Stinking toilet paper in the bin, why?

[pattjock]

With too much time on my hands I have investigated this conundrum. In most restrooms there is a sign telling you to put the toilet paper in the bin and not in the toilet. If the toilet is used by farangs this bin will usually stink, if the toilet is only used by Thais its usually not too bad. Most farangs wipe the excess brown matter off their rear end with toilet paper and then put it in the bin. Thai people, and experienced farangs, use water to clean their rear end and then use toilet paper to pad off of the excess water before they pull up their pants.

The commonly given reason for not putting the toilet paper in the toilet is that it will cause a blockage in the pipes. To farangs this sounds strange as blockages rarely happens back home.

In the west we use household paper in the kitchen, tissue paper to wipe our face or hands and toilet paper in the toilet. In Thailand toilet paper is used everywhere, you see toilet paper rolls in all sorts of different holders in the kitchen, on the table of every Thai restaurant, in Thai cars, in the toilet, just about everywhere. My guess is that more than 90% of toilet paper sold in Thailand is not used on the toilet.

Some facts about toilet paper; Toilet paper, in the west, is made from short fibre pulp using a water soluble binder. Household paper and tissue paper is made using a binder that is not water soluble. This difference is the key to the answer of this conundrum. If you put toilet paper, used in western countries, in a glass of water for a few minutes and stir it with a spoon it will dissolve to a pulp. If you do the same thing with most toilet paper sold in Thailand the paper will still be intact and could, if flushed down a toilet, cause blockage.

So, as most usage of toilet paper in Thailand, and most of Asia, is to remove water most of the toilet paper will not dissolve in water. As most toilet paper will not dissolve in water it is very likely that it could cause a blockage in the pipes. You can test your own toilet paper by putting some in a glass of water for a few minutes and then stir it around , if it dissolves its safe to flush if not put it in the bin or get proper toilet paper for your toilet. Its not easy to find real toilet paper but usually the really cheap stuff is the real thing.

At the moment Im using Festa Besta at BHT 27 for 8 rolls. In conclusion; expensive toilet paper is actually facial tissue paper on a roll and should not be flushed down a toilet. Get the cheap stuff, test it, and there should be no problems.

Edited April 20, 2015 by pattjock

[nidieunimaitre]

You have never been to Greece, have you?

[Stradavarius37]

The dissertation on shitt#r paper has been brought to you by the Bowel Movement Association of Greece...

[Toknarok]

After reading a ridiculously long post about used toilet paper I'll tell you why. Most Thai toilets outside of cities are not connected to a sewerage system. They rely on a 'soakwell' system where waste is sent to a n underground well, invariably made out of concrete with holes to allow the liquid to escape from the well.

Using toilet paper and flushing into the well clogs up the holes that allow the water to escape. Consequently the wells fill up quickly and then have to be pumped dry. This costs money. In my house I have two soakwells and having 'bumguns' I do not provide toilet paper. I can go months without having to use the 'honeysucker' trucks that empty the wells.Current price is 120baht a well.

The use of 'bumguns' has been debated ad nauseum on this forum so I'll not elaborate further. How long does anyone spend in a toilet relieving themselves? A few minutes at most. If the sight and smell of a bin with dirty toilet paper offends you that much you must lead a sad life.

[pattjock]

You have never been to Greece, have you?

I've spent a lot of time in Greece and would not classify this country as western based on toilet paper, or on some other matters as well.Apart from that it's a lovely country and I always enjoy my stay there.

[samsensam]

To farangs this sounds strange as blockages rarely happens back home. (sic)

no it doesn't sound strange because we are smart enough to realise that we are, in fact, not back home... anyone who has done even a small amount of travelling will know that it is very common in countries with less developed and/or extensive sewerage systems to not put toilet paper down the toilet as it causes blockages.

OP, you sound like someone who would benefit from the eye opening experience of travel...

[Squeegee]

What's with Greece?

[nidieunimaitre]

What's with Greece?

Even in newly built houses, you can not throw toilet paper in the toilet.

In stead you must use the waste basket.

It is because they use narrow drainage pipes.

And no bum guns available.

Most tourist are not aware of this, and keep flushing their toilet paper, resulting in clog ups.

I believe this is a scam, organized by the Greek Plumbers Association, in order to secure jobs.

Others say this is a leftover from the old days, when the left hand was used (savings on toilet paper and bum guns).

That would than explain why Turks consider the left hand to be unclean. (Greeks and Turks are 1 people, but never tell them so!)

WHERE IS COSTAS WHEN YOU NEED HIM? Surely he could contribute to this very intellectual thread.

[pattjock]

After reading a ridiculously long post about used toilet paper I'll tell you why. Most Thai toilets outside of cities are not connected to a sewerage system. They rely on a 'soakwell' system where waste is sent to a n underground well, invariably made out of concrete with holes to allow the liquid to escape from the well.

Using toilet paper and flushing into the well clogs up the holes that allow the water to escape. Consequently the wells fill up quickly and then have to be pumped dry. This costs money. In my house I have two soakwells and having 'bumguns' I do not provide toilet paper. I can go months without having to use the 'honeysucker' trucks that empty the wells.Current price is 120baht a well.

The use of 'bumguns' has been debated ad nauseum on this forum so I'll not elaborate further. How long does anyone spend in a toilet relieving themselves? A few minutes at most. If the sight and smell of a bin with dirty toilet paper offends you that much you must lead a sad life.

I use a bumgun and am done within a minute, but the unnecessary stench still bothers me.

The point of my post was that there is toilet paper available that can be flushed down the toilet without causing a blockage, even in 'soakwell' systems.

As most people think that toilet paper is toilet paper I thought I explain difference to make life, and toilet visits, more pleasurable for all of us.

The thing is that there is no problem with the sewer system; you just have to use the correct type of toilet paper.

The sewer systems in Thailand can easily handle proper toilet paper. I do not lack in the experience of travel but suffer from the ignorance of people who instantly adjust to local conditions without question.

[Brit_Doggie]

Sewerage system not as 1 would like therefore another step backward for mankind, but not a life thretening issue is it.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Brit_Doggie

[Costas2008]

What's with Greece?

Even in newly built houses, you can not throw toilet paper in the toilet.

In stead you must use the waste basket.

It is because they use narrow drainage pipes.

And no bum guns available.

Most tourist are not aware of this, and keep flushing their toilet paper, resulting in clog ups.

I believe this is a scam, organized by the Greek Plumbers Association, in order to secure jobs.

Others say this is a leftover from the old days, when the left hand was used (savings on toilet paper and bum guns).

That would than explain why Turks consider the left hand to be unclean. (Greeks and Turks are 1 people, but never tell them so!)

WHERE IS COSTAS WHEN YOU NEED HIM? Surely he could contribute to this very intellectual thread.

Maitre, the OP probably is from the UK.

Please tell him, that the stench is not so much from the toilet paper, but from his body as he is used to have a bath once a month back to his Western country.

Also, please tell him that in Greece we always have a bath at least once a day, although we are not western enough to satisfy his standards.

Thank you, Maitre.

[nidieunimaitre]

What have we learned so far?

In Greece, blockage is caused by too small drainage pipes.

In Thailand, blockage is caused by using the wrong type of toilet paper.

In Turkey, there is no such problem.

Now carry on.

[pattjock]

What's with Greece?

Even in newly built houses, you can not throw toilet paper in the toilet.

In stead you must use the waste basket.

It is because they use narrow drainage pipes.

And no bum guns available.

Most tourist are not aware of this, and keep flushing their toilet paper, resulting in clog ups.

I believe this is a scam, organized by the Greek Plumbers Association, in order to secure jobs.

Others say this is a leftover from the old days, when the left hand was used (savings on toilet paper and bum guns).

That would than explain why Turks consider the left hand to be unclean. (Greeks and Turks are 1 people, but never tell them so!)

WHERE IS COSTAS WHEN YOU NEED HIM? Surely he could contribute to this very intellectual thread.

lord.jpg

Maitre, the OP probably is from the UK.

Please tell him, that the stench is not so much from the toilet paper, but from his body as he is used to have a bath once a month back to his Western country.

Also, please tell him that in Greece we always have a bath at least once a day, although we are not western enough to satisfy his standards.

Thank you, Maitre.

First, I’m from a culture that take bodily hygiene seriously, so that is not the problem. More likely it’s a problem with your olfactory system if you have never noticed this in a Thai public restroom.

Secondly, I’m not the one that ubrought Greece in to this, nidieunimaitre involved Greece in this conversation.

[Stan42]

When I first moved in I had constant problems with my toilet getting clogged. The landlady said I should put the paper in a bin after use. That's disgusting! Since then I've switched to cheap toilet paper, which is surprisingly of better quality, wipe and flush wise. The expensive toilet paper is just more rigid and is perfumed with lovely patterns on it.

I also flush as often as I can between wipes. I pay a fixed price of 300thb/month for water, so I'm allowed to waste as much of it as I can.

Based on the large amount of Info, OP needs to write an essay titled "The science of toilet paper!".

[MaeJoMTB]

You're all wrong,

It's 'cos there's no sewage system, everywhere uses Septic tanks.

Septic tanks don't like digesting paper.

Nothing to do with pipes.

[pattjock]

When I first moved in I had constant problems with my toilet getting clogged. The landlady said I should put the paper in a bin after use. That's disgusting! Since then I've switched to cheap toilet paper, which is surprisingly of better quality, wipe and flush wise. The expensive toilet paper is just more rigid and is perfumed with lovely patterns on it.

I also flush as often as I can between wipes. I pay a fixed price of 300thb/month for water, so I'm allowed to waste as much of it as I can.

Based on the large amount of Info, OP needs to write an essay titled "The science of toilet paper!".

Thanks for the confirmation of my findings.

Cheap toilet paper is usually good toilet paper, but give it a test before you settle on any specific brand, it could save you a visit from the plummer.

[Thongkorn]

I posted a thread over a year ago, about Thailand spending billions building, state of the art buildings for rich tourists, but you still have to put soiled toilet paper in plastic bins at the side of the toilets.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Thongkorn

[lostoday]

Don’t Flush the Toilet Paper in South America

http://myasmine.com/dont-flush-the-toilet-paper-in-south-america/

2014 Sochi Olympics: Don't flush toilet paper

http://fansided.com/2014/02/04/2014-sochi-olympics-dont-flush-toilet-paper/

I find it almost impossible to believe that anyone could be so little traveled not to know about septic tank systems.

Edited April 20, 2015 by lostoday

[surangw]

and all along I thought it was there in case someone forgot to bring their own, and had to use the clean side of the discarded tp

[cumgranosalum]

As I understand it toilet tissue prevents the normal bacterial processes that occur in a septic tank. Tanks can lose most of their volume through this process and never or hardly ever need emptying. Furthermore Thailand, when it dikes have a main drain system simply can't handle the extra solids produced by tissue papers. Laos on the other hand has no such problem....lots of water and gradients.

OS ... I do wiush some freangs would learn how to I see a bum gun properly....these guys don't seem to realise how utterly disgusting they are....they certainly would get to stay in my house more than okncebif they left stinky tissues in my loo or flushed t down the pan...

Edited April 20, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[slipperylobster]

It does seem so barbaric and rude to put human waste in a bin all <deleted> day.

Bum gun....pat dry....agreed. I would be so pissed to see a bunch of foul tissue in my bin.

Never heard of it before I came here. disgusting.

[lostoday]

It does seem so barbaric and rude to put human waste in a bin all <deleted> day.

Bum gun....pat dry....agreed. I would be so pissed to see a bunch of foul tissue in my bin.

Never heard of it before I came here. disgusting.

25% of USA on septic systems. In the South 46%

http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owm/upload/2009_06_22_septics_septic_systems_factsheet.pdf

Edited April 20, 2015 by lostoday

[SoiBiker]

As I understand it toilet tissue prevents the normal bacterial processes that occur in a septic tank. Tanks can lose most of their volume through this process and never or hardly ever need emptying. Furthermore Thailand, when it dikes have a main drain system simply can't handle the extra solids produced by tissue papers. Laos on the other hand has no such problem....lots of water and gradients.

OS ... I do wiush some freangs would learn how to I see a bum gun properly....these guys don't seem to realise how utterly disgusting they are....they certainly would get to stay in my house more than okncebif they left stinky tissues in my loo or flushed t down the pan...

Maybe you should give all your houseguests a training session on arrival?

[TommyDee]

same house, mine here, 7 years. always flush paper. never any problems and never had to have the tank pumped. its a falacy IMHO

[champers]

Do you mind? I'm having my tea!!!

[tx22cb]

Merits of different toilet paper .... a First World problem.

I am told that if you were around in the 70s, you would be familiar with the rolled up tracing paper that passed off as toilet paper.

Very shiny stuff, and pretty non-absorbent.

And if you're not careful, might even give you a paper cut in a delicate place!

[nidieunimaitre]

Merits of different toilet paper .... a First World problem.

I am told that if you were around in the 70s, you would be familiar with the rolled up tracing paper that passed off as toilet paper.

Very shiny stuff, and pretty non-absorbent.

And if you're not careful, might even give you a paper cut in a delicate place!

In 1976 I was drafted (I am Belgian) and did military service at a British base in W Germany - I brought that shiny transparent paper with me to show to my friends.

It had "property of H M Government" printed on it.

And I always brought my own toilet rolls to the base.

[Squeegee]

Don't worry, OP, I understand the point of your topic and I think your results are interesting too.

-

As to putting paper in the bin, I use the bumgun and then just a bit of paper to dry off too, same as most people who understand what is the best way, however when I am in certain places like rich shopping malls such as Gateway Ekamai that don't bother to provide a bumgun, only paper, I discard the used toilet paper into the toilet and if it clogs it's their own stupid fault for not being civilised, since the idea of putting soiled paper into the bin disgusts me. One would think Gateway Ekamai mall would have bumguns but no.

Som kee na

[nidieunimaitre]

Don't worry, OP, I understand the point of your topic and I think your results are interesting too.

-

As to putting paper in the bin, I use the bumgun and then just a bit of paper to dry off too, same as most people who understand what is the best way, however when I am in certain places like rich shopping malls such as Gateway Ekamai that don't bother to provide a bumgun, only paper, I discard the used toilet paper into the toilet and if it clogs it's their own stupid fault for not being civilised, since the idea of putting soiled paper into the bin disgusts me. One would think Gateway Ekamai mall would have bumguns but no.

Som kee na

It's a funny world: Farangs going native in Thailand, and Thai Hiso going European in Ekamai.

[balo]

All farangs should learn how to use the bumgun , it's easy and healthy for you.