BumBum Bidet: Engineering a Portable, Rechargeable Bidet

The founder's story

Saleh spent more than 10 years as a commercial airline pilot, until COVID-19 turned his life upside down. During the pandemic, scrolling social media, he kept seeing videos of people fighting over toilet paper. It made him realize how much we rely on paper, while washing with water barely enters the conversation.

His thought: there has to be a better way. Most bidets are either installed on a toilet at home or are manual squeeze bottles. BumBum's answer is a bidet small enough for a bag, with steady water pressure at the push of a button.

He teamed up with co-founder Nicole Montalvan, a marketer at a multinational company, to build the brand. To build the product, he came to One Stop Inventing.

The product

A handheld bidet that works like this:

• Fill the water canister.
• Press one button. A small rechargeable pump sends a gentle, steady spray through the nozzle.
• Recharge through USB-C. On a full charge it delivers about 200 sprays, according to BumBum.
• Pack it. It fits in a purse, backpack or carry-on.

What One Stop Inventing did

We designed, engineered and prototyped it. A portable electric bidet looks simple from the outside. Inside, it's a small water-pump appliance that has to be safe, comfortable and reliable:

• Water and electronics in one handheld device. The pump, battery, charging port and button sit right next to the water canister, so the design has to keep water out of the electronics during filling, use and rinsing.
• Spray that's gentle but effective. Pressure and nozzle design decide whether the product feels pleasant or useless. It has to clean well without being harsh on sensitive skin.
• One-button operation. Simple for anyone to use.
• Battery life and USB-C charging. Enough sprays per charge to last a trip, charged with the same cable as a phone.
• Compact and easy to clean. Small enough to travel, with a lid and a canister that are easy to fill and wash.
• Ready for manufacturing. A design that can be produced at a cost that supports a consumer retail price.

The result

BumBum's portable bidet is on the market at hellobumbumbidets.com in pink, blue and gray. BumBumBidets has grown into a full brand with a line of travel hygiene products, an affiliate and creator program, and a playful voice that makes an awkward topic fun.

What other inventors can learn from BumBum

1. A crisis can point to an opportunity. Saleh's idea came from the toilet paper panic of 2020, a problem millions of people saw at the same time.
2. Improve something that already exists. Bidets aren't new. A portable, rechargeable, one-button bidet is a better version for people on the go.
3. Build a team. Saleh brought the idea and Nicole brought the marketing. We brought the engineering. Great products are rarely built alone.
4. Brand matters. BumBum turned an uncomfortable subject into a fun brand people want to talk about.

Have an idea for a better everyday product?

Tell us about it. Your idea stays confidential, and our engineers will tell you honestly what it will take.