   

Conclusion

Bidets do not spray poop everywhere. They are specifically designed so that the water stream you use to wash your body never interacts with the toilet water containing fecal matter. You can reduce the chances of spraying poop by using lower water pressure, wiping yourself first before you use the bidet, and getting a self-cleaning bidet.