How to Use a Squatting WC or Toilet: Easy Guide

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Tips for wiping, flushing, and keeping yourself clean in an Eastern toilet

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Last Updated: February 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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Using a Squat Toilet

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Using a squat toilet can be a new experience for many Westerners. The unfamiliar shape, style, and method of use are largely unknown to those who live outside areas where these toilets are the preferred style. Before you encounter a squat toilet, it can be helpful to learn exactly how to properly use it, allowing you to avoid any issues or problems. Along with easy-to-follow visual steps for using a squat toilet, we’ll fill you in on some bonus preparation tips and info about where you might expect to use a squatting toilet.

How do you use a squat toilet?

Pull down or entirely remove whatever bottoms you’re wearing.
Place your feet in the small indents on either side to straddle the toilet.
If you’re urinating, face away from the ramp; if you’re defecating, face toward it.
Lower yourself into a deep squat and relieve yourself.
If there’s toilet paper, use it and throw it in a trash bin—not in the toilet.
If there’s no toilet paper, fill the provided bucket with water to clean yourself.
To flush, use the attached handle or pour 2-3 buckets of water down the toilet.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Use a Squatting Toilet

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1
Pull down or remove your pants or skirt. Before you use the squat toilet, you’ll have to get your clothes out of the way. If you’re a beginner to squat toilets, it’s advised to fully remove your underwear and your pants (or skirt). Place them in your bag or hold them in your arms while you’re using the toilet. Otherwise, if you’re more comfortable with squatting, you can try to leave your bottoms on by simply lowering them to your ankles.^{[1]
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- Before entering the bathroom, consider rolling your bottoms up to make sure they won’t touch the floor. If you’re wearing pants, for instance, roll the cuffs up to the top of your calf or knee. If you’re wearing a skirt, roll it up around the waist to hike it up as much as possible.
- Rolling up your bottoms before entering the toilet will save you from getting the hem wet with whatever’s on the bathroom floor… which could be water or pee. Better safe than sorry!
Once you’ve dealt with your bottoms, it’s time to get into a straddling position over the toilet. When looking at the toilet, you’ll see two small foot indents beside the squat toilet, as well as a hole at the back and a small ramp at the front. Stand over the toilet with one foot on each side, with each foot in one of the little indents. If you’re urinating, face the back of the toilet (where the hole is) so that you’re peeing straight down the hole. If you’re defecating, face the front of the toilet (where the ramp is).^{[2]
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3
Squat down over the toilet and relieve yourself. Now that you’ve lined yourself up, bend at the knees and gently lower yourself down into a deep squat. Your knees will be pointing straight up, and your bottom should be directly over the toilet. Continue squatting until your bottom is about level with your ankles. Once in this position, relax and let nature take its course.^{[3]
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- While this step isn’t very different from using a Western toilet, it’s been demonstrated that squatting during a bowel movement is actually easier on the body.
- If the squat position is difficult for you, try hugging your knees for support and extra balance.
4
Clean yourself with waste paper, a water bucket, or whatever’s available. Many places that use squat toilets don’t have toilet paper, but instead use a sprayer or a pot of water for cleaning up. Look around the toilet to see what’s available to you. If you see toilet paper, feel free to use it to wipe yourself (but don’t throw it in the toilet—more on that in the next step). If you don’t see toilet paper, you should instead see a sprayer or a pot with a small ladle. To use the sprayer, spritz water onto yourself and wipe the area clean with your other hand.^{[4]
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- To use the pot, fill it with water (if it’s not already full). Then, use the ladle or the spout of the pot to splash water on yourself (without touching the pot to your genitalia). Then, pat the area dry with your hand, or simply shake and let it air dry for a few minutes.
- Repeat this process as many times as you need to until you feel sufficiently clean.
- You can absolutely bring toilet paper with you if you are able to plan ahead and don’t want to use the pot or sprayer methods. Some places will provide toilet paper, but many won’t, or they’ll charge you money for it. Consider packing toilet paper, tissue paper, or Wet Wipes in your bag (although you still need to dispose of them properly without flushing them down the toilet).
5
If you used waste paper, dispose of it properly. If you used toilet paper or a baby wipe to clean up after yourself, you likely cannot flush it down the toilet, unless you are explicitly told it’s okay in that bathroom. Many plumbing systems that use squatting toilets are not equipped to deal with flushing toilet paper, and it can cause serious damage to those systems. Instead, fold up your toilet paper so that the waste is entirely covered, then throw it in a provided trash bin.^{[5]
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- If there is no trash bin, you’ll need to take the paper out with you and find a trash bin elsewhere.
6
Flush the squat toilet with a water bucket or a Western-style handle. Some squat toilets will have a handle and will flush like a Western-style toilet. If so, just press the handle to flush! However, many squatting toilets will not have this feature, but you’re still required to flush and clean up after you’ve used the toilet. To do so, fill the provided water bucket and dump it down the toilet. If all of your waste doesn’t go down the first time, repeat 1-2 more times until it’s all gone.^{[6]
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- Always leave the squat toilet looking completely clean for the next person.
- In some cases, there will be a foot pedal that can be used to flush the squat toilet.
- If there’s a brush nearby, use it to wipe away any footprints you may have left on the sides of the toilet.

Section 2 of 3:

Helpful Advice for Using a Squat Toilet

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1
Empty your pockets before using the toilet. If possible, remove your cell phone, money, and any other valuable items from your pockets. Give your valuables to a trusted friend or put them into your bag—if you don’t have a backpack, wear your bag or purse strap around your neck. Your pockets need to be empty, especially if you’re an amateur squatting toilet user, because your items might otherwise fall out of your pockets when you remove your pants or squat over the toilet.^{[7]
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2
Wear shoes when going into the bathroom. Some spaces—like temples, restaurants, and personal homes—may require you to remove your shoes. However, you’ll want to be wearing shoes when you use the squatting toilet, as the floor of the toilet will often be wet. If you find yourself in this situation, you have a few options. Instead of leaving your shoes at the door, put them in your bag and carry them with you. Alternatively, be prepared with a pair of flip flops in your bag, then just slip them on when heading to the bathroom.
- Worst case scenario, simply return to the front door, grab your shoes, carry them to the bathroom, and put them on there.
3
Carry a plastic bag and hand sanitizer with you at all times. If you’re traveling in a country where you know you’ll encounter squatting toilets, be prepared by keeping a plastic bag and hand sanitizer in your purse or backpack. The plastic bag can be used in case you’re using toilet paper but are unable to dispose of it in the squat toilet (as many squat toilets can’t accommodate paper waste). If there’s no garbage bin in the toilet, just stick the soiled toilet paper in your plastic bag until you’re able to find a trash can. Use hand sanitizer to clean your hands if you’re in a squatting toilet bathroom without running water and/or soap.^{[8]
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Section 3 of 3:

What are squat toilets, and which countries use them?

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Squat toilets are built into the ground, and they’re common in parts of Asia, Africa, and beyond. Sometimes known as floor toilets, squatting toilets are essentially holes in the ground that are covered in porcelain and equipped for human waste. Instead of sitting directly on the toilet, as is common with Western toilets, squat toilet users will squat over the toilet before relieving themselves.^{[9]
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- These toilets are used throughout the world, although they’re especially common in some Asian countries, including China, India, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Turkey, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
- However, squatting toilets are also common in some sub-Saharan African countries, as well as parts of the Middle East, Northern Africa, and some European countries (e.g., France, Greece, Albania, etc.).

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Public restrooms with squat toilets sometimes don't give a lot of privacy because they are wide open to other people in the restroom. That's not a problem if I need to pee, but what if I need to poop?

Community Answer

Go quickly and be discreet. I always bring a sweater to place over my crotch area to cover my private parts while going. Understand that this is a normal part of life. Everyone looks the same going, so don’t be embarrassed.

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What do I use to dry myself after using the spray or bucket?

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If you brought some, toilet paper. You can also bring a small towel that you use just for drying and keep it in a large Ziploc bag in your backpack, purse, etc.

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What if I fall in that hole?

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You cannot fall in the hole, as it is usually too small to fall down. Just be careful not to fall in your own waste.

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If you’re defecating, consider pouring some water into the toilet before using it to make your eventual cleanup easier.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If new to squat toilets, practice squatting naked in the shower at home to get a feel for the position.
It's a good idea to keep your shoes on for stability and hygiene when using a squat toilet.
Rest on your heels when squatting rather than balancing on your toes for stability.
If necessary for balance, hold onto the hood of the squat toilet.

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