Dear America, re: toilet hygiene - you're doing it wrong.
Every time we visit the US, we go through a difficult transition period of trying to figure out how to, uh, get clean after using the bathroom. You see, in the UAE (as in much of the world), toilet paper is seen more as a means of drying off rather than cleaning up. If you catch my drift. Even the nastiest bathroom in the farthest outpost of semi-civilization is usually equipped with some sort of bidet hose (or hygiene hose or bidet shower or "sprayer," as our kids call it). In fact, you can't always count on toilet paper being on hand, but you can always count on at least being able to spray off your nether regions.
And you guys, the hygiene hose system is sooooo superior, I can't believe the lack of general outrage in the US that these hoses/sprayers are not widely available. I know Americans think stand-alone bidets are weird. I get it. They are kind of weird. We have one in our master bedroom and it's more of a novelty, kid-height sink than anything else.
But the bidet in its hose form? Divine. Think about it: what if you accidentally got peanut butter smeared all over your hands? What would you reach for first to clean it up - a Kleenex, or a water faucet?
Yeah.
And it's more than just a great, clean feeling after using the bathroom. Hygiene hoses have so many other uses:
- spraying solid matter off soiled diapers before disposing of them
- vomit cleanup of clothing/bedding (sorry, but seriously, SO HANDY)
- sandy bum cleanup for the kids after the beach
- cleaning the toilet itself
- filling up large, awkwardly-sized buckets for mopping, etc.
- reducing the use of toilet paper
I apologize if any of you find this post disgusting, but the message of hygiene hoses is too good not to share. If you ever have a chance to use one, please do...
...and then demand that America get with the program!
And you guys, the hygiene hose system is sooooo superior, I can't believe the lack of general outrage in the US that these hoses/sprayers are not widely available. I know Americans think stand-alone bidets are weird. I get it. They are kind of weird. We have one in our master bedroom and it's more of a novelty, kid-height sink than anything else.
But the bidet in its hose form? Divine. Think about it: what if you accidentally got peanut butter smeared all over your hands? What would you reach for first to clean it up - a Kleenex, or a water faucet?
Yeah.
And it's more than just a great, clean feeling after using the bathroom. Hygiene hoses have so many other uses:
- spraying solid matter off soiled diapers before disposing of them
- vomit cleanup of clothing/bedding (sorry, but seriously, SO HANDY)
- sandy bum cleanup for the kids after the beach
- cleaning the toilet itself
- filling up large, awkwardly-sized buckets for mopping, etc.
- reducing the use of toilet paper
I apologize if any of you find this post disgusting, but the message of hygiene hoses is too good not to share. If you ever have a chance to use one, please do...
...and then demand that America get with the program!