If you have searched for bidet sprays in the UK, you have probably seen several very different products described using the same words. Some are handheld shattaf-style sprays. Others, including Chakow, are fixed bidet attachments that fit beneath your existing toilet seat. Both use water to help you wash after using the toilet, but the way you use them is different.
This guide explains what people mean by 'bidet spray', how the main types work, how the Chakow bidet attachment fits to an existing toilet and what to check before choosing between cold water, warm water or a portable option.
The important distinction: A traditional shattaf is handheld. Chakow Original and Dual are under-seat bidet attachments with a fixed nozzle. You stay seated and operate the control from the side of the unit.
Key takeaways
'Bidet spray' is a broad search term used for products that rinse with water after using the toilet.
It is also known as a shattaf, douche spray or hygiene spray, and it fits beside the toilet you already have.
Chakow Original and Dual are not handheld sprays. They fit beneath the existing toilet seat and use a fixed nozzle beneath the seat.
You remain seated, turn the side control and the water rinse is delivered without holding or aiming a handset.
The Original uses cold water. The Dual connects to cold and hot water so you can adjust the temperature.
Chakow bidet attachments fit most toilets. Check the current Chakow compatibility guide before ordering.
What is a bidet spray?
A bidet spray is a way of using clean water to rinse after using the toilet. In everyday UK searches, the phrase is used quite broadly. It can refer to a handheld bidet shower, a shattaf, a toilet bidet attachment or sometimes even a portable bidet.
Traditionally, a shattaf or bidet shower is a handheld sprayer connected by a flexible hose. You pick it up and direct the water by hand. An under-seat bidet attachment does the same basic job - washing with water - but the nozzle is built into a slim unit that sits beneath the toilet seat.
Chakow Original and Dual are the second type. The attachment stays fitted to the toilet. You stay seated and operate the side control, while a fixed nozzle beneath the seat provides the rinse.
Washing with water after using the loo is an everyday habit across much of South Asia, the Middle East, East Asia and Europe. In many South Asian homes the same job is done with a lota, a small water jug kept by the toilet. In parts of Europe it is a separate ceramic bidet. A bidet spray brings that habit into a standard UK bathroom without adding a new fixture.
Is a Bidet Spray the same as a Shattaf?
Not exactly. 'Shattaf' usually means a handheld toilet spray. People also use terms such as douche spray, hygiene spray, bidet shower and bum gun for that handheld format.
Chakow is designed for the same purpose - washing with water - but it uses a fixed under-seat nozzle instead of a handset you hold and aim.
How does a bidet spray work?
A Chakow bidet attachment uses the water supply that already serves your toilet. A T-valve is fitted at the toilet water connection so the cistern can continue filling normally while a second water line supplies the bidet attachment.
The Chakow unit is positioned beneath the toilet seat and secured using the seat fixings. When you are seated, you turn the control on the side of the attachment. Water then sprays from the fixed nozzle beneath the seat. There is no handheld sprayer to pick up, point or put back.
The Original runs on cold mains water pressure and does not need electricity. The Dual also uses water pressure, but adds a hot-water connection from the bathroom sink so you can adjust the temperature.
Mains pressure also explains why the spray feels different from one home to the next. A house with strong pressure gives a firmer spray, so start with the flow only slightly open and build up from there.
Is a bidet spray safe for my water supply?
Bidet sprays are widely sold and used in UK homes. The Chakow Original and The Dual include a built-in double check valve to help stop water flowing back into your supply.
If you're unsure what your home needs, check with your water supplier or a WaterSafe-registered plumber. One daily habit helps too: keep the spray head out of the toilet bowl when you are not using it.
Bidet Spray vs Other types of Bidet
There are several ways to add water cleansing to a bathroom. The main difference is whether the spray is handheld, fixed beneath the seat or built into a powered toilet or seat.
| Type | How it works | Power | Keeps existing toilet? | Warm water | Chakow option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld shattaf / bidet shower | Handheld spray on a flexible hose | None | Usually | Depends on setup | Original and Dual |
| Under-seat bidet attachment | Fixed nozzle beneath the seat, operated by a side control | Usually none | Yes | Some models | No |
| Electric bidet seat | Powered seat with integrated washing features | Electricity | Replaces the seat | Usually | No |
| Shower toilet | Toilet with built-in wash function | Often electricity | No, replaces the toilet | Usually | No |
| Portable bidet | Self-contained unit filled with water | Battery or manual | Yes, works with any toilet | Uses whatever water you fill it with | Travel Bidet |
For Chakow customers, the key point is simple: The Original and The Dual belong in the under-seat bidet attachment category, not the handheld shattaf category.
Cold water or warm water: which bidet spray do you need?
A cold water bidet spray uses mains water only, while a hot and cold bidet spray blends in hot water so you can set a comfortable temperature. Which one suits you depends on how you feel about cold water and how far your toilet is from the sink.
Cold water: The Chakow Original
The Original: Cold Water Bidet Spray is Chakow's cold-water bidet attachment. It connects to the toilet's existing cold water supply and runs on mains water pressure, so there is no plug or heating element.
Current Price: £69.99 | View The Chakow Original
Warm water: The Chakow Dual
The Dual: Hot and Cold Bidet Spray connects to the toilet's cold supply and also to the bathroom sink's hot-water outlet. The unit blends the two supplies so you can set a comfortable temperature using the control. It does not heat water itself and does not require electricity.
How warm the spray gets depends on your home's hot water settings. Chakow notes that most combi boilers deliver hot water at around 55 to 60°C, which mixes down to a comfortable warm spray.
Current Price: £79.99 | View The Chakow Dual
Will a bidet spray fit my toilet?
Chakow bidet attachments fit most toilets, but toilet shapes and seat mounting areas vary. The best final check is the current Chakow compatibility guide rather than relying on a fixed list inside a blog post.
Before ordering, check three things:
- You can access the toilet water supply connection.
- The toilet seat can be removed so the attachment can be positioned beneath it.
- The toilet shape and seat mounting area are compatible with the attachment.
Check the Chakow toilet compatibility list. If you are still unsure, send Chakow a clear photo of the toilet and the water connection before ordering.
Still not sure? You may contact us so that you can send Chakow a photo of your toilet and the team will help. If your toilet turns out to be unsuitable, a portable bidet works with any toilet because it needs no plumbing at all.
How do you install a bidet spray?
A Chakow bidet attachment is designed to fit to a compatible existing toilet. When the water connection is easy to reach, installation can often be completed in around 10 minutes using basic tools.
1. Turn off the toilet water supply and flush to empty the cistern.
2. Remove the existing toilet seat by undoing the seat fixings.
3. Fit the supplied T-valve at the toilet water connection.
4. Connect the water hose between the T-valve and the Chakow bidet attachment.
5. Position the Chakow unit beneath the toilet seat, align the mounting points and refit the seat securely.
6. Turn the water back on slowly and check every connection for leaks before use.
The Dual adds a hot-water connection to the bathroom sink. Follow the model-specific instructions for that connection.
View The Chakow Original Installation Guide | View The Chakow Dual Installation Guide
Can you fit a Bidet Spray in a rented home?
Yes. The Chakow installation is designed to be reversible, which may make it suitable for many rented homes. If you rent, check your tenancy agreement or landlord requirements before changing any plumbing connection.
How do you use a Chakow bidet attachment?
The biggest difference from a traditional handheld shattaf is that you do not pick up or aim a sprayer. The attachment stays fixed beneath the seat.
- Sit normally on the toilet.
- Turn the side control gently to start the water flow.
- The fixed nozzle beneath the seat provides the rinse while you remain seated.
- Adjust the pressure gradually using the control. On The Dual, set the water temperature to a comfortable level.
- Turn the control fully off when you are finished.
- Pat dry with a small amount of toilet roll or a clean reusable towel if you wish.
This fixed-nozzle setup is what makes Chakow different from a traditional handheld bidet spray: the washing process is hands-free in the sense that you do not hold or aim a handset.
Do you still need a toilet roll with a Bidet?
Many people still keep toilet roll for drying, even when they wash with water. The amount you use will depend on your routine. If you prefer a reusable option, a small clean cotton towel can be used for drying and washed regularly.
Chakow also sells a seven-pack of organic cotton bidet towels.
Current Price: £19.99 | View The Chakow Bidet Towels
What about a Bidet when you are away from home?
A fitted attachment is designed to stay on your toilet, so a portable bidet is a better option for travel, hotels, camping, festivals or any toilet where you cannot fit a permanent attachment.
The Chakow Travel Bidet is a battery-powered portable option that works without a plumbing connection. You fill it with water and use it as a portable rinse. It runs on two AAA batteries and has two spray modes.
Current price: £29.99 | View The Chakow Travel Bidet
| Your situation | Best fit | Price | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| You want a simple fitted bidet spray and are happy with cold water | The Original | £69.99 | Toilet compatibility |
| You want adjustable warm water and your toilet is within about 2.7 metres of the bathroom sink | The Dual | £79.99 | Toilet compatibility and sink hot water connection |
| Your toilet is not compatible with a fitted bidet spray | Travel Bidet | £29.99 | Nothing to fit, no plumbing required |
| You rent your home | Original or Dual | £69.99 / £79.99 | Tenancy or landlord requirements |
| You travel or need a portable option | Travel Bidet | £29.99 | Two AAA batteries, and empty it before airport security |
Prices shown are correct at the time of writing and may change.
Bidet Spray FAQs
Does a Chakow bidet need electricity?
No. The Original and The Dual operate using water pressure. The Dual uses hot water from your existing hot-water supply rather than an electric heating element. The Travel Bidet is portable and runs on two AAA batteries.
Can you get a bidet with warm water?
Yes. The Chakow Dual connects to both cold and hot water so you can adjust the wash temperature. The exact setup depends on the bathroom layout and access to the sink hot-water connection.
Will a Chakow bidet fit my toilet?
Chakow bidet attachments fit most toilets, but compatibility depends on the toilet shape, seat mounting area and access to the water connection. Use Chakow's current compatibility guide as the final check before ordering.
Is a Chakow bidet the same as a shattaf?
They serve the same basic purpose - washing with water - but they are not the same physical design. A traditional shattaf is handheld. Chakow Original and Dual are fixed under-seat bidet attachments operated from a side control.
Do you have to hold the Chakow spray?
No. There is no handheld spray head on the Original or Dual. You remain seated and operate the control while the fixed nozzle beneath the toilet seat provides the rinse.
How do you clean the Chakow bidet attachment?
Clean the attachment, control area and exposed nozzle area as part of your normal bathroom cleaning routine, following Chakow's care guidance. The Original and Dual use Chakow's SmartSpray nozzle design.
Ready to wash instead of wipe?
If you want to add water cleansing without replacing your toilet, a Chakow bidet attachment gives you a fixed, under-seat option with no handheld sprayer to hold or aim. Check your toilet compatibility first, then choose between The Chakow Original and The Chakow Dual.
Every Chakow bidet comes with free UK shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
