The complete guide
Buying Guide
What it is
A handheld bidet is a small sprayer on a hose that lives beside the toilet. You use it after you go, wash with water, then pat dry. Shattaf, bum gun and muslim shower are other names for the same thing.
This one has a gold finish. The listing describes the sprayer as stainless steel, so the gold is the finish on the outside, not solid metal all the way through. The supplier does not publish how that finish is applied, so we are not going to make up a plating spec for it.
What you are paying for
Bidet Co UK sells three handheld bidets. The stainless steel kit is £49. The black and gold kits are £79 each. All of them are handheld sprayers fed through a T-valve and hose, so the choice comes down to what your bathroom looks like.
If your taps, shower set or towel rail are gold or brass, a steel sprayer beside them is the thing that looks out of place. That is the case for this kit. If everything in the room is chrome, save the £30 and buy the stainless steel one.
One practical point in gold's favour: at £79 it is over the £75 free delivery line on its own, which the £49 kit is not.
The parts
The listing names these parts:
- a handheld sprayer, stainless steel with a gold finish, with an on and off lever
- a stainless steel T-valve that adjusts the pressure and the spray type, and shuts the water off completely
- an extra-long flexible braided hose
- several mounting options for the sprayer
A full box contents list, the hose length, the dimensions and the weight are not published by the supplier.
How it fits
The T-valve goes on the cold supply pipe that feeds your toilet cistern. The cistern keeps filling through one outlet of the valve, and the other outlet feeds the braided hose to the handset. The sprayer is then mounted where you can reach it from the seat.
Installation and backflow requirements apply to a bidet sprayer connected to the mains next to a toilet. Follow the product instructions and the water regulations where you live, and use a qualified plumber if you are unsure.
Before you order, check you can get to that supply pipe. A cistern hidden behind a panel or boxed into a wall is the awkward case.
Using it
Set the pressure low at the valve to start with. It is cold mains water, and the first go can be a surprise. Turn it up until it feels right, then leave it there.
Sit as normal, bring the handset down, aim and wash. Pat dry afterwards. You will get through less toilet paper this way, because you only need a little to dry off.
It earns its place for other jobs too, like rinsing solids off cloth nappies over the toilet bowl before they go in the wash. Close the valve fully when you are away for a few days, or when small children have discovered it.
Looking after the finish
Gold shows water marks more than plain steel does. A quick wipe with a dry cloth after use stops spots building up. For a proper clean, use a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
Keep scouring pads and abrasive creams away from it, because they can scratch or dull the finish. If limescale builds up in a hard water area, check the product instructions before you use any descaler on it.
Delivery and returns
UK delivery is free on orders of £75 or more. Below £75 it is £25, and an express option is charged at £25. Orders ship after a 24-48 hour handling time and arrive in 5-7 days. You can pay by card or PayPal.
If the gold is not right for your room, you can return it within 15 days of delivery. UK consumers have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and we allow 15. There is no cancellation fee and no handling fee. Faulty goods are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.