Flush... so we do not blush...
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
July 16, 2008 2:14am CST
That was the headline that caught my attention.
So I went in to read the article and I almost choke on my coffee!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080708/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_taiwan_toilet
The article is saying that Taiwanese DO NOT flush their used toilet paper after they use them. They throw it in the bin beside the bowl instead.
Man~~~ I have heard so many good things about Taiwan. This is the first time I have come across this toilet habit where people do not flush the toilet paper they used to wipe their crap when they are done.
I mean, it is a natural thing to do, no?
Imagine the stench of crap when you go to the public toilets.
Heck, even in the home, the smell will be like all over the place unless you throw out your trash after every toilet dump session.
Is this not the normal culture to flushed soiled toilet paper together with your crap after the dump session across the globe?
Makes me curious... do you flush the toilet paper that you used to wipe your butt after you are done crapping?
Or do you throw it away into a bin like any normal piece of paper?
The article is saying that Taiwanese DO NOT flush their used toilet paper after they use them. They throw it in the bin beside the bowl instead.
Man~~~ I have heard so many good things about Taiwan. This is the first time I have come across this toilet habit where people do not flush the toilet paper they used to wipe their crap when they are done.
I mean, it is a natural thing to do, no?
Imagine the stench of crap when you go to the public toilets.
Heck, even in the home, the smell will be like all over the place unless you throw out your trash after every toilet dump session.
Is this not the normal culture to flushed soiled toilet paper together with your crap after the dump session across the globe?
Makes me curious... do you flush the toilet paper that you used to wipe your butt after you are done crapping?
Or do you throw it away into a bin like any normal piece of paper?2 people like this
5 responses
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
16 Jul 08
We are discouraged from flushing toilet paper because the usually cause clogging... so in my country... most toilet paper end up in the bin... that is the practice even in the biggest malls and hotels... and the bins usually have a lid that can be opened by stepping on it... a lot of people think this is a lot better than ending up with a clogged toilet...
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
16 Jul 08
Really? You telling me that the toilet bowls that Taiwan is using is not able to flush away paper waste?
I just watch a documentary on discovery a few months back on the technologies that goes into the design of a toilet bowl. Now a days, the toilet bowls are able to flush away waste that weighs as much as 4 KG!
I was so surprised! I was telling my wife, who in the world would crap up to 4 KG of waste?
Then I got my answer near the end of the show. The Americans today eat so much junk food, that the amount of waste they produce has increased significantly as time passed. So to prevent the incidence of the flush back flowing, they design the bowls to flush out the heaviest of loads. In this case, 4 KG is the bench mark.
And this is the industry standards applied all over the world today.
So with such bowls that can flush away 4 KG of crap, you are telling me it will choke the bowl when you flush the soiled paper together with the crap?
How much toilet paper does it take to wipe one's butt after crapping anyways?
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
16 Jul 08
It is not that the toilets cannot flush the paper, it is that the plumbing cannot handle it. Some types of toilet paper do not disinegrate (?) as well as others. They clog the plumbing pipes and back up the toilets and sinks.
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
16 Jul 08
oh my goodness that is one of the grossest thing I've ever heard. Thank goodness I've had my dinner before reading this. Otherwise I don't think I can eat much. It should be the most natural thing to flush used toilet paper down the toilet bowl after use. I can't imagine the stench that'll greet me when I walk into a taiwanese toilet. As it is an influshed toilet ranks right on top of my stenchiest places list. I really shudder to think about toilets with bins that are filled with soiled toilet paper. Guess Taiwan won't be on my must-visit list any time soon. 
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
16 Jul 08
This is a first for me too applefreak.
I have never really been to Taiwan, so I cannot comment on the toilet hygiene.
But I am sure it is not as bad as we imagine it to be.
If it is, then there would have been scores of people who will complain about it on the travel forums that are around.
Maybe I will do some googling around to see if there are any other incidents reported with regards to this.
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
17 Jul 08
come to think of it I've not heard anything about this too. I've got friends who have been to taiwan. Some didn't like it so much. One friend raved about it so much another friend started thinking about visiting Taiwan. If this is a rampant practice I'm sure they would have metioned. Maybe this is just an isolated case applicable to certain parts of Taiwan. Hopefully we won't see anything like this on Singapore. ;p
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
17 Jul 08
Like I said, and you mentioned, it could be applicable to only certain parts in Taiwan.
Seriously, if it was the norm there, we would have complained about it to no end!
I have heard so much about Taiwan. And the food they feature on the show "SHI ZI LU KOU" looks so good! I actually will have thoughts to make a trip there. 
Just to makan!
Just to makan!
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
16 Jul 08
we flush the toilet paper together with the thing inside the bowl...
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
18 Jul 08
this happens in more than one country! I've had it explained to me in China that the main reason is that their toilet flushes are not strong enough to flush paper down! but if it doesn't work properly then how can it flush waste down right?
i know it's gross but people really live their lives like that. in fact, there will be notices on the door asking you NOT to put toilet paper in the toilet bowls, and there will be a horrid stench coming from the basket (which is seldom closed) and from the entire toilet in general.
at least these places have flushes I suppose. other toilets in china don't even have flushes!
@scully0317 (43)
• United States
16 Jul 08
Living in North America, I, like many others, flush the used toilet paper rather than throw it in the trash. Did the article say anything to the effect of the reason for the people in Taiwan not flushing the toilet paper? Does it have to do with environmental or plumbing concerns? That is the only feasible way I could think it would make sense to not flush toilet paper...even so, I agree that the stench would be terrible, not to mention highly unsanitary!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
16 Jul 08
Nope... no mention on why they have the culture of throwing away the paper rather than flush it down.
Judging from the second post of this thread, it is to prevent choking of the bowl during flushing.
Well, maybe I have not lived that long to witness such a thing happening.
So I cannot comprehend how they can throw the soiled paper in a bin and leave it there. The smells would have been terrible!
