To bidet or not to bidet?

That is... well, it's a question, if not THE question, many homeowners are asking. 

Bidets saw a huge surge—pardon our pun—in popularity last year when toilet paper suddenly became scarce. (Did you forget about the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020? Does it feel like a freaking lifetime ago?)

And the trend is still going strong. While standalone fixtures like the ones you see all over Europe aren't very popular in the States due to the space they require, bidets built into or added onto toilet seats are an inexpensive way to add a little luxury and a little eco-friendliness to your home.

After all, the average American uses around 50 pounds of toilet paper per year. The slight uptick you might see on your water bill is still a better alternative to killing a tree (which is what it takes to make about 200 rolls of toilet paper), not to mention potentially clogging your pipes.

But do they add resale value? Short answer: Not really. If you install a high-end bidet as part of your bathroom remodel, it might be seen as a nice perk, but bidets aren't on most buyers' "must-have" lists.

So the question of whether to bidet or not is one with a very personal answer.