Puzzling notice in (some) toilets

[giibaht]

Occasionally, I will come across this notice "Do not throw toilet paper into toilet bowl" or words to that effect, in some of the toilets here in Thailand.

I've always ignored such notices and flushed the toilet paper after I'm done with my nature's call

But I was at a recently completed condo here in CM, and there in the elevator, was this notice again. Presumably, this is to remind newly moved-in residents of this delicate matter. The condo staff showing me around firmly told me it will cause blockage, and helpfully told me they should be thrown into a waste basket. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this suggestion.

What's a flush toilet for if it can't handle toilet paper?

Am I missing something here?

[Ulysses G.]

I've always ignored it too and I will continue to do so, but I use a bunghole squirter instead, if one is provided. I can't stand using toilet paper after living here for all these years.

[Briggsy]

"What's a flush toilet for if it can't handle toilet paper?"

Pee and poo is the answer.

Often the only way to unblock the toilet is to detach it from the bathroom floor. Major operation.

[mat999]

If you are still using toilet paper you are doing it wrong. It is so much more hygienic to use the spray, then just dry with the paper. My main issue with visiting home in UK is that I will have to use toilet paper, it literally disgusts me after years being used to the spray-away method.

Obviously the signs are because they have thinner pipes here because Asians don't clean up the disgusting western way.

[giibaht]

So far, I've only come across such notices in public toilets eg shops, restaurants etc. Subconsciously I thought perhaps they are "old" buildings with antiquated pipings. Or perhaps customers were using toilet papers to dry their hands, in lieu of paper towels, and such quantities of toilet paper will cause blockage. But a regular job should be fine. I can't imagine a new building will have such problems.

But then again, there seems to be something wrong with the way the Thai buildings are constructed. There seems to be a perpetual sewage stench in most places, even newly completed places like Maya and Central Festival. Perhaps someone with knowledge of building construction can weigh in?

[AnotherOneAmerican]

If you are still using toilet paper you are doing it wrong. It is so much more hygienic to use the spray, then just dry with the paper. My main issue with visiting home in UK is that I will have to use toilet paper, it literally disgusts me after years being used to the spray-away method.

Obviously the signs are because they have thinner pipes here because Asians don't clean up the disgusting western way.

And there was me thinking they didn't want paper in the septic tanks.

[giibaht]

If you are still using toilet paper you are doing it wrong. It is so much more hygienic to use the spray, then just dry with the paper. My main issue with visiting home in UK is that I will have to use toilet paper, it literally disgusts me after years being used to the spray-away method.

Obviously the signs are because they have thinner pipes here because Asians don't clean up the disgusting western way.

Interesting. Personally I'm not into bidets. I've not been to any other Asian country where the use of toilet paper in a flush toilet will cause blockage. And btw, the Chinese invented toilet paper

[MESmith]

Just go with the flow...

[A1Str8]

The part i don't understand about this is that this is really stupid to request people to throw used, shitty toilet paper in a bin, so that slowly but surely the whole building can smell like excrement because my experience is that they don't pay much attention to emptying the bin.

[David48]

If you are still using toilet paper you are doing it wrong. It is so much more hygienic to use the spray, then just dry with the paper. My main issue with visiting home in UK is that I will have to use toilet paper, it literally disgusts me after years being used to the spray-away method.

Obviously the signs are because they have thinner pipes here because Asians don't clean up the disgusting western way.

And there was me thinking they didn't want paper in the septic tanks.

And there, gentlemen, you have your answer.

Many of the septic systems in Thailand can't cope with paper in the septic tanks.

Same as the Farmhouse ... 1's and 2's down the Loo ... everything else goes in the bin.

.

[David48]

The part i don't understand about this is that this is really stupid to request people to throw used, shitty toilet paper in a bin, so that slowly but surely the whole building can smell like excrement because my experience is that they don't pay much attention to emptying the bin.

I can't tell you why ... but it doesn't smell.

It's my job to empty the Loo Paper bin at the Farm ... gets done every 3 or 4 days.

We have usually between 7 - 10 people using the same Loo.

[sparkey]

That's a shit job

But I guess someone has to do it

555

[Ulysses G.]

I've not been to any other Asian country where the use of toilet paper in a flush toilet will cause blockage.

They do the same thing in some places in Vietnam - at least they did when I lived there for a while a long time ago.

[narkeddiver]

It used to be the same in Greece as well (although it's been 15 years or so since I was there so maybe it has changed)

[giibaht]

Oh dear!

Mental note to self: Do find out discreetly about the proper toilet protocols before moving into a new apartment/condo

[northernjohn]

I have seen it done in Mexico also.

[hmficc]

Thai people are trying to hint in a nice way that smearing you butt is not cleaning it. Use the bum gun. That and one often finds 1 inch waste lines. Not large enough for a farang sized wad of t.p.

[SoiBiker]

The part i don't understand about this is that this is really stupid to request people to throw used, shitty toilet paper in a bin, so that slowly but surely the whole building can smell like excrement because my experience is that they don't pay much attention to emptying the bin.

You're doing it wrong. The paper you throw in the bin shouldn't be shitty.

[Dante99]

one often finds 1 inch waste lines

Absurd, the waste lines are 4 inch, even the waste lines from sinks and showers are larger than 1 inch.

Without sewers, waste goes into septic tanks which do not digest paper easily. So instead of pumping out the septic tanks often, do not put paper in the toilet.

Use the sprayer to clean then the paper is only to dry and is wet not smelly.

What is difficult about that?

[NancyL]

We ignored a landlord's advice about this when we moved into a condo (not our current one) and after the first weekend, we had a major problem. Ever try to buy a toilet plunger on a Sunday evening in Chiang Mai? It's not something they sell at the 7-11.

[Mapguy]

OP's post is a rather bewildering example of "Innocents abroad" that is often reflected on this site. OP was brave toi post on this topic! Good on OP! A lot meatier than hamburgers! Nevermind! Cancel that!

OP must, I suspect, have been rather urbanized before arriving here and used to pooping without any knowledge or a care about sanitary systems and how they work.

Well, guess what! If you are an innocent, OP, like NancyL, you might be desperate at odd hours for a plunger, a basic implement that should be in EVERY house regardless of sanitary system. And 7/11 certainly won't save you even though it is the eighth wonder of the world for most people, so it seems.! Although, to be embarassingly specific, I do not think the general system was NancyL's condo problem, but no need to get further into consideration of that! People with small children can speak with regretable experience about this sort of problem since toddlers do all sorts of experiments with toilets including, for example, attempting to flush the family cat as well as various toys.

Here in Thailand it is BASIC that you DO NOT FLUSH TISSUE. Period. (Speaking of periods, that defintiely includes sanitary napkins, etc.) End of discussion! If you do it in your own house, you hazard a very unpleasant result. If you do it elsewhere, you are, in very basic terms, extraordinarily impolite because eventually you cause them problems. I take issue with the dump and run sort of mentality of at least one poster, as noted above, but I note he appreciates the douché method. I am only left wondering if, in the absence of a douché, he use his left hand or his right hand when no tissue is available.)

All this is but another paragraph in the story of people moving to Chiang Mai (or any different place) without much experience outside their lives in more familiar places.

At least learn to read the notices on toilet doors or check the easy signs of appropriate behavior regardless of whether or not you are taking a poop. Basically, of course, learn the language --- or at least, in this day and age, take a picture and send it to Yahoo! or ask Siri to get an answer!!

And people complain about the Chinese.....! Oy!!!

[Mousehound]

Westerners often get hold of the wrong end of the stick!

[Naam]

The part i don't understand about this is that this is really stupid to request people to throw used, shitty toilet paper in a bin, so that slowly but surely the whole building can smell like excrement because my experience is that they don't pay much attention to emptying the bin.

I can't tell you why ... but it doesn't smell.

It's my job to empty the Loo Paper bin at the Farm ... gets done every 3 or 4 days.

We have usually between 7 - 10 people using the same Loo.

i was told it has a nice smell, something like a mixture of Channel Nº5 and Hugo Boss aftershave. if it doesn't smell you are doing something wrong, e.g. blowing your nose and leave the remnants on the derrière drying up undisturbed.

it's only natural. that's what my dogs claim which neither use paper, nor a bidet nor a bum gun.

[naboo]

It disgusts me that Big C don't provide a means to wash properly after deficating. By my reckoning, there is always someone with fecal matter smeared across their backside walking around there.

Wash, then the tissue is for drying. Wet tissue in a bin is fine, tissue+faeces in a bin is just wrong.

[Tecumseh]

The part i don't understand about this is that this is really stupid to request people to throw used, shitty toilet paper in a bin, so that slowly but surely the whole building can smell like excrement because my experience is that they don't pay much attention to emptying the bin.

You're doing it wrong. The paper you throw in the bin shouldn't be shitty.

Soi Biker is right. Use a bum squirter first to clean yourself and dry with toilet tissue. Place toilet tissue in bin, it's not rocket science.

Boy, when I think back to the days of shiny toilet paper in the UK

[sfokevin]

I'm with the bum squirter crowd... Embrace it with the flip flops and cargo pants commando style...

Loosen up... practice your aim... and with a little inner self exploration you will never go back to smearing yourself with paper!

...

That being said I have yet to conceptualize or master the ladle technic found in some squat toilets?....

[naboo]

...

That being said I have yet to conceptualize or master the ladle technic found in some squat toilets?....

Make sure you have access to soap to wash hands after, then scoop up the water with hands and get right in there.

I'm sure there's another way, I just haven't figured it out yet.

[giibaht]

Loosen up... practice your aim... and with a little inner self exploration you will never go back to smearing yourself with paper!

Indeed, talk about teaching old (farang) dogs & bitches new tricks.

That said, I'm always careful about coming into contact with fecal matter (own or others) in the toilet. I imagine one has to gingerly wrap the gun with toilet paper before squirting away. What if the handle is wet to begin with.

This old dog needs more time to "kit duu gorn"...

[mizztraveller]

It used to be the same in Greece as well (although it's been 15 years or so since I was there so maybe it has changed)

No, it's still the same in Greece!

[ExPratt]

I think they only use a 100mm pipe here rather than 150m. And I agree with you "Flush away" don't want a bucket of shitty bog roll in the house