From toilet paper to bidet WCs: bathroom customs around the world

A trip to the toilet can be surprisingly different, depending on where you are in the world. From squat toilets and bidet hoses to high-tech, remote-controlled WCs – every country has its own way of combining comfort and cleanliness. And water plays a central role almost everywhere. In this article, we take a look at the different approaches and the solutions that SCHELL offers for these very different sets of requirements.

WC customs worldwide
Getting clean with water
Solutions for any requirements

Overview of regional differences

Anyone who travels a lot knows that the biggest culture shock is sometimes not to be found out on the streets but indoors, in the bathroom. Buckets, hoses, remote controls… some of the customs we are confronted with abroad require a little getting used to.

Europe: toilet paper as standard – trend towards bidet WCs

In Europe, using toilet paper is the de facto standard. Although in some European countries – like Greece – visitors need to exercise caution: pipe diameters are significantly narrower than in Germany, which means that toilet paper should not be flushed away. Instead, it is collected in waste bins and disposed of separately. In many countries in Southern Europe, the traditional porcelain bidet is also in widespread use and often positioned next to the toilet.

While bidet WCs are still something of a rarity in Europe, they are becoming more common and are part of the latest bathroom trends – especially in terms of hygiene, comfort and accessibility.

Asia: high-tech – more comfort

In Asia, rural and urban sanitary facilities are often worlds apart. While squat toilets – i.e. tub-shaped sanitaryware recessed into the ground – are often found while travelling through the countryside, bidet WCs have now been the standard for city-dwellers in countries such as Japan and South Korea for decades.

The sense of luxury starts even before the toilet is used – the lid opens automatically when the user enters the room, the seat is kept at a pleasant temperature and the WC itself can be operated by remote control. The shower rod with its targeted, warm jet of water gives users the cleanest possible feeling. Following this, a pleasant draft of warm air provides gentle and thorough drying.

Arab countries and India: water is the focus for hygiene

India was long seen as playing catch-up in terms of sanitary hygiene. Streets caked with filth and polluted rivers all painted a negative picture of the world’s largest subcontinent. Things have been changing since the mid-2010s, however, when the Indian government funded the installation of 100 million new toilets. As in Arab countries, water traditionally plays a central role in India for the purpose of getting clean after using the toilet. Instead of toilet paper, bidet hand showers are typically provided – also as a means to flush the WC.

Benefits of using water

Washing oneself with water is the most natural and also the most effective form of hygiene. Dry toilet paper might get everything clean enough but cannot truly remove every last residue. Germs and bacteria remain on the skin, where they can cause infections and skin damage. Dermatologists have also drawn attention to the risks of skin irritation due to friction when wiping.

This is why many people also use moist toilet paper. This not only leaves the skin feeling fresh but also provides more thorough yet gentler cleaning than ordinary toilet paper. Its use does come with some caveats, however. The alcohols and perfumes contained in these wipes can disrupt the natural pH value of the skin, leading to skin rashes or even allergies. Another problem is that many types of moist toilet paper – even those wipes described as ‘flushable’ or ‘biodegradable’ – do not break down in water as quickly as toilet paper, and can therefore cause clogged pipes and pumps in sewage treatment plants.

Getting clean with water protects the skin, however, while also being an especially effective and hygienic method. The waste water produced can also be treated and discharged back into the water cycle.

A global approach to hygiene – solutions for any requirements

It all starts with drinking water hygiene

High-quality drinking water forms the basis for any hygienic sanitary solution, whether in private households or public buildings. Only when the quality of this drinking water is assured is the use of taps, showers or toilets truly safe and hygienic.

Maintaining water quality within a drinking water installation requires a regular exchange of water across all tapping points. This is the only way to effectively avoid the spread of bacteria like Legionella.

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SCHELL as a global manufacturer

From wash basin taps and showers to WC and urinal flush systems, angle valves and the SWS Water Management System: the sheer breadth of the SCHELL product portfolio makes it possible to accommodate a wide range of requirements and hygiene standards throughout the world.

The Indian market offers a particularly good example of SCHELL’s flexibility in responding to regional needs and standards. Bidet hand showers are a permanent fixture in sanitary facilities here – both in private households and in public buildings. With a robust design, flow restrictor and automatic water stop, and including a wall bracket and shower hose with anti-twist protection, the bidet hand showers from SCHELL not only offer user comfort but also keep water use under control. When combined with the right angle valve, water consumption can be reduced by up to 40 percent.

SCHELL in India: sanitary equipment for a modern building

Amar Business Zone, Pune

Project data

Property type: Office building

Requirements: New-build project

Completion: 2022

Location: Pune

Country: India

SCHELL products: COMPACT II concealed WC flush valve, EDITION Eco WC operating panel, COMFORT angle valve with regulating function, bidet hand shower

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Design Tree Head Office, Bangalore

Project data

Property type: Office building

Requirements: New-build project

Completion: 2021

Location: Bangalore

Country: India

SCHELL products: MODUS Trend E electronic wash basin tap (product available only outside Austria and Germany – alternative product is MODUS E), EDITION E urinal control, COMPACT II concealed urinal flush valve, designer hand shower bidet, COMFORT angle valve with regulating function, COMFORT angle valve with regulating function with filter, EDITION design siphon

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