While no major culture completely avoids soap, some, like traditional Hindu practices, use alternatives like ash or mud due to beliefs against animal fat in soap, and historically, ancient Romans and Greeks used oils and scrapers (strigils) instead of body soap; today, many Asian public restrooms (Japan, Taiwan, China) often lack soap, leading to water-only rinses or handkerchief use, reflecting historical norms or focus on other hygiene methods.
As an example, in the Hindu culture, hands are rubbed vigorously with ash or mud and then rinsed with water. The belief behind this practice is that soap should not be used as it contains animal fat. If water is not available, other substances such as sand are used to rub the hands.
Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and other countries will use a small shower for rinsing off after you do your business. Most of these cultures believe that you can get your bum cleaner with water than you can with toilet paper which is why they chose that option.
Cultural Differences in Toilet Paper Usage
In Asia, bidets are a popular alternative to toilet paper. In the Middle East, water is used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. In Africa, the usage of toilet paper is not as common and many people resort to alternatives such as wiping with water or cloths.
In Japan, it's common to carry a handkerchief for drying your hands, and while some restrooms (like those in convenience stores or department stores) may provide drying options, many do not. Another surprise? Some public restrooms, especially in train stations, don't have soap!
The "Japan 5-minute rule" refers to extreme punctuality, meaning you should arrive 5-10 minutes before a scheduled time, as being exactly on time is considered late, demonstrating respect and reliability, a concept sometimes called "5-minute prior action" (５分前行動). It highlights Japanese culture's emphasis on preparedness, where trains are so precise that delays over 5 minutes get official notes, making being early a crucial part of business and social etiquette.
Famous for its high-tech, impeccably maintained restrooms, Japan has set the global bar for cleanliness and comfort. From airport terminals in Tokyo to public parks in Kyoto, you'll find facilities that are spotless, inviting, and often even entertaining.
The "3 poop rule," or "three-and-three rule," is a guideline for normal bowel habits, suggesting that pooping anywhere from three times a day to three times a week is considered healthy, with individual patterns varying widely. It helps identify issues: fewer than three times a week may signal constipation, while more than three times a day (especially with loose stools) might indicate diarrhea, prompting a doctor visit for persistent problems, notes Symprove UK.
Vikings and other medieval cultures like the Anglo-Saxons and the Scottish also used moss (perhaps in conjunction with other things like shells) to wipe. Moss is soft and absorbent so it trumps many of the alternatives here, but it is not available in all landscapes.
In parts of India and Arabia, people exclusively use their bare left hand for wiping. They consider it disgusting that other cultures use toilet paper, as it leaves behind an unpleasant residue.
In many Amish homes, rags are a common toilet paper alternative. These rags are typically old clothes that have been worn out. After simple processing, they become practical cleaning tools.
If you feel better with a daily showering routine, go for it. If you would rather skip some days, that's OK, but never go more than two or three days without washing your body with soap.
"If (someone) has a bowel movement and it's so clean and well-formed that it doesn't leave any residue and just sinks, that is actually a very healthy bowel movement," says De Latour.
Unlike Westerners, Indians use their hands and water to clean their bottoms. First, they touch the excreta with their fingers and then they clean those fingers subsequently. At one level, this highlights the particular emphasis that the Indian psyche gives to the removal of impure substances from the body.
The washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users opt to use both wash and paper in combination—although use of paper may be omitted for cleaning of the vulva. Some wipe before washing, some wash before wiping, some wash only, and some wipe only—each according to their preference.
In Viking society, 12-year-old girls were considered young women, often involved in household labor, with some entering marriages, having rights like inheriting property, and facing risks like enslavement during raids, while Viking raids themselves targeted wealthy settlements for riches, sometimes involving violence, though their specific actions towards young girls varied by context.
Discovered in 1972 by construction workers in York, England, this 1,200-year-old Viking coprolite is the largest fossilized human excrement ever recorded. At 8 inches (20 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide, it was left behind by a Norse warrior who had a diet heavy in meat and bread—but also suffered from parasites.
Plentiful and easy to find, leaves were used by Neanderthals, who lived about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago [*]. There were some downsides of using leaves to wipe, though. For one, they weren't very effective since they're not absorbent. Two, they aren't soft, so the wiping experience wasn't exactly comfortable.
To empty your bowels quickly, try drinking warm coffee or water, using a squatting position with a footstool for better posture, gently massaging your abdomen in a downward motion, or using a suppository or enema for faster results; these methods stimulate the digestive system or physically help clear the colon.
Poop is made up of mostly water, about 75%! The remaining 25% is a stinky combination of fiber, bacteria, cells and mucous. Bile is a greenish fluid produced in the liver that aids in the digestion of fat and can alter the color of your poop.
Parts of Southeast Asia: In countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, the plumbing systems can be easily overwhelmed. Here, it's common to use a “bum gun” or a bidet spray instead of toilet paper. If toilet paper is used, it should be thrown in a bin, not flushed.
I was wondering about the origin of using the terms "number one" and "number two" for going to the bathroom (for those unaware, number one is urinating, number two is defecating, at least in the US). I have used it several times myself without actually thinking about it and heard plenty of others use it as well.