What do Filipinos use instead of toilet paper?

Author: Candida Bogisich III  |  Last update: Saturday, December 27, 2025

Filipinos use the tabo in addition to or instead of toilet paper to wash after using the bathroom. Not all toilets in the Philippines have an automatic flush, so instead, a timbâ (generally a plastic pail with a metal handle) and a tabò kept floating inside it is used.

What do they use for toilet paper in the Philippines?

So today, I'm talking about the tabo – a small plastic or metal water dipper that plays a crucial role in personal hygiene for Filipinos. It's like the Swiss Army Knife of bathroom tools – it replaces both the shower and toilet paper in traditional Filipino homes.

How do you use a tabo instead of toilet paper?

Basically, you get some soap and make a lather in one hand. Take the tabo in your other hand and fill it with water. Then you just wash your bum with your soapy hand while pouring the water from the tabo down your crack. Yes, you have to actually touch your bum, but you do that in the shower anyway, right?

What do Asians use instead of toilet paper?

Chinese and Asians in general don't waste toilet paper just to wipe their ass. We use bidet and water. That toilet paper might be only used for drying. That's why small portion is enough.

Do Filipinos use bidet?

Bathroom hygiene culture is different in every part of the world, and this underscores an interplay between cultural preferences, economic factors, and travel accommodation choices. In the Philippines, bidets are very much like a fixture.

Filipinos Don't Use Toilet Paper. This Is Used Instead

Why do Americans don't use bidet?

A common reason why bidets aren't used in the US is that during World War 2, American soldiers saw brothels utilizing bidets. When they came back to United States, they shunned the bidet because of the connotations. Plus, the construction boom that took place in the post-war years built plumbing systems without bidets.

How do Filipinos clean after toilet?

Filipinos use the tabo in addition to or instead of toilet paper to wash after using the bathroom. Not all toilets in the Philippines have an automatic flush, so instead, a timbâ (generally a plastic pail with a metal handle) and a tabò kept floating inside it is used.

What nationality does not use toilet paper?

France, Portugal, Italy and Japan.

Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries usually have bidets in their bathrooms. A bidet looks like a toilet but also has a spout that sprays water like a fountain to thoroughly cleanse you.

Do Koreans not flush toilet paper?

In South Korea, it is customary to throw toilet paper into bins rather than flushing it down the toilet in public restrooms. Most Koreans do not mind this practice, but it can be quite off-putting for many visitors to the country.

Do Muslims use toilet paper?

Eating any food while on the toilet is forbidden. After defecating, the anus must be washed with water using the left hand, or an odd number of smooth stones or pebbles called jamrah or hijaarah (Sahih Al-Bukhari 161, Book 4, Hadith 27). Many jurists agree that toilet paper suffices in place of these stones.

Are there alternatives to toilet paper?

Tissues, Napkins or Paper Towels:

Alternatively, you might use paper towels or napkins, which are absorbent but probably a bit rougher. Just be careful.

What is the meaning of bidet in Tagalog?

The English word "bidet" can be translated as the following word in Tagalog: 1.) dewang - any object that can be used to clean the buttocks after defecation, such as a stick or straw; toilet paper; bidet; bathroom tissue; more...

What do other cultures use instead of toilet paper?

Bidet. France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain all use bidets, they'll often have toilet paper available in public spaces for tourists, but homes would all have bidets installed. Japan is the one Asian stand-out in that they adopted bidets rather than other ways of washing the bum.

Which country uses the most toilet paper?

Key Findings
  • China uses over 4 billion miles of toilet paper each year – more than any other country.
  • The average Portuguese person uses 643.36 miles of toilet paper in their lifetime – more than any other nationality.
  • It takes 31.11 million trees each year to supply the US with toilet paper.

Do the Philippines have flushing toilets?

Only 7 percent have flush toilets. By area, pour-flush toilets are most common in Metro Manila (85 percent), followed by Luzon outside Metro Manila (83 percent), the Visayas (82 percent) and Mindanao (77 percent).

Do Japanese not use toilet paper?

Toilet paper is used in Japan, even by those who own toilets with bidets and washlet functions (see below). In Japan, toilet paper is thrown directly into the toilet after use. However, please be sure to put just the toilet paper provided in the toilet.

Do Koreans wash their hands after using the bathroom?

Only 1.73 percent of Koreans washed their hands using soap and water for over 30 seconds after using a public toilet, a survey showed.

Why do Asians use water instead of toilet paper?

The use of water not only ensures thorough cleanliness but also aligns with the preference for freshness and cleanliness in many Asian cultures. Moreover, visitors to these regions may notice a unique feature in their bathroom facilities — a bin placed conspicuously near the toilet.

Do some cultures not wipe after pooping?

Muslim societies

The use of water in Muslim countries is due in part to Islamic toilet etiquette which encourages washing after all instances of defecation. There are flexible provisions for when water is scarce: stones or papers can be used for cleansing after defecation instead.

What countries throw away toilet paper?

Where Can't You Flush Toilet Paper?
  • Greece: In Greece, the plumbing system is not designed to handle toilet paper. ...
  • Turkey: Much like Greece, Turkey's plumbing system isn't equipped to handle toilet paper. ...
  • Egypt: In Egypt, flushing toilet paper is frowned upon, as the sewage system also can't cope with it.

Are bidets or toilet paper better?

Bidets are gentler on sensitive skin.

Aggressive or frequent wiping can lead to skin irritation and small cuts. Additionally, toilet paper use on hemorrhoids can cause further irritation. Water cleans more thoroughly and gently.

Why do Filipinos shower twice a day?

Many people in the country are used to showering at least twice a day, allowing them to stay cool and clean and get relief from the heat outside their homes. Even with continuous technological advancements changing how Filipinos approach showers nowadays, they remain an important part of the Filipino culture.

What do Filipinos call toilet?

The best Filipino / Tagalog translation for the English word toilet. The English word "toilet" can be translated as the following words in Tagalog: Best translations for the English word toilet in Tagalog: kubeta [noun] toilet; restroom; bathroom; comfort room more...

What is the Filipinos first bath?

Answer: This political cartoon, entitled “The Filipino's First Bath,” displays a crying, naked baby, who symbolized the Philippines, as he takes his first bath. This is juxtaposed with President McKinley, who is a clothed adult as he attempts to bathe the “dirty boy” in civilization.

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