In D.C., bidets seem hot right now — and not just because they can warm your bum.

Why it matters: The once-niche bathroom fixture has gone mainstream, with some D.C. homeowners building for a bidet before they even buy one.

What they're saying: "We are now always adding an electrical receptacle behind every toilet, in every project, anticipating that sooner or later toilets will get upgraded," Dale Overmyer, owner of Overmyer Architects in D.C., tells Axios.

The intrigue: D.C. residents eyeing a bidet might soon get a nudge from City Hall. Lawmakers are weighing a bill to make bidets tax-free while slapping a 15% tax on "flushable" wipes to help pay for sewer repairs.

• The push comes after wipes clogged emergency systems during the Potomac Interceptor collapse. Bidets, officials say, are the cleaner (and greener) alternative.

Catch up quick: "The great toilet paper panic of 2020" — the pandemic — was a major inflection point for bidet sales, according to Bill Strang, the president of corporate strategy, e-commerce and retail at Toto, a Japanese company that introduced their bidets to the U.S. 40 years ago.

• Since then, Toto has seen a "very high acceleration of growth" in the U.S., Strang tells Axios.
• Tushy, one of the leading DTC bidet brands in the U.S., has grown sales at an average rate of roughly 40% per year since 2018, according to CEO Justin Allen.

The big picture: Early U.S. adopters included eco-conscious millennials looking to cut down on toilet paper and world travelers who'd had positive experiences with bidets abroad, according to Allen and Strang. But the audience has broadened considerably to include:

• Residents in cold climates who want a warm seat in winter.
• Postpartum women or people managing medical conditions like UTIs or hemorrhoids.
• Homeowners upgrading their bathrooms with spa-like features.

Zoom in: D.C.'s large immigrant and international population may be driving local demand, Strang says — including the area's sizable Muslim community, for whom water-based cleansing after using the toilet is a religious practice.

Bidet prices vary. Tushy's entry-model sprayer attachment is $49.99, but Toto's most-tricked-out smart toilet — which Drake gifted to DJ Khaled — is more than $20,000.

The bottom line: "Things get a little bit muddy in Washington, D.C., so it's always nice to have a bidet to rinse off," Strang jokes.

Not every bidet fits every bathroom — it depends on your space, power access and toilet style.

The big picture: If you're thinking about taking the plunge and buying a bidet, there are several things to consider.

• For this guide, we're focusing on toilets with butt-spritzing add-ons and not stand-alone bidets.

But first, let's address the elephant in the bathroom: No, the bidet nozzle does not touch the user — that's a common misconception, Strang says.

• "It comes out well below where your rumpus is," he tells Axios.

State of play: There are different options to choose from.

• Non-electric hose attachments clip onto your existing toilet for as little as $25-$200.
• Electric bidet seats replace your toilet seat and add features like heated seats, warm water, pressure controls and air drying. Most will set you back a few hundred dollars.
• Smart toilets are fully integrated units — the bidet and toilet are one appliance — which can cost thousands.

Before buying, you need to check:

• Toilet shape: See if yours is round or elongated, because most bidet seats specify compatibility — and won't work with French curve toilets — Strang says.
• Outlet access: Electric seats need a 120-volt GFCI outlet near the toilet, Strang adds.

Need warm water? Non-electric attachments connect to your toilet's cold water supply only.

• If you want warm water but aren't ready for an electric seat, you'll need a model that also connects to your sink's hot water valve — and a sink that's close enough to reach.

Finally, a warning: If you buy a bidet, you may tell everyone you know about it — and might not stop at one. Allen says Tushy customers frequently return to buy units for other bathrooms, or as gifts.

Roughly 2 in 5 renovating homeowners in D.C., West Virginia and Maryland (38%) report including specialty features in their new or upgraded toilet.

• That's on par with the national share, according to a 2025 survey by Houzz, a design and remodeling site.

Zoom in: Anti-clog systems, self-cleaning functions, adjustable bidet water pressure and bidet toilet seats rank among the region's most popular features, per Houzz.

It's time to think outside the bath. D.C.-area homeowners are reconsidering wellness as a whole-home feature beyond the washroom.

The big picture: "We're past the point where a rain showerhead counts as 'wellness,'" Michael Winn, founder and principal of McLean-based WINN Design + Build, tells Axios.

• Clients are turning primary bathrooms into a "recovery space" with steam showers, radiant heated floors and better ventilation.
• But that's just the start. They're also considering advanced air filtration and whole-home water purification, Winn says.

Zoom in: McLean designer Tracy Morris says clients are asking for dedicated physical therapy rooms, indoor cold plunges and even cryotherapy spaces.

• "There's a big focus on recovery as well as relaxation," says architect Peter Miles of The Drawing Board in Annapolis.
• Saunas can be a part of that, and they're evolving — from large spa-style installations to smaller versions that can fit into more homes.

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