I Got a TUSHY Bidet and Everything Is Different Now

One summer, I became convinced my phone could hear my toilet flushing. It seemed like every other time I flushed before I could even make it back to the couch, I was served a Facebook ad for bamboo toilet paper, organic personal hygiene products or air freshener (rude).

And then one day I got an ad for a TUSHY bidet attachment. It boasted quick installation and required no plumbing or electricity — just attach it to your toilet, connect it to the water supply and go. And it was under $100. As a renter, this felt revolutionary. But as a person with an often fleeting attention span, I decided to put a pin in the idea, forgot about it and then three years passed.

TUSHY came rushing back into my life in late March 2020, when most of the country was still under government-mandated lockdowns. I was genuinely out of toilet paper, and it was nowhere to be found. Not at the grocery store, not online — I even tried hunting for it at the hardware store. No luck. And then it hit me that I should finally just get a bidet attachment. But I wasn't the only one with the idea — people clogged up TUSHY's website with orders and searches for bidets were on the rise.

Previously, I had always thought bidets were high-end, luxury features reserved for HGTV Smart Home main bathrooms and friends who had studied abroad in college. Maybe you thought the same thing. Modern bidets often are separate bowls that sit next to a toilet, requiring separate plumbing. They look like very low sinks — some have faucet handles with a nozzle above or just inside the toilet bowl, while others have handheld hoses. The end goal is the same: to make the user feel cleaner after using the bathroom. Instead of going through several rounds of toilet paper and flushable wipes, simply squat over the bidet for a cleansing stream of water.

You can find bidets in public bathrooms in Europe, Latin America and Japan. Though you might not see a bidet here in the U.S. at your favorite restaurant, they’re more common than you would think. Bidets are also environmentally friendly — according to Business Insider, it takes 37 gallons of water to make a single roll of toilet paper while a bidet might only use around one-eighth of a gallon. And you don’t have to fork over thousands or completely remodel your bathroom to get one installed. Many companies, like TUSHY, make affordable bidet attachments that connect directly to the toilet seat that you can order online or pick up at your local hardware store.

TUSHY recommends sending a photo of your toilet and water connection before ordering. They’re quick to respond – I sent off the photo below on a Sunday evening and by the next afternoon I received confirmation the TUSHY Classic would work with my toilet.

If you’re considering the TUSHY Spa, the upgraded model with temperature control settings that let you use both cool and warm water, know that it needs access to the hot water connection from your sink. My bathroom vanity is directly attached to the wall, housing the hot water connection in the cabinetry, so the TUSHY Spa wasn’t an option for me.

The TUSHY Classic comes in simple packaging and comes with a flexible steel hose, reinforced plastic adapter (essentially a splitter for your water connection), rubber pads for the toilet seat, an extra nozzle cap and Teflon tape (a material that helps with sealing the pipe connection and prevents leaks). The instructions have a visual guide for every step of the installation process. The only thing you need that doesn’t come in the box is a flathead screwdriver. (Confession: I didn’t feel like digging through tools and used a butter knife.)

Installation was simple enough. I turned off the water and emptied the toilet tank before removing the toilet seat. Then I disconnected my existing flexible hose from the toilet and connected it to the bottom of the mega adapter – this piece works as a splitter so your water supply can connect to TUSHY. Then I connected TUSHY to the adapter with the flexible hose that came in the box.

They say this over and over again in the instructions, but make sure not to over-tighten the screws or you could damage the threads, causing leaks. I seemed to have a tight seal, so I didn’t end up using the Teflon tape – though I didn’t really have any choice, because I accidentally destroyed the Teflon tape trying to unravel it. I should have watched TUSHY’s YouTube video on how to use it, but too proudly assumed I could figure it out. It was embarrassing. Let’s move on.

Installing the TUSHY and reattaching the toilet seat was the only part that got a little testy. I should have asked my roommate for help to make sure it was aligned and staying in place because it accidentally shifted and I had to unscrew and start over. Even with that blunder, it only took me about 35 minutes from start to finish to install it.

The knob on TUSHY Classic has two functions. Turn the knob to the “Bum Wash” to adjust the pressure to clean yourself. Remember to turn the knob slowly — it packs a surprising amount of power, so there's no need to crank it up to full blast or you'll get splashed or you might experience ... some discomfort. Just trust me on this. Turn the knob the other direction to clean the nozzle. TUSHY Classic also features a lever that adjusts the angle of the nozzle.

It may take a few tries to find the perfect positioning for you. It felt a bit silly at first because I was basically having to retrain myself on how to sit on the toilet. My toilet seat is plastic and isn’t heavy at all, causing it and TUSHY to slide occasionally, but usually isn’t too bad as long as I’m careful to adjust the seat before I sit down. The cold water also took some getting used to, especially first thing in the morning when I was still half asleep — if you’re a cold shower person, you’ll probably love it.

At first, I found it hard to put into words how much easier it made things … until I visited my parents for two weeks over the summer. Going back to regular old TP was, to be completely honest, terrible. I never felt as clean, and I even missed the cold water.

TUSHY is truly a game-changer. TUSHY reeled me in with their witty marketing (they have potty mouths) and kept me interested with their low price point and ease of installation. I truly regret not buying it sooner. If you’re on the fence, I think you’ll find it a worthwhile investment. I plan on buying one for my parents’ house and have converted several of my friends. Will you join us?

Note: I won’t be taking any questions or criticisms about taking my phone into the bathroom in the first place. It is what it is.