Toilet Paper as the Default
Toilet paper is central to American restroom habits. Familiar brands such as Charmin, Angel Soft, and Scott help make it feel inseparable from the bathroom experience.

Water-Based Hygiene Worldwide
While U.S. restrooms rely mostly on paper, many countries use water as a routine part of hygiene. Toilet paper dries, but water cleans. For people used to bidets or handheld sprays, paper-only restrooms can feel limiting. Water-based cleaning is common across much of the world, including Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, and South America.

Choice, Not Replacement
The goal is not to eliminate toilet paper, but to add an option. Public restrooms can keep paper while also offering bidets or water sprays for those who prefer or rely on them. Offering water-based hygiene would make public spaces more accommodating. In a country shaped by many cultures, inclusion should extend even to restrooms. Adding bidets alongside toilet paper would expand choice and make restrooms more hygienic, flexible, and sustainable without forcing anyone to change their routine.

Practical, Not Extravagant
Bidets are often seen as luxuries, but they range from high-end models to inexpensive attachments. A basic attachment can cost about as much as common bathroom accessories, making it practical rather than indulgent. CNN Underscored reports, “A bidet is cleaner and more sustainable than toilet paper.”

Challenging A Luxury Myth
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew attention after saying he hoped to install bidets at Gracie Mansion. Critics framed the idea as a luxury, though he later clarified that he meant a simple handheld attachment costing about twenty-five dollars. The reaction shows how bidets are often mistaken for symbols of excess rather than affordable hygiene tools. Normalizing bidets in public spaces could show that sustainability, comfort, and inclusion do not have to be costly or exclusive.

A More Welcoming Restroom Culture
Many countries already accommodate both toilet paper and bidets. For visitors and newcomers, paper-only restrooms can be hard to adjust to. If America welcomes people from many cultures, that welcome should include everyday spaces like restrooms.

Small Changes, Broader Impact
A realistic first step is adding one or two bidet-equipped stalls in each restroom, preserving toilet paper while giving people another option. Installing a few bidets in public restrooms would show that sustainability and inclusion can begin with small, practical changes.