A bidet shower—also known as a handheld bidet, commode shower, toilet shower, health faucet, bum shower, jet spray, hand shower, shatafa (from the , "hand shower rinser"), Muslim shower (common in Pakistan) or bum gun—is a hand-held triggered nozzle that is placed near the toilet and delivers a spray of water used for anal cleansing and cleaning of the genitals after using the toilet for defecation and urination. The device is similar to that of a kitchen sink sprayer.
In predominantly Muslim world,
Description
The shower is a source of water for people who prefer using water rather than other methods of cleansing after defecation or urination.
The shower is an alternative for the traditional sources of water for this action, such as the
bidet, copper pot or bucket and mug, being more hygienic and compact. There is no contact between the spray of water and the used water drainage.
Image:Bum_Gun_Installation.JPG|Typical faucet installation
Image:Bum_Gun_Detail.JPG|Faucet close up
Image:Bidee shower.jpg|A Finnish model, manufactured by Oras
Image:Waldorf Astoria NY bidet shower.jpg|A bidet shower at the Waldorf Astoria New York
Image:Bidet shower greek style.jpg|Setup with dedicated mixing faucet
Usage
The user aims the faucet and sprays water at the anus or genitals to assist in cleansing after using the
toilet. Toilet paper may be used to clean and dry, or a towel can be used to dry. The bidet shower can also be disinfected using disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray, or other means after use.
Prevalence
The hand shower, or bidet shower, is now common in the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, South America, North Africa, etc., where water is considered essential for
anal cleansing. This includes
Algeria,
Bangladesh,
Brazil,
Cambodia,
Egypt,
India,
Indonesia,
Iran,
Iraq,
Libya,
Malaysia,
Maldives,
Morocco,
Nepal,
Pakistan,
Philippines,
Singapore,
Saudi Arabia,
Sri Lanka,
Thailand, United Arab Emirates,
Vietnam etc. In some of these countries, it is commonly installed in Western-style (sitting) toilet installations. In
Pakistan,
India,
Thailand, and the Arabian Peninsula it is common in both Western-style toilets and
squat toilet installations. It is so ubiquitous that Thai parliamentarians were outraged upon learning that the toilets in their new parliament building were not equipped with bidet showers (, ).
The bidet shower is similar in intent, if not method of use, to the Japanese
washlet-style toilet seats, or
.
Bidet showers are used by Muslims in Muslim countries and all parts of the Arab world as well as in Asia in order to cleanse themselves with water after using the toilet, as a part of Islamic toilet etiquette.
The Anal hygiene in many Christian countries is due in part to the biblical toilet etiquette which encourages washing after all instances of defecation.
History
In the early 1990s, Rizwan Sajan and Anis Sajan based in
Dubai founded the company Danube Group and began selling handheld bidet showers called Shattaf. It soon became widespread across much of the Arab world and Asia.
See also
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Bidet
-
Hygiene in Christianity
-
Islamic toilet etiquette
-
Islamic hygienical jurisprudence
-
Tabo (hygiene)
-
Lota (vessel)
-
Toilets in Japan
-
Washlet
