Avoid These Embarrassing Bathroom Mistakes When Visiting Different Countries

If there's one thing that connects us all, it's that we all have to use the bathroom. However, not all restrooms and toilet customs are the same. While traveling, you'll likely encounter various types of toilets, different restroom rules, and some taboos surrounding toilets. When nature calls, it's important to know what to expect before you go to avoid making embarrassing bathroom mistakes.

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is assuming toilets in different countries will be just like they are at home. It can come as a shock to find that everything from the toilet seat to the flushing systems can be vastly different. Then there are the rituals surrounding restrooms, as what's commonplace in one country can be highly offensive in another. When in urgent need of a bathroom, no one wants to worry about what they should and should not do while "taking care of business." If you're planning a trip abroad, these are some common bathroom mistakes you should avoid when visiting different countries.

Speaking of toilet paper, many people around the world wouldn't dream of using it to clean up after using the toilet. For some, only water can adequately clean the body. This is often due to religious and cultural reasons. Some Muslim and Hindu texts state that water must be used for cleaning your nether regions and that only the left hand should be used to splash water down there. Standard practice is to use the right hand to hold the lota (water vessel) or water scoop and the left hand to use the water to clean.

In many countries where water is used in lieu of toilet paper, it's taboo to touch anyone with the left hand because that's the "toilet hand," so it's considered unclean. You should also avoid using your left hand to touch food, pass money or gifts, and point at people. Many countries with Muslim and Hindu populations follow this rule, including Indonesia, India, Nepal, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. It's also commonplace across the Middle East.

Japan is a fascinating country with a wide array of customs that are vastly different from many other places. For example, most Japanese people never wear shoes in the home. Instead, they swap outdoor shoes for slippers when in the house, and there are often different slippers for the bathroom as well. One of the biggest things tourists should never do when visiting Japan is mix up the bathroom slippers with the regular house slippers.

The "no-shoe" rule in Japan comes down to cleanliness. The logic is that outdoor shoes track dirt and germs into the house. Toilets can also be wet and dirty places. Therefore, most Japanese homes and some businesses have slippers at the entrance of the home or business that are meant to be worn around the house, as well as slippers at the entrance of the bathroom that are intended for use only in the bathroom. If you use the restroom, be sure to swap out your house slippers for the bathroom slippers before you go, and remember to swap them back once you're done.

If you're planning a trip to Asia, be aware that squat toilets are the norm in many countries. Squat toilets are typically built low to the ground because they're meant to be squatted over rather than sat on. Some may have toilet pan with areas on either side to place your feet, while others could be a low bowl or even just a hole in the ground. Some squat toilets have a flushing mechanism, while others need to be flushed manually by taking a container of water and pouring it into the toilet.

Jen Williams of Launch Your Travels gave a few tips for using squat toilets. First, she recommends rolling up your pants or skirts so that they don't get wet (or worse). She also suggests making sure you don't have anything in your pockets that could fall out. Although it seems obvious, wearing shoes is also important. She said, "You may be wondering right now, why wouldn't I be wearing any shoes? Well, you would be surprised at how many places make you take your shoes off in certain destinations. Temples and restaurants are the two big ones that could require you to take your shoes off."

Clogging up a toilet and causing a flood is bad enough at home, but it can be a shameful nightmare while traveling. In some places, all it might take is flushing your toilet paper. Many countries don't have plumbing systems that can support toilet paper, so the last thing you want to do is throw paper or anything more robust into the bowl. As a general rule, if it didn't come out of your body, it shouldn't go down the pipes.

Countries where toilet paper shouldn't be flushed include Greece, Egypt, China, Brazil, and India. Parts of Southeast Asia, South America, and the Caribbean can also have ill-equipped plumbing and sewage systems that can't handle toilet paper. In places where flushing toilet paper is discouraged, it's best to dispose of your paper in the bins provided or do like the locals do and use water for cleaning. 

When it comes to personal hygiene products, you might be particular about the brands and types of products you use. That's all fine and well, but don't assume you'll find the same items overseas. If there are certain toiletries that you can't do without, consider bringing them with you on your trip. At the very least, you may want to bring hand sanitizer or wipes for those bare-bones bathrooms that offer nothing more than water for cleaning up. 

If you happen to be traveling during that time of the month, it's also important to be aware that tampons are not common in many countries. You may have to search hard to find them or resort to pads. In addition, you may not find the same brands or types of products that you're used to at home. For example, you may not find tampons with applicators or thin pantyliners. In some rural areas, you may not be able to find any menstrual products at all. It's best to bring some with you, just in case.

It's always rude to leave a toilet unflushed, but in Singapore, you could incur a hefty fine for leaving your business in the bowl. The Environmental Public Health Act (regulation 16) states, "Any person who has urinated or defecated in any sanitary convenience with a flushing system to which the public has access shall flush the sanitary convenience immediately after using it." Not flushing can land you a fine of up to $1,000 SGD (about $745).

Singapore is known for having some pretty strict rules related to public cleanliness. For example, it's the only Asian country where chewing gum is banned. Luckily, the fixation on cleanliness means there are plenty of self-flushing toilets in the city-state. And if you do forget to flush, it may not be as dire as you think because the no-flushing rule is a pretty hard one to enforce. As one Singapore resident said on Quora, "So far as I know, NO ONE has ever been fined for not flushing their toilets because there has NEVER BEEN 'Toilet Police/Security' or CCTV put inside the toilet to catch you not flushing."

One toilet mistake to avoid making in Switzerland is getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, as most municipalities have mandatory quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. If your toilet activity or plumbing is excessively noisy, your neighbors may take offense. Being a good neighbor is important in Switzerland, so much so that the civil code says that your activities cannot have an excessive impact on your neighbors.

That said, you're unlikely to face any criminal charges if you flush your toilet at night. Although the law doesn't specify exactly which noises are "excessive," most people accept normal household noises. The law is more geared towards disruptive noises like loud music, power tools, and mowing the lawn. As long as you're being considerate, you probably won't have any problems. Just don't slam that bathroom door, and you should be good to go.