Bidets in South Africa: Types, Bidet Toilets and How to Choose the Right One

A bidet is one of the simplest ways to make a bathroom feel more hygienic, more comfortable and a little more luxurious. Interest in bidets is growing in South Africa, and the options have grown well beyond the classic standalone bowl. Today you can choose a wall-hung or floor-standing bidet, a compact bidet spray beside the toilet, or a shower toilet that combines both in a single fixture.

This guide explains how each type of bidet works, how much space and plumbing they need, which taps and mixers to pair them with, and what to budget, so you can choose the right bidet for your home.

What Is a Bidet?

A bidet is a low basin you sit on to wash after using the toilet. According to the Wikipedia entry on the bidet, it appears to have been invented by French furniture makers in the late 17th century.

The appeal is easy to understand. Many people find washing with water gentler and more thorough than paper alone, and a bidet can be especially welcome for anyone with sensitive skin or limited mobility. Bidets can also reduce the amount of toilet paper a household uses. Today's designs are sleek and easy to clean, so a bidet sits comfortably alongside a modern toilet and basin.

Types of Bidet

The word "bidet" now covers four quite different products. Which one suits you depends on your space, your budget and how much building work you are prepared to take on.

Wall-hung bidets

A wall-hung bidet is fixed to a concealed frame inside the wall, so it appears to float above the floor. It is the natural partner for a wall-hung toilet, and the open floor beneath makes cleaning quick and easy. Wall-hung models in our bidet collection include Duravit D-Code, DuraStyle, D-Neo and Starck 3, and Geberit Icon, Smyle Square, Acanto and Xeno2.

The frame does the hard work. Geberit's Duofix elements for bidets come in 82 cm, 98 cm and 112 cm heights to suit different wall and vanity layouts. Because the frame has to be built into the wall, a wall-hung bidet is best planned as part of a full bathroom renovation.

Floor-standing and back-to-wall bidets

A floor-standing bidet sits on the floor like a traditional toilet pan. Back-to-wall versions sit flush against the wall or a furniture unit, hiding the pipework for a neater finish. These are simpler to install than wall-hung designs and are a sensible choice when you are updating a bathroom without opening up the walls. Options include the Lecico Atlas, Geberit Selnova and the Duravit D-Code, DuraStyle, D-Neo and Starck 3 ranges.

Bidet sprays and bidette hand showers

If you would like the benefits of a bidet without a second bowl, a bidet spray is the answer. Also known as a bidet shower, health faucet or shattaf, it is a hand-held trigger nozzle that mounts on the wall beside the toilet and connects to the water supply.

Our trigger sprays and bidette hand showers include Hansgrohe's Bidette hand showers, available in cold-water versions or mixed-water versions that let you control the temperature, plus Axor and Meir designs in finishes such as matt black, brushed black chrome and lustre bronze. Many come with a holder and a 1.25 m hose. Because a spray needs no extra floor space, it is ideal for compact bathrooms and guest toilets. For more space-saving ideas, see our guide to small bathroom ideas.

Shower toilets and bidet toilets

A shower toilet, often called a bidet toilet, builds the washing function into the toilet itself. At the touch of a button, a slim spray arm beneath the seat delivers a gentle stream of water, so you never have to move from the toilet. It is the most comfortable and space-efficient option of all.

The Geberit AquaClean range includes complete wall-hung shower toilets such as the Alba, Tuma, Sela and Mera, plus enhancement solutions like the AquaClean 4000 that add a washing function to a compatible existing toilet. The Duravit SensoWash range offers shower-toilet seats designed for Duravit's Starck, DuraStyle and D-Neo toilets, as well as complete SensoWash shower toilets. Because these are electronic, they need a power point near the toilet, installed by a qualified electrician.

Bidet Taps and Mixers

A traditional bidet needs its own tap, and the mixer you choose affects both comfort and style. Most modern bidet taps are single-lever mixers, which let you set the water temperature and flow with one hand. Look for these features:

• An included waste set. Many bidet mixers come with a pop-up or push-open waste, so you can fill the bowl if you prefer.
• A finish that matches your basin mixer. Hansgrohe's Talis E, Finoris and Metropol bidet mixers come in chrome, matt black, matt white, brushed bronze, brushed black chrome and polished gold optic, so it is easy to coordinate every tap in the room.
• The right fit for your bowl. Check whether your bidet has a tap hole and platform for a deck-mounted mixer before you choose.

Ranges from Hansgrohe, Axor, Duravit, Blutide and Gio Bella mean you can match your bidet mixer to almost any basin mixer in your bathroom.

How to Choose the Right Bidet

Measure your space

A standalone bidet usually sits beside the toilet, so you need room for two fixtures plus comfortable clearance around each one. Most of the bidets in our range measure between about 510 mm and 575 mm from the wall to the front of the bowl. If space is tight, a bidet spray or a shower toilet gives you the same function within the footprint of the toilet you already have.

Match it to your toilet

A bidet looks best when it matches the toilet beside it in shape, height and glaze. Ranges such as Duravit D-Neo and Geberit Icon include a matching toilet and bidet, so the two fixtures read as a pair. Our guide to choosing a toilet covers the toilet side of the decision in more detail.

Wall-hung or floor-standing?

Choose wall-hung if you are renovating fully, want the cleanest look and are already installing a concealed cistern for a wall-hung toilet. Choose floor-standing or back-to-wall if you want a simpler installation with less building work.

Plan the plumbing early

A bidet with a mixer needs both hot and cold water, plus a waste connection and trap. A cold-water bidet spray only needs a cold supply, while a mixed-water spray needs hot and cold. A shower toilet needs water and electricity. Talk to your plumber before you buy, so the supply points end up in the right place.

What Does a Bidet Cost in South Africa?

Prices vary widely depending on the type and brand. As a guide, at the time of writing the products in our range are priced roughly as follows:

• Bidet pans: from around R1,300 for an entry-level floor-standing model to over R11,000 for designer ranges such as Duravit Starck 3.
• Bidet mixers: from around R2,100, rising to over R20,000 for premium finishes such as polished red gold.
• Bidet sprays and bidette hand showers: from under R500 for a basic trigger spray head, or from around R1,100 for a complete trigger spray set.
• Shower toilets: from around R12,000 for an enhancement solution such as the AquaClean 4000, to over R80,000 for a top-of-the-range AquaClean Mera.

Remember to budget for installation, plus a concealed frame if you choose a wall-hung bidet.

How to Use a Bidet

If you have never used a bidet before, it is simpler than it looks:

• Use the toilet first, then move across to the bidet.
• Sit facing whichever way is comfortable. Facing the tap makes it easier to adjust the temperature and flow.
• Start with a gentle flow and check the water temperature before you begin.
• Pat dry afterwards with a small towel or a little toilet paper.

With a shower toilet, the process is even easier. You simply stay seated and use the remote control or control panel to adjust the spray.

Find the Right Bidet for Your Bathroom

Whether you want a classic wall-hung bidet, a discreet bidet spray or a fully featured shower toilet, the right choice comes down to your space, your plumbing and how you use your bathroom every day. Browse our full bidet collection online, or visit our Kramerville showroom to see the options in person and compare finishes, and enjoy a cup of our signature coffee while our team helps you plan the perfect bathroom.