If you want a bidet but you don’t own your home, you might think that you have no options. If your landlord says they don’t want you to change anything about your apartment, can you install bidets in apartments without making permanent changes?
There are bidets that you can install in apartments because they require no modifications to your toilet or your bathroom. Since the use of bidets has become so popular, there are all kinds of bidet attachments on the market that are very easy to install. Some might need you to make small modifications, while others just need to be hooked up to the water supply.
Regardless of what you’re allowed to do inside your apartment, there is a bidet option that will work efficiently without you having to break the rules of your lease.
Can You Install Bidets In Apartments?
There are plenty of bidets suited for apartments and small bathrooms. Bidet attachments are pretty small and can be fitted to a variety of types of toilets. They come in different styles with different capabilities at price points that will suit anyone’s budget. While you do have to make some changes to your toilet for many of these, it doesn’t require changes that can’t be reversed.
While you used to need to install a completely separate bidet system near your toilet or would have to install a toilet and bidet combination, now, there are so many options that barely require any modifications to your existing bathroom setup. Most landlords won’t mind small changes so long as they can be very easily reversed or changed when you decide to move out.
The crucial first step is measuring your toilet and recording those measurements. You also want to take note of how your toilet seat is installed, where your water connection is to your toilet, and whether there are any electrical outlets near your toilet. This is going to help you narrow down your selection for bidets that are going to fit on your apartment’s toilet.
The hardest part about finding a bidet that works in an apartment will be finding one that fits your toilet, especially if you can’t make intense alterations to your space. It’s not that you’re limited in terms of your options for apartment-friendly bidets; it’s just that you want one that works for you and your bathroom layout.
What Types Of Bidets Are Apartment Friendly?
Your choice isn’t limited when looking for an apartment-friendly bidet. A lot of attachments just simply need to be hooked up to your toilet’s water supply and attached to your toilet. Bidet attachments aren’t overly complicated, making them a very convenient option for those just learning about how amazing bidets are.
As mentioned, the type of bidet attachment that’s going to work on your apartment will depend on several factors. The size of your toilet, the installation requirements of your bidet of choice, your budget, and your limitations for apartment changes will have to be taken into account.
Bidet Toilet Seats
As the name implies, a bidet toilet seat replaces your basic toilet seat. These attachments also have an accompanying lid. Swapping out your toilet seats is a simple process, and you can easily put the original seat back on once you decide to move out. If a bidet toilet seat is something you’re interested in, you can get an electric or non-electric model.
An electric bidet does require an outlet that’s fairly close to the toilet. You want to be thoughtful about where the cord lies and may want to consider waterproofing the setup to avoid a potential hazard. Electric bidets can be a bit expensive but the features they come with are often worth it for some bidet users.
If an electric bidet isn’t feasible, you can also purchase a non-electric toilet seat bidet. For both types of seats, the bidet nozzle typically sits inside of the toilet bowl, and the controls sit on the outside of the toilet bowl.
Bidet Attachments
Bidet attachments are a small, convenient, and typically very affordable option for anyone who wants a bidet in their home. These bidets are most often non-electric models that are usually attached to your toilet by slipping it between the toilet lid and toilet bowl.
With bidet attachments, you get fewer features than you would with a toilet seat and lid combination, but you get everything you need in terms of the basic and necessary functions of a bidet. The installation process doesn’t require that you make any changes to your bathroom other than connecting the bidet to your water hose, but this isn’t a permanent change.
You might end up having to temporarily take off the toilet seat and lid in order to properly fit your bidet attachment to your toilet.
Handheld Bidets
A handheld bidet is perhaps the most simple and affordable type of bidet you could have in any bathroom. These models consist of a hose with a handle and a nozzle that you aim toward the appropriate area to wash. The bidet hose requires a quick connection to your toilet’s water supply.
With a handheld bidet, you’ll likely want to find a way to hang the hose up so it’s not sitting on the floor. Some models will come with some hardware to help you do this. Depending on whether your apartment allows you to drill holes in your wall or hang anything on your walls, you might have to get a little bit creative.
If you’re trying to avoid drilling a hole somewhere, a Command hook or a hook that is either mounted to your toilet or wall through an adhesive shouldn’t cause any damage when you end up removing it.
How Are Apartment-Friendly Bidets Usually Installed?
When it comes to your toilet seat bidets, you’ll have to start by removing your existing toilet seat. Most standard toilet seats will be attached to two holes that are a specific distance apart on the back of the toilet bowl, and there are bolts that secure the lid into place. You’ll have to unfasten them in order to remove the toilet seat and lid.
Regardless of the type of bidet attachment you choose, you will have to connect the bidet to your toilet’s water supply. Most toilets will have a hose connected to the back of the toilet, but the location will ultimately vary depending on what kind of toilet you have. This change is just a simple rerouting of water.
This connection process is usually easy and reversible, as you will simply connect the bidet’s hose to the toilet’s water hose valve. Bidets will come with instructions on how the particular model is connected, as each bidet may have slight differences in how water has to be connected.
What Types Of Bidets Aren’t Apartment Friendly?
Traditional bidets aren’t apartment-friendly since they are their own completely separate bathroom fixture. Having a standalone bidet is no longer necessary since they take up so much space and come at a high price point compared to models you can attach to your toilet.
You can also find toilets that come with their own bidet installed, but again, these are expensive and require that you replace your entire toilet.