The Tushy bidet attachment completely changed how I feel about using toilet paper. Here's how it works.
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"If a bird pooped on you, would you wipe it off with paper, or wash it away?"
The words of Miki Agrawal, the founder of Tushy, a company that sells affordable bidet attachments, haunted me for days.
After listening to Agrawal wax poetic about the benefits of a good bidet spray via one of my favorite wellness podcasts, I just couldn't shake the feeling that I needed — no, deserved — the best bidet. She made it sound so necessary. So eco-friendly. So healthy.
Still, when I finally clicked "Add to Cart" on the White Bamboo Tushy Classic, I braced myself for the embarrassment I'd feel when the package arrived and my husband spotted it. After all, installing a bidet in my bathroom was pretty much equivalent to admitting that I actually, you know, use the bathroom — something I've been able to all but hide from him throughout dating, engagement, and marriage.
About Tushy
Let me back up a bit: Are you familiar with bidets?
As Tushy describes it, a bidet is "a device that sprays your bottom clean." Popular in European and Asian countries, bidets look a little different depending on where you go. In Japan, bidets are usually built right into the toilet. In France, bidets are typically separate basins situated next to the toilet. With Tushy, any toilet can become a bidet.
"I am half Japanese and half Indian, and through both cultures, I grew up with bidets, so I have known about them for a really long time," Agrawal tells Insider Reviews. "I always thought Japanese bidets were way too expensive and I also did not want to spend money adding a French bidet next to my toilet, not to mention in my rental apartment that had no space for it." She ended up getting a bidet attachment as a Valentine's Day present from her now-husband, but it was "ugly and looked like a medical device."
"It was then that I had the ding ding ding moment to create a modern, affordable, designer bidet attachment for the American consumer — a product that both was a 100% upgrade from using dry paper that only smears, and one that aided in fighting the deforestation of trees getting flushed down the toilet every year," Agrawal explains. Thus Tushy was born.
Installation
When my own Tushy arrived, I asked my husband to help me install it and braced myself for some light mocking — but I was shocked on two accounts. One, the installation was super easy. It requires no plumbing experience and barely any tools, and takes only five minutes. I totally could've done it myself (and I'm clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff). Two, my husband didn't laugh. He was certifiably jealous and ordered one for his own bathroom that same night.
Our Review of the Tushy Classic
Yup, we're a two-Tushy household now.
Besides the fact that I just feel cleaner using Tushy, it can be a healthier, more hygienic option than wiping. "With Tushy, you're cleaning up the mess instead of wiping it around," Agrawal says. "Using a Tushy bidet can drastically reduce the likelihood of hemorrhoids, UTIs, and yeast infections, and can prevent anal fissures."
On top of that, using a bidet is just better for the environment and your wallet.
"The average American uses 57 sheets of toilet paper per day," the founder shares, noting that the environmental factor was a driving force behind the development of Tushy. "A single roll of toilet paper takes 37 gallons of water [to make]." According to Statista, the average American household spends closer to around $125 on paper goods including toilet paper and tissue.
"With Tushy, toilet paper use is reduced by 80%" — you still need a little to pat dry — "and water waste can be less than a pint per week," according to Agrawal. "It quickly pays for itself."
Cons to consider
It does take a little getting used to, though.
For the first couple of weeks, I found myself wiping before it became second nature to spray clean with the bidet. And be warned: The sensation is, uh, strange in the beginning. Luckily, Tushy is equipped with a handy lever that controls the angle of the stream (so you can hit the right spot every time) and a knob that controls the pressure (so you can start small).
What are your alternatives?
I have the Tushy Classic for $99, but you can upgrade to the Tushy Spa, which is temperature-controlled, for $129. Our senior reporter named the Tushy Spa one of the best bidets during his hands-on testing of dozens of models. His top overall choice was the Coway Bidetmega 400 Electronic Bidet Seat, but keep in mind that it's significantly more expensive than either Tushy model.
There's also a travel bidet for $29, which is really convenient for travel. Honestly, once you're the proud owner of a Tushy, you'll never want to use a non-Tushy toilet again.
The bottom line
Tushy Facebook
Today, I can't imagine not using a bidet, and I boast the benefits of bidet-ing to anyone who will listen. Thanks to my loud-and-proud advocacy, my husband, my mom, and many of my friends are converts too.
"I am getting approached either in person or via social media every day from people who love their Tushy bidet and share with me that it has completely changed their lives," Agrawal shares. "They feel more confident, clean, and conscious regarding their health and the environment."
Tushy's attachments fit most standard two-piece toilets and some one-piece toilets, so long as you have a flexible hose connection. All you have to do is unscrew the seat, place the Tushy on top, and connect to water — that's it.