From Royal Thrones to High‑Tech Seats: A No‑Filter History of Bidets
Posted by Barry S. on 5th Aug 2025
Origins: A French Fancy
The word bidet literally means “little horse” in French, referencing the straddle position used with the earliest models. The first bidets emerged in early 18th‑century France, where French nobility used small basins filled manually with water. These were luxury items kept in the bedroom near the chamber pot for intimate washing.
Plumbing & the Bathroom Boom By the 19th century, advances in plumbing allowed bidets to move from the bedroom into the bathroom. This shift turned them from lavish accessories into symbols of personal hygiene, though they remained mainly a European phenomenon.
Mr. Bidet & the American Dream
Fast‑forward to the mid‑20th century: American inventor Arnold Cohen (a.k.a. “Mr. Bidet”) created the first bidet toilet seat. His design attached to the existing toilet, eliminating the need for a separate fixture. Unfortunately, U.S. consumers weren’t ready; the idea flopped at home but found success in Japan.
The Japanese Revolution
Japan embraced the bidet and transformed it. In the 1980s, TOTO launched the Washlet, adding warm water cleaning, air drying and heated seats. These high‑tech seats became ubiquitous in Japanese bathrooms and set the standard for modern bidets.
21st Century & Beyond
Today’s bidets are marvels of engineering. UV sterilization, automatic flushing, wireless remotes and odor‑neutralizing functions are now common features. The COVID‑19 pandemic also sparked a surge in bidet adoption worldwide as people became more hygiene‑conscious. With growing awareness of environmental benefits and hygiene, bidets are finally gaining acceptance in markets like the United States.
Why History Matters
Knowing the journey of the bidet underscores why this humble fixture deserves a place in every modern bathroom. What started as a luxury for French aristocrats became a mainstream necessity in Japan and is now poised to revolutionize hygiene worldwide. If you’re still clinging to toilet paper, you’re living in the past. The future is clean, green and refreshingly civilized.
