Why Americans Discover Bidets in Europe: Travel Insights & First Impressions

I am a born American and had never used a bidet until I left the country. I had heard about them but never actually seen or used one. Then, I took a month-long vacation to Europe, and using a bidet quickly became a standard everyday occurrence.

At first, I was skeptical. But after about my third use, I became excited to use the bathroom. It started to feel like an experience instead of a daily chore that hinders your travel. Not only was it fun because I had never used one before, I actually felt clean — as if I had just showered and was ready to put on a suit and head into work.

Of course, my vacation eventually ended, and my luxury bathroom visits were no longer. Within two weeks of being back home in the U.S., I had enough. I felt dirty and that I was missing something. What did I do? I bought a bidet, had it shipped to my home, and installed it within the week. The model I fell in love with is the SLi 1000 I am so glad I was exposed to this while traveling, and I can confidently say I’ll never go back. By far, it’s the best home upgrade I’ve made, leaving my bathroom feeling like a luxury experience with every use.

By: Thomas Zink

Why Bidets Are More Common in Europe

1. Cultural Normalization
In many European countries, bidets are standard fixtures in homes, hotels, and even public restrooms. They are considered essential for personal hygiene, much like a shower or sink. In contrast, the U.S. has long relied solely on toilet paper, creating a cultural gap in bathroom norms.

2. Hygiene and Health Benefits
Bidets provide a deeper level of cleanliness than toilet paper alone. Water cleansing reduces irritation, removes bacteria, and is gentler on sensitive skin. According to the Cleveland Clinic. Bidets can help with conditions like hemorrhoids and urinary tract infections, offering clear health advantages.

3. Sustainability
Europe places a stronger emphasis on eco-conscious living, and bidets align perfectly with that mindset. They drastically reduce toilet paper usage, which saves trees, lowers water waste from paper production, and minimizes clogged sewage systems.

Factor	Europe (With Bidets)	United States (Mostly Toilet Paper)
Hygiene	Superior, water-based cleaning	Limited, paper only
Environmental Impact	Reduced toilet paper use	High toilet paper consumption
Cultural Norm	Widely accepted and expected	Rare, often seen as “foreign”
Comfort	Gentle, refreshing	Can cause irritation or dryness

Bringing the Experience Home

For many Americans, traveling to Europe is their first introduction to bidets. What starts as a curiosity quickly becomes a daily habit that feels impossible to give up. Fortunately, modern bidet attachments and smart toilets make it easy to recreate that European bathroom experience at home with features like heated seats, adjustable spray, and eco-friendly water use.

Final Thoughts

Travel often exposes us to new perspectives, and in this case, a bathroom fixture completely changed how I view hygiene and comfort. Bidets offer a cleaner, more sustainable, and luxurious experience compared to toilet paper alone. Once experienced, it’s hard to go back.

Medical Disclosure: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. For specific health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

 

About The Author:

Hi, I'm Thomas Zink, I am the founder of the Bidet smart store. Over the last two years I have immersed myself with hands-on experience to research bathroom hygiene, smart toilets as well as integrating technology into hundreds of customers' homes helping discover products that elevate their daily routines. I’ve spent countless hours researching bidet functionality, studying bathroom hygiene trends, and personally testing smart toilets and bidet seats to better understand what actually improves the user experience. Every product on my site is carefully chosen based on performance, value, and real-world practicality. My goal as a clean living advocate is to educate millions of people to live a cleaner, more comfortable and high tech lifestyle.