Your Ultimate Guide to Using a Squat Toilet in India

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Feel confident using a restroom in India with these helpful steps

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: June 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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Preparing to Use the Toilet

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Using the Toilet

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Cleaning Up

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

If you’re a Westerner traveling to India for the first time, you might be perplexed upon entering a bathroom. Instead of finding a Western-style toilet, there’s a toilet in the ground and no toilet paper in sight—what do you do? Well, we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll tell you what to expect from Indian bathrooms, how to use them, and what to bring in with you. Read on to learn more!

Things You Should Know

To use an Indian bathroom, take off your pants and squat over the toilet with your feet planted firmly on either side.
Use the hose or bucket and cup provided in the restroom to pour water on your backside and use your left hand to clean yourself.
Pour water into the toilet to flush and clean it, or use the flushing mechanism if the toilet has one.
Carry soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and a plastic bag with you in case the restroom you use doesn’t have these items.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Use the Toilet

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1
Be aware that many Indian toilets are squat toilets. If you are pregnant, elderly, or have a disability, you might find it difficult to squat and use Indian toilets. While India is making improvements to accommodate people with disabilities, know that most toilets are squat toilets. To make navigating India easier, search for accessible restrooms in the area that you’re visiting and plan out your route before you arrive.
- Search the internet for Western toilets and toilets with ramps, handrails, and Braille signs. Ask hotel concierges and city guides where to find accommodations.
- Stay near public places such as railway lines. These are areas where the government is improving disability access.
- More urban areas and cities like New Delhi typically have more accessible restrooms and Western-style toilets than less traveled or rural areas.^{[1]
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- Children use the same toilets as adults.
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Check the bathroom for water. Squat toilets in India don’t use toilet paper. Instead, they use water to rinse areas that come into contact with waste. Because toilet paper isn't used, you’ll typically find a spray hose or a bucket of water in its place. Before using the toilet, make sure there is a water source available; some people use the water before anyone notices and refills the bucket.
- Most bathrooms have either a spray hose for cleaning or a bucket of water with a bowl or mug. If there isn’t any water, find a different toilet.
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Look for soap before going into the toilet stall. Always check that there is soap or hand sanitizer available to wash your hands when you’re done. It’s cultural practice to use your left hand to clean yourself, as Indians use their right hand to eat. To properly disinfect your hands, just make sure to choose a toilet that has soap available.^{[2]
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- When traveling in India, carry wipes, soap, or hand sanitizer with you in case you use a bathroom without soap available. This reduces your need to search for an alternative bathroom in an emergency.
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Spray a little water on and around the toilet. This is optional, but pouring a little water around the toilet helps prevent your shoes from sticking to the floor. Spray a bit inside the toilet as well to make it easier for you to wash away waste later.^{[3]
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- Simply dip the mug or bowl in the bucket or use the spray hose. Use enough water to wet the floor without making the floor slippery. Leave enough water to use on yourself later.
You might find it easiest to remove your pants and undergarments when using a squat toilet for the first time. Some restrooms have hooks for your clothes, while others have pipes and other features that give you a place to hang your clothes and valuables.^{[4]
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Part 2

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Using the Toilet

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Drop your pants. The best way to avoid getting water and waste on your pants and underwear is to remove them entirely. Some bathrooms have hooks or other places to hang them. If not, find a creative way to wrap your clothes around a pipe or other feature.^{[5]
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- You don’t have to remove your clothing to use a squat toilet, but you might find it more comfortable at first. Once you’re more experienced, just pull down your pants to your knees and roll up your pant legs.
- If you are wearing a skirt or dress, bunch it up with your hand or fold it over your lap.
The squat toilet forms a u-shape on the ground with a hole towards the back end. The correct way to use a squat toilet is similar to how you use a Western toilet. Face your back to the wall and align your backside over the hole.^{[6]
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Some toilets have foot pads on each side of the toilet. While standing, place your feet on either side of the toilet with the hole positioned behind you. If there are no foot pads, place a foot on each side of the toilet about shoulder-width apart.
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Squat over the toilet opening. A squat toilet functions the same as an upright, Western toilet except it has no seat. To find a comfortable position, bend your knees and lower yourself to a crouching position with your feet flat against the ground. Imagine you’re balancing weights on your shoulders until you reach a semi-sitting position.^{[7]
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- Find a position that’s comfortable for you. Many people keep their thighs together and let their arms rest on their knees.
Squat as low as possible over the toilet hole. Aim for the hole to avoid as much splashback as possible.^{[8]
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Part 3

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Cleaning Up

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Wash your private areas with the available water. Use the cup provided to pour water on your backside. Or, rinse your bottom off with the spray hose if one is available. Reach between your legs with your left hand and wiggle your fingers quickly to clean yourself. If you need more water, pour it with your right hand as you clean with your left. The water plus your hand movements cleans away waste, keeping your left hand relatively clean.^{[9]
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- In India, it is common to clean with your left hand and only use your right hand to pour the water or throw it up towards your bottom.
- Wipe away from your genitals as you clean yourself.
- Clean yourself with about 1 liter (0.3 US gal) of water. It might seem unusual to you at first, but using water is often cleaner than using toilet paper.
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Throw toilet paper in the trash can. If there is toilet paper in the restroom or you brought your own, don’t put it down the hole. The plumbing for squat toilets isn’t designed for toilet paper. If you throw it down the hole, you can cause a clog. Instead, throw away your toilet paper in a trash can.^{[10]
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- Some restrooms don’t have trash cans, so bring a storage bag with you to dispose of your toilet paper. When you find a trash can, throw away the bag.
If the toilet has a water tank above the toilet, just pull the handle like you would in a Western-style toilet to flush. Some squat toilets have hanging flush chains, so simply pull the chain to flush the toilet. If the toilet you’re using doesn’t have a flush mechanism, spray or pour water into the toilet to wash any waste away.^{[11]
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Dry yourself off. If there’s a towel or tissues available, use these. Don’t put them down the toilet hole as you can cause a clog. Instead, place used tissues in a trash can.^{[12]
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- Some restrooms don’t have towels or tissues to dry off, so carry them with you. Also bring a storage bag to place the used tissues or towels in until you find a place to dispose of them.
Wash your hands with soap. In most places, soap is provided in the restroom or outside of it. Simply scrub your hands using the available water. If your restroom has no soap, search for some once you leave.

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If there isn't toilet paper or a towel after I finish washing myself, what do I do?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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If there are no towels or toilet paper to dry yourself off with, just let yourself air dry. Shake off excess water over the toilet and fan yourself to speed up the drying process.

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What do you do if you can't squat?

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If you have difficulty squatting, partially squat and place your hands on the walls of the restroom to support yourself. If the restroom is too large to do that, prop yourself off the floor by spreading your arms behind you. Or, get into a kneeling position over the toilet. Wash your hands really well if you use the latter 2 options, as these are less sanitary than squatting.

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Why shouldn't we put toilet paper in the toilet in India?

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Most plumbing systems in India are only built for waste and water. Throwing paper products like toilet paper into the toilet can clog the plumbing.

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Tips

Wear your shoes or bring flip-flops when using a squat toilet. Many people have done their business before you so you don't want to place your bare feet on the toilet.

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When you’re finished, clean around the bathroom with water so no debris is left behind.

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Squat toilets are probably different than what you are used to. If you feel uncomfortable, take a deep breath and relax.

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