More Than Half of Young People Don't Use Bidet Toilets? ─ Thorough Examination of the Misunderstandings and Truth About "Unsanitary" Claims

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Current State of Bidet-Equipped Toilet Seats

2. Why Don't Young People Use Them? Usage Data and Psychological Barriers

3. Three Misconceptions Surrounding the "Unhygienic" Argument

4. Infection Risks and Hygiene Indicators in Latest Research

5. Technological Innovations and Cleaning Guidelines by Manufacturers and Facilities

6. Global Toilet Situations and Cultural Images

7. Correct Usage: Best Practices for Angle, Water Pressure, and Cleaning Time

8. Health Benefits and Precautions You Should Know

9. SDGs Perspective: How to Reduce Paper, Water, and CO₂

10. Conclusion and Future Challenges

1. Introduction: The Current State of Bidet-Equipped Toilet Seats

Since TOTO launched the "Washlet" in 1980, the penetration rate in Japan has exceeded 80%. However, when viewed by generation, usage experience among those in their 20s and 30s remains around half, with a strong tendency to avoid using them outside the home pinzuba.newskufura.jp. The background includes differences in perception such as "bacteria on the nozzle might splash back," "it's troublesome to operate," and "unlike the parent generation, there is no 'emotional experience from paper wiping.'"

2. Why Don't Young People Use Them? Usage Data and Psychological Barriers

• Online Survey (2025): 57% of people in their 20s "rarely use or have never used" pinzuba.news

• Japan Restroom Industry Association Survey (2024): Average usage rate of 46% among teenagers, 63% in their 30s, and 76% in their 50s kufura.jp
  
  

Psychological Factors

1. Hygiene Anxiety: Concerns about bacteria on the nozzle scattering onto one's skin or clothing

2. Operation Anxiety: Fear of failing to adjust water pressure or temperature properly

3. Privacy Anxiety: Fear of sounds or water splashes being heard or seen by others

4. Lack of Information: Few opportunities to learn "correct usage" in schools or homes

3. Three Misconceptions Surrounding the "Unhygienic" Argument

1. Nozzles are always contaminated

   • In reality, 77% of models have "automatic cleaning before and after use," and disinfection functions using silver ion water or electrolyzed water are widespread.
     
     

2. Public toilets are particularly dangerous

   • Research on aerosol dispersion in the air reports that bacteria can be reduced by 93% with a lid-equipped toilet and automatic nozzle cleaning sciencedirect.com.
     
     

3. Higher infection risk than paper

   • Comparison tests reported that E. coli counts on fingers are on average 10 times higher for those who use toilet paper kufura.jp.

4. Infection Risks and Hygiene Indicators in Latest Research

• 2017 University Hospital Survey: Staphylococcus aureus and others were detected in 254 out of 292 units. However, the main cause was "old models with inadequate cleaning"  healthline.com.
  
  

• 2025 Public Facility Research: Visualized aerosols generated by flushing bidet toilets showed that the amount of bacteria backflowing to the nozzle side was almost below the detection limit with lid closure and disinfectant spray sciencedirect.com.
  
  

• Cleveland Clinic Opinion (2023): Reported that the risk of UTI and vaginitis is low with correct water flow direction (front→back) and nozzle cleaning health.clevelandclinic.org.

5. Technological Innovations and Cleaning Guidelines by Manufacturers and Facilities

• Automatic Nozzle Cleaning & UV-LED Disinfection, Disinfectant Mist, and Disposable Nozzle Covers have been standardized.

• The cleaning manual by the Japan Restroom Industry Association and the National Building Maintenance Association recommends "four-color cloth method, one-direction wiping, and weekly regular cleaning" sanitary-net.com.

• Municipal public toilets are conducting demonstration experiments to measure usage frequency with IoT sensors and issue cleaning notifications when contamination thresholds are exceeded.

6. Global Toilet Situations and Cultural Images

In Europe and Latin America, "standalone bidets" have historically existed, while in the U.S., the aftermarket bidet market rapidly expanded during the 2020 toilet paper shortage. With growing environmental awareness, hotel chains have emerged that aim to reduce paper usage by 50% .health.clevelandclinic.org. Meanwhile, in Islamic countries, the hand shower culture is mainstream, with the concept of "water cleansing = purification" deeply rooted.

7. Correct Usage: Best Practices for Angle, Water Pressure, and Cleaning Time

8. Health Benefits and Precautions You Should Know

• Benefits

  • Improvement of constipation and hemorrhoids, reduction of perianal dermatitis

  • Support for independence of the elderly and disabled (no need for forward bending)

  • Reduction of hand contamination risk → Suppression of infectious diseases
    
    

• Precautions

  • Do not let the nozzle touch the skin directly

  • Always wash hands with soap after washing

  • Manual nozzle cleaning once a week + internal inspection once a year

9. SDGs Perspective: How to Reduce Paper, Water, and CO₂

Toilet paper production is said to consume 1.5 billion trees and 73 billion liters of water annually. If each household reduces paper usage by 60% with bidet use, it is expected to reduce CO₂ by about 28 kg per year (including the life cycle analysis from paper→raw wood→transport). Additionally, transitioning to energy-saving heaters and instant hot water models can reduce standby power by 60%.

10. Conclusion and Future Challenges

• Scientific Conclusion: With appropriate cleaning and usage, bidet-equipped toilet seats are evidenced to be "more hygienic than paper wiping."

• Measures for Young People: Disseminate "usage videos" and "visualized nozzle disinfection data" in schools, universities, and workplaces to dispel "vague anxieties."

• Facility Management: Improve the reliability of public toilets with IoT cleaning management, UV disinfection, and disposable nozzle covers.