Why Haven’t Americans Used Bidets—Until Now?
In the United States, people do things a little differently. Americans measure distances in miles and yards, while the rest of the world uses the metric system. The field game played internationally is known as football to most; in the U.S., it’s called soccer. Yet, while these idiosyncrasies are well-entrenched, Americans are beginning to join their fellow global citizens in a popular habit: using a bidet.
The bidet is a common bathroom fixture, particularly in areas of Europe and Asia, that people use to wash themselves after using the toilet. People rave about how it leaves them feeling cleaner and fresher than standard toilet paper. Given all the bidet fanfare, why haven’t Americans used them—until now?
Nation-founding Habits Die Hard
In the 1700s, the bidet was introduced to the aristocracy in France. At that time, the English viewed French culture as “tainted with hedonism and sensuality.” Many of America’s first settlers were Puritans from England who brought this opinion with them—along with their ethic for hard work and submission to God. The refreshment of a deeper clean had no place amid the toil of starting a new nation.
Americans Make Associations in WWII
Centuries later, as American soldiers fought World War II on European lands, they came into contact with bidets for the first time in their lives. Only it was a salacious association, as bidets were common in French brothels. Thus Americans thought of bidets in connection with prostitution. It’s fair to say that soldiers didn’t write home about the bidet—nor about how they learned of them. In other words, what happened in French bathrooms, stayed in French bathrooms.
American Modesty
Blame it on the Puritans and other strict influences: to this day, Americans are modest towards intimate topics, such as bathroom habits. In fact, the first toilet did not appear on film until Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho in 1960. Until recently, the idea of discussing anything toilet-related, yet alone a unique bathroom fixture to clean one’s derriere, was simply too audacious for many Americans.
But American times are a-changin’. Launching in the spring of 2019, people will be able to replace the standard seat on their toilet with the Coway Bidetmega 200. In doing so, they will experience a new level of clean, plus the ability to customize the water temperature and warm the seat to their liking. Americans may never measure water flow in liters, but they will appreciate the Coway Bidetmega’s low-gallon water usage, too.
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, Airmega Tower AP-1216L, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
