For most Westerners, it’s easy to assume that being able to flush toilet paper is a basic function of a toilet. However, in Thailand, this is not the case, and can actually cause big problems for the country’s sanitation systems.
The sewage system in Thailand is not designed to flush the quantities of toilet paper used by Westerners. Blockages and flooding result from flushing anything besides human waste and water. This is due primarily to the design of the Thai sewage system and to the toilet paper being less soluble.
While Western pipes are often sloped downward and have large bends, the pipes in Thailand are narrower, can have sharper bends and run parallel to the ground or even uphill, forming blockages easier. So what options do you have once you’ve used the toilet in Thailand? We’ll give you a full guide to the ins and outs of Thai toilets.
What happens when flushing toilet paper in Thailand?
The sewage pipes in Thailand are not designed for the use of toilet paper, as Western systems are. The drains will quickly become blocked when excessive toilet paper is flushed down them, and this will likely not only be costly to fix for the establishment to which the toilet belongs, but also be a huge inconvenience to staff or guests who also need to use the toilet facilities.
Traditionally, Thai have used squat toilets, with the flush toilet only becoming widespread after World War II. Even today, in rural areas of Thailand, squat toilets are still common. In these toilets, people would squat over a hole, using water from a bucket to wash themselves afterwards, pouring it into the hole. When flush toilets were introduced, this way of cleaning oneself evolved into the Thai version of a bidet, with a small hose next to the toilet being used instead of the bucket. As this was how Thai traditionally cleaned themselves, the sewage system was not designed to carry anything but waste and water.
It was only when Thailand was exposed to Western traditions that drains started to become blocked by toilet paper, and signs went up to warn Westerners of avoiding flushing any paper or other foreign objects down the toilet.
You may be wondering what happens if you don’t see the sign or accidentally flush toilet paper down a toilet in Thailand. It could be your first time in the country or maybe you arrived jetlagged and are functioning on autopilot, when before you know it, you have realized that you wiped, put the tissue in the toilet and flushed – don’t panic, there aren’t going to be built in alarms with sirens going off if you do this!
The consequences of your action can vary greatly, depending on where you are. Some hotels charge fines (up to THB 10000 or more) for flushing tissue down a toilet. Others may not have any penalty. If the toilet does flood, there is no shame in reporting this, as it may not even be your fault, but rather previous users of the toilet. Simply waiting for the water level in the toilet to go down will not unblock the toilet or solve the problem!
If you do flush down toilet paper, you are not only at risk of your toilet flooding, but are also not respecting the sewage system of your host country, and contributing to blocked pipes and damaged drainage systems in Thailand. If this does happen accidentally, someone at the establishment should be notified immediately. Remember that if you are in a hotel, you should tip the person who comes to fix your toilet.
Is toilet paper used in Thailand?
Not all toilets in Thailand are equipped with toilet paper. Toilets in malls, hotels, restaurants and bars, particularly those frequented by tourists are very likely to be stocked with toilet paper. So while toilet paper is widely used in the country, the Thai tend to use it differently to Westerners.
In addition to being found in toilets, toilet paper in Thailand can be found in cars, homes, restaurants and other places! Whereas most Westerners are used to only using toilet paper to wipe themselves, and then putting it into the drains where it dissolves in the water, Thai people use it for a multitude of purposes, most of which include soaking up water.
Because the Thai toilet paper is required to be absorbent and soak up water, it is more resilient to the effects that water has on Western toilet paper, and is less soluble as a result. For example, in toilets, it is used to dry oneself after cleaning with water. If flushed, this less soluble paper builds up in the pipes and takes longer to dissolve, therefore making it much more prone to causing blockages.
Can you put paper in the toilet at all?
Many hotels and public buildings will have signs in the bathrooms, either forbidding toilet paper from being flushed down the toilet, such as the one below, or specifically requesting that toilet paper is placed inside the small bins provided.
In some of the more modern buildings, such as recently built condos and hotels, toilet paper can be used without causing blockages in the pipes. If unsure, the general rule of thumb to go by is that if there is a small bin next to the toilet, then one can assume that it is not safe to flush, and should rather place the used toilet paper into the bin provided.
What is used instead of toilet paper?
So what do you do after you’ve finished your business in a Thai toilet? Well, there are a couple of options. The Thai themselves use what Westerners have coined a ‘bum gun’. This is a pipe, or small hose, next to the toilet that sprays out clean water. Given the warm temperature in Thailand for most of the year, the water is usually a pleasant temperature. The Thai use this to clean themselves, and then use toilet paper to wipe away the water on themselves before placing it in the bins next to the toilets. This means that most of the tissue going into these bins is damp, but clean, and therefore doesn’t cause a stench, particularly in the heat of the Thai summers.
Should one not feel comfortable using the bum gun, simply use the toilet paper as normal, and then place the dirty paper in a bin. Which method you want to use to clean yourself is totally up to you, and what you feel most comfortable with, and there is no right or wrong way.
If you do want to give the bum gun a go, you’re probably wondering how to use one without getting half your clothes wet and making a huge puddle of water around the toilet. These are some simple tips that will help you to master the art of using the bum gun like a local in no time!
- Put the bum gun into the toilet between your legs and gently press down on the handle to test the water pressure on your other hand. This can vary dramatically between different toilets.
- When you start using a bum gun, it may be easier to put the spray behind your back, so that you’re aiming downwards into the toilet, minimizing your chances of spray going upwards, sideways, or any direction but into the toilet.
- If you’re a woman, you may want to place it between your legs and spray from front to back, for hygienic reasons.
- Use your one hand to wipe your bum, like you would use toilet paper, while using your other hand to spray water on your hand into your bum at the same time.
- When your wiping hand and your bum feel clean, then relieve the pressure on the handle and replace the bum gun onto its holder.
- Lastly, if there is some, use the toilet paper provided to wipe yourself dry. The paper should be clean and that can be thrown into the bin.
Et voila! You have added the bum gun as a weapon in your traveler’s arsenal and cleaned yourself successfully like a local, saving toilet paper and preventing the drains from getting blocked! If you are still left with any doubts in your mind about how to clean yourself with water, this visual illustration might help.
Conclusion
While most of the time, it is unlikely that there will be any immediate consequences for your flushing toilet paper in Thailand, it contributes to major blockages, flooding and dysfunctional toilets across the country, resulting in unnecessary costs and inconvenience.
Whether you choose to wipe and throw your toilet paper into the bins, or use the bum gun and do it the Thai way is up to you. Either way, you’ll likely be trying something new in the bathroom on your next holiday to Thailand, and so as long as you aren’t flushing your toilet paper, this is an opportunity to experience something different!
