Bidets reduce toilet paper use and add a luxury touch to the bathroom

One of the more perplexing effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been a major run on toilet paper. Entire shelves of the stuff have been cleared out as some people stock up for a prolonged self-isolation, which in turn has prompted others to seek out a few rolls to make sure they won't be in short supply during the period of higher demand.

Confronted with barren bath tissue sections, more homeowners are considering it a good time to get a bidet. This option, which can be installed as a standalone fixture or a specialty toilet seat, uses a gentle spray of water for cleansing. The bidet company Brondell says bidets can reduce toilet paper use by 75 percent or more, which not only saves you money but also reduces the risk of clogged plumbing and has the environmental benefit of reducing the number of trees that need to be harvested for toilet paper production.

Cutting down on toilet paper use is just one benefit bidets can provide. Lisa Kahn, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says bidets are a more comfortable option for pregnant women as well as people suffering from certain health conditions, such as hemorrhoids or inflammatory bowel disease.

Traditional bidets are installed as a secondary fixture alongside the toilet. Andy Engel, writing for This Old House, says standalone bidets can be either wall- or floor-mounted and require a supply of both hot and cold water to create a stream at a comfortable temperature. The fixture also needs to have a small drain line.

Naturally, not every bathroom will have space to install this kind of bidet. Adriana

Velez, writing for Realtor.com, says standalone bidets aren't particularly expensive and can be purchased for as low as about $250. However, you'll also need to hire a plumber for the installation.

Another option is a bidet attachment that goes directly under an existing toilet seat. Kahn says there are numerous options for these devices, including models that plug into an electrical outlet to extend a nozzle and provide heated water, ones that connect to the toilet's water supply, tankless options, and non-electric bidets. The attachments usually have a knob to adjust the water pressure of the spray.

Some inexpensive options are very easy to install. Rachel Brougham, writing for Family Handyman, says these include handheld attachments that connect to a wall, toilet bowl, or even a nearby sink.

You could also update your entire toilet for a more high-end model. Kahn says these thrones not only have built-in bidets, but a suite of other features such as heated seats and blow dryers to increase comfort.

These features can make bidet attachments or toilet replacements as expensive, if not pricier, than a standalone bidet. Erica Sweeney, also writing for Realtor.com, says bidets don't add too much value to the home but can easily offset their installation cost through savings on toilet paper.

Bidets do use a little more water every time you use the toilet, so you'll see some increase in your water bill. However, this tends to be marginal. Velez says bidets usually only use about one-eighth of a gallon of water per use.