Bidet boom: Toilet technology sees rise in popularity in Canada
When it comes to cleaning up after doing business, North Americans have had a tough time letting go of toilet paper.
But recently, it seems more people are warming up to the idea of bidets.
For the average Canadian before the pandemic, the idea of installing one may have been flushed right away. That’s not the case now.
“We’ve seen a rise in interest in the last couple of years,” said Himalaya Srivastava, store manager at Bath Depot in Kitchener, Ont.
There’s been a steady flow of customers looking for bidets since shoppers battled over toilet paper shortages. In more recent history, they’ve cracked the Canadian market even further.
“Every six months they’re bringing in some kind of new bidets,” said Srivastava.
But what’s behind the boom in this bum-cleaning device?
Srivastava thinks it has to do with people from different parts of the world moving here.
“Americans and North Americans in general, they’re used to using toilet paper. And I, myself, got pretty used to that idea,” said Srivastava. “Mostly, I’ve seen Africans, Southeast Asians – they come in asking for handheld bidets that you can easily attach to the existing pipelines.”
The handheld bidets, also known as bum guns, are among Bath Depot's more popular sellers, but they could soon become number two to the smart toilets.
University of Guelph professor Ryan Gregory is among the new wave of Canadian customers following a recent vacation.
“So what I decided, I think in part on the advice of the family, was to install the same kind of thing we had seen all over Japan,” said Gregory.
His recent post on social media showing he installed not one, but two bidets, has over five million views. Many people expressed their curiosity about the concept.
“It’s a classic example of us in North America, ostensibly discovering something that is widely known already, but it’s not something we’re used to,” said Gregory.
Many bidets operate using water pressure from the bathroom’s supply. But smart toilets require a power outlet to benefit from functions like seat heating and air drying.
Srivastava says no matter the model, it’s worth taking the plunge because it is more hygienic than toilet paper.
“It will make your butt a little softer [too],” he said, chuckling.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
Forecast turns favourable in fight against wildfire threatening northern B.C. town
A low-pressure system moving into northern British Columbia is expected to dampen wildfire activity that has forced several thousand people to flee their homes in and around Fort Nelson, the BC Wildfire Service says.
New study shows financial impact of homelessness on our health-care system
A new study out of London, Ont. lays out the cost of the homelessness crisis on our health-care system.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
Chief says grave search at B.C. residential school brings things 'full circle'
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
'Endless Shrimp' just one misstep for Red Lobster as it eyes bankruptcy protection
While it's unclear what these closures might mean for the 27 restaurants in Canada, Red Lobster is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. this month.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
Evacuees concerned over conflicting information on Fort Nelson wildfire
Evacuees staying in Fort St. John have expressed concern about how little they are hearing about what is happening in their now deserted city.
Insurance claims skyrocket and tensions remain high after slew of natural disasters
According to new data released by Statistics Canada, the cost of catastrophic insurance claims in Canada between 1983 and 2008 was $400 million each year.