Bidet (diaper) spray! (a cloth diaper topic derivative)

Executive Member Joined: Aug 12 2010 Posts: 365

OK, this will sound funnier to the Americans vs. the Israelis (because I've seen these in Israel) but I was looking into getting a bidet spray for the toilet:

This particular one above and this particular one which I find severely entertaining, but my husband won't get it because it creeps him out just SO happens to be sold by an Arab company ..seemsthe Muslims are commanded to be clean for before they pray in a way (and you're talking to someone quite pro-Kahane) -- ehh, whatever, check this out if you care about that: http://girlsguidetobeingmuslim.blogspot.com/2009/02/istanja-what-it-is-and-how-to-make-it.html which actually gives a good explanation on why I use a jillion baby wipes on myself besides the fact that I am neurotic.

now. I want this for two reasons:

1. my own cleanliness (I tried it at the cloth diaper store and yes, it is nippy, but it's worth way more than buying tons of baby wipes or taking the time to take a shower each time I um make a deposit)

2. instead of yichily swooshing a cloth diaper in the toilet after the baby goes #2, you just shpritz off the offending matter into the toilet and badabing badaboom you're finished with quite the less gross factor.

so ... someone on Amazon posted that this item was made cheaply and it leaks, and that she built her own bidet sprays by going to the hardware store and asking for parts, setting up each of her four toilets for about $10. Definitely better than blowing $40 on something of shoddy construction.

This is what she posted in case any of you are also interested in this:

This will all sound pretty complicated, but it is actually very simple. Hopefully, you have a good hardware store close by, with employees that will help you figure out your individual needs, and how you should vary this process for your own bathroom. I am lucky to have a great hardware store in my neighorhood and they helped me figure it out. It takes three easy steps: 1. Sprayer; 2. Hose; 3. T-Splitter. Here are the details:

The first thing you should do is print a photo of the item you are trying to copy. Then take some digital photos of your toilet - especially the base of the toilet where the water comes in. Take these photos to the hardware store and ask a knowledgable employee to help you figure out the exact things you will need to make this work. Go to the hardware store and get:

1. A Kitchen Sink Sprayer. A sprayer that is commonly used in a kitchen sink. There are several different quality types but underneath it all, they are pretty much all the same. Just decide how much you want to spend, and purchase one that is decent quality. You will also need to buy fittings to attach the sprayer to the sprayer hose. Some of these things come in a complete set, but if you buy a set, you must make sure that the hose is long enough.

2. Hose - NOT a garden hose, but the kind that attaches to a kitchen sprayer. There are several grades, and I used the kind that is re-inforced with a nylon weave. You can get a flexible stainless steel sprayer if you want to pay more. Get a length of hose that fits the sprayer - making sure that the hose is long enough to do the job well without being constricted. My bathtub is next to my toilet, so I got enough to reach into the tub, and the sprayer drapes down into the tub when not in use. This way, if it springs a leak, the water goes down the drain and not all over the floor. If you have a sink or tub close to the toilet, this is a safe way to store it. If this isn't convenient, you should plan to turn off the little tap at the base of the toilet when the sprayer isn't in use. Just make sure that the length of hose is long enough to reach around and give you plenty of room to do the job. Every application is different, so make sure you measure from the base of the toilet to where you want it to hang, with plenty of excess so that you don't have to fight it while using it. When the spray nozzle is securely attached to the hose, you are ready to attach the unit to the plumbing pipe that feeds the toilet tank. This pipe usually comes out of the wall at the base of the toilet, and it attaches via a flexible pipe to the toilet tank. You will need to turn off the water at this source and replace the flexible pipe with a T-Splitter.

3. T-Splitter. This is a little plumbing device that can fit the water source for the toilet tank. You will need to make sure that the T-splitter you purchase will fit the water source on one end, and will connect to the bidet hose at the first T, and to the toilet tank hose at the second T. This water source is located at the base of the toilet - it comes in at the wall and there is a little hose that attaches the toilet tank to the water source. Be sure to turn off the water at the wall for this step, or else you will spray water everywhere! After the water is turned off, you will remove the hose that connects the water source to the toilet tank, and attach the T- Splitter to the little water source pipe. Then, re-attach the hose to one opening of the T-Splitter, and attach the sink sprayer hose to the other opening of the T-Splitter. There should be a little tap and valve on the T-splitter, so that you can control which hose the water will flow into. You can make the water go completely into the toilet tank, or you can make the water go completely into the bidet sprayer, or you can set it to the middle and the T spliter will feed both sources, to fill the toilet or sprayer as needed. You should set it to the middle, so that each function will get water when needed.

This is an overview of what I did. You will also need some incidentals, such as teflon tape, or some other connective seal to prevent water leakage at the pipe connections.

What do you think? A gut voch Smile

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