No Toilet Paper, No Problem

Remember the great toilet paper shortage, when the shelves at the local Woolies and Coles were stripped bare? It left a lot of us wondering what on earth we'd do if we actually ran out. The silver lining was that plenty of people discovered there's a cleaner, more hygienic option that doesn't depend on the supermarket at all: the humble bidet.

Australians have been a bit late to the party, but bidets have taken off here in a big way. Water cleans more effectively than dry paper, the high-tech seats even dry you off, and you cut down on waste while you're at it. If you're thinking about one, here's a rundown of your three main options and what each one costs.

The original bidet

The bidet was thought up centuries ago in France and is widely used across Europe, so much so that in some countries it's required in every bathroom alongside the toilet. The original is designed to be straddled and sat on to wash up after you've been to the loo. If you've seen Crocodile Dundee, you'll remember Mick spending a fair while working out why a swanky hotel had "two dunnies". It's a conundrum plenty of Aussies would still find themselves in, because the traditional bidet never really took off here.

As for cost, a back-to-wall bidet varies a lot, from around $600 for a budget model up to about $4,500 for the tankless, auto-flushing, all-the-tech version. That's before installation. The other thing to weigh up is space, because it's a sizeable addition and your bathroom dimensions may limit your options. Get the tape measure out before you commit.

The bidet toilet seat

The bidet toilet seat is a different thing altogether, a modern version with all the bells and whistles you didn't know you needed. It's hugely popular in Japan, where most homes have one, though it was actually invented in the US back in the 1960s.

These seats often come with heated seats, automatic washing and drying, separate cleansing options, self-cleaning nozzles and even an auto deodoriser, and you can usually tailor the temperature and settings to suit. On price, a reputable one that's Watermark Level 4 and meets Australian standards starts around $630 and runs up to about $1,900, again before installation. Our suppliers tell us the quality and reliability are much the same across the range; it's the extra features that push the price up. People who have one installed tend to rave about it and reckon they'd never go back.

The bidet spray

The bidet spray, or as plumbers have affectionately named it, the bum gun, is the last option and the most basic. It's a hand-held sprayer that does the job after you've used the toilet, and it's widely used across Asia. When it's installed properly by a licensed plumber you can have warm and cold water options, and because it's so compact you don't need any extra space, it just sits as an accessory next to your existing toilet.

It's also the most economical of the three. Prices usually start around $100 and go up to about $570 for a top-of-the-range model, before installation. Simple, but it gets the job done, and it's a great option if you're on a budget.

A quick word on installation

Thinking of grabbing one from Bunnings and fitting it yourself? In Australia, any bidet product connected to the drinking water supply must be installed by a licensed plumber, so it's actually illegal to take it on yourself without the right qualification. Professional installation keeps it compliant with the Plumbing Code of Australia and makes sure your new addition keeps working properly for years.

How we do it at Fix-It Right

If you've decided a bidet's for you, we'll fit it properly and talk you through the best option for your bathroom and budget. We keep it simple: there's $0 call-out, we give you three written quotes so you can pick what suits you, and you'll always know the price before we start. If the number's a stretch, Fix-It Now Pay Later gives you 12 months with no interest and no repayments. Every job is backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee, because the whole idea is to fix it properly the first time. Plumbing fixed for good, not fixed for now.

We cover Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Canberra. Book online or give us a call to talk through the right bidet for your place.