How to Use a Toilet in Thailand - Chiang Mai Family Guide (2024)

Types of toilets in Thailand

There are two types of toilets in Thailand; western style and Thai style. Western toilets are the ones you are probably used to and the kids know how to use them just fine. The other kind of toilet is called a squatter or squat toilet. It can be a bit of a shock when you first see them and you may find yourself scratching your head asking, how exactly am I supposed to use this thing?

How to use a squatter toilet in Thailand

Warm up first with a few squats – think squat exercises. If you are going about a certain business in the toilet, you may be there for a while so it’s good to warm up! Practice low squats as this is the position you’ll want to be in to avoid any, well, incidents.

How to use a squat toilet for boys and men

Well, if you are a guy, then it’s really no different for you if you need to pee. Just stand up, aim and voila! Just make sure to watch out for splash back! To go about any other business, start by facing the squatter. Then you are going to step up onto the squat toilet, turn around to face the door and place your feet on either side where you see ridged area.

But here’s where things get a bit tricky. You’ll need to actually squat down with your pants and knickers around your ankles. It can be a delicate task as it must be accomplished without getting your pants wet! It’s quite a balancing act as you’ll be trying not to fall over sideways, while trying to do your business, while holding the bottom of your pants up!

To get into the best position, you’ll want to squat with your bum pointing down – definitely do not squat at a 90 degree angle or you’re likely to make some lovely art on the wall behind you.

How to use a squat toilet for girls and women

The process of using a squat toilet is slightly different for females than it is for males. When women use a western toilet we always sit facing away from the toilet. Seems only natural to do the same thing on a squatter, right? Wrong! Years ago my friend taught me the best way to use a squatter to go pee. Face the other way! Yes, it’s true. Due to the design of the squat toilet, if you face the usual way, you can expect a LOT of splash back. Facing the back of the squatter toilet, you could escape completely dry!

For doing other business, face the usual way, pop a low squat and hold those skirts or pants up so they don’t get wet.

How to use a squat toilet for the elderly

Follow the same above instructions to take care of business. Please know that there are no brace bars installed in washrooms in Chiang Mai that we’ve seen. This probably isn’t that much of an issue if you find a western toiler, but it could certainly be with a squat toilet. Thankfully, the walls of the washroom are usually quite narrow. You could brace yourself with your arms against the walls and use the walls to push yourself up if need be.

How to use a western toilet

The first thing you need to know, is that you don’t stand on it! You may see signs showing people standing and squatting on a western toilet with the image crossed out. This is because many Asian nations only have squat toilets and western toilets are a strange contraption.

All you need to do is sit on it like it’s a seat facing the bathroom door, this is for if you are going about business number 2 or are a female. To pee as a male, just stand up facing the toilet and aim into the toilet bowl. Find the flusher and press it and voila! Duty done.

Wiping after using a toilet in Thailand

After all the excitement of using the squat toilet, you look around and don’t see any toilet paper! What do you do now?! Unless you are at a very westernized place such as a mall, you better make sure you are carrying some sort of wipe; toilet paper or baby wipes. Thai people don’t use toilet tissue in the same way others might. Instead, they use water to wash themselves to get clean. Look for a bum gun (toilet hose) or a water bucket.

What’s a bum gun and how to use it

A bum gun or toilet hose is that hose looking thing hanging beside the toilet. Usually only western toilets will have one, but how do you use a bum gun?! Well, if you’re a female, you would aim it between your legs and aim upwards. You could also aim downwards from behind, which is what my husband would recommend for men and boys to get that bum clean, hence the bum gun nickname!

We can’t live without our bum gun! No really, it’s the best thing and is a life saver around the house. Find out about the many uses for a toilet hose and how it will make your life easier, especially if you have pets or children.

How do you dry off after using a bum gun?

This is where Thai people may use toilet paper. Instead of using it to wipe, they use it to dry off. If there is no paper, then shake and wag like a wet dog trying to get dry. Do the best wag and shake that you can do! It makes the whole experience more fun for the kids.

Using the water bucket

What if there is no bum gun or toilet paper? All you see is this small tub full of water with a bowl or bucket sitting in it. Great. What are you supposed to do with that?!

This is most common when there is a no flush western toilet or a squat toilet. You should fill the bowl or bucket with water from the tub and use that water to either splash yourself clean, or pour the water over you to get clean.

The bucket is also required to flush the toilet. Simply fill the bucket and pour it into the toilet – the force of the incoming water will push whatever is in the toilet down into the pipe. You will need to pour water in at least 3 times.

As a bonus, the water bucket or bowl is very handy if there’s been an accident and you need to wash the floor, toilet, yourself or your child clean.

Why are there shoes outside the washroom?

At some tourist attractions, gas stations, or local restaurants you may see shoes lined up outside the restroom. It is hinted with shoe racks and flip flop sandals outside the washroom that you are supposed to remove your shoes. This is to keep the floors of the toilets clean, which are usually damp and get muddy very easily. Just slip out of your shoes into the sandals, then back again!

Are washrooms wheelchair accessible in Chiang Mai?

In general, sadly no. In westernized places such as shopping centres or modern gas stations, you can expect to find wheelchair accessible toilets. Otherwise, it’s still pretty rare.

Where can you change your baby – are there baby changing stations in Thai washrooms?

Similar to the wheelchair access, the answer is rarely. You are most likely to find baby changing stations in washrooms at modern shopping malls, and rarely, at family restaurants. Be prepared to get creative in how you change your baby’s diapers!

Pro tips!

If you are not comfortable with a squatter, check the last one or two stalls in the washroom. Usually they will have a western style toilet.

WikiHow has a great illustrated guide of how to use a squat toilet that you may want to look at!