How to Use a Squat Toilet
If you're thinking "Aren’t toilets the same all over the world?” you don’t know squat.
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You Will Need
- Strong thighs
- An ability to hold your breath
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer gel
Steps
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Step 1
Know what you're getting into
If you’re traveling internationally, be prepared to encounter a non-Western, or squat, toilet. It’s usually a stall with a hole in the ground that may or may not have a flushing mechanism.
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Step 2
Don't expect privacy
Don’t expect privacy. Public restroom stalls might only have two-foot-high walls and no doors.
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Step 3
Bring toilet paper
Bring your own toilet paper. It’s often not provided in public restrooms.
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Step 4
Practice your squat
To strengthen your legs and prepare yourself for the real thing, practice your squat. This will also help boost your confidence.
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Step 5
Position your feet
Position your feet on the foot grids on either side of the sunken toilet.
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Step 6
Drop and squat
Drop your drawers and squat as close to the opening as possible for accurate aim.
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Step 7
Dispose of toilet paper
When you finish your business, dispose of your toilet paper in the receptacle placed behind you for that purpose.
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Step 8
Flush
If you’re in a restroom with flushing toilets, hit the button on the wall.
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Step 9
Wash your hands
Use your hand sanitizer and remind yourself that travel is all about broadening your horizons.
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In some remote areas of the Chinese countryside, toilets are actually positioned over a pen of hungry pigs.
