A Brave New Bum: How to Use a Bidet in Thailand – The Ultimate 2025 Guide

Written By Matthew John

Picture this: You’re a foreign teacher fresh off the plane in Thailand, clutching your non-immigrant B visa, buzzing to start a teaching job at one of Thailand’s top international schools. You stride into a Thai school bathroom, expecting a trusty roll of toilet paper, only to lock eyes with a bum gun—a handheld bidet sprayer poised to flip your hygiene script. Don’t sweat it; this 2025 guide to how to use a bidet in Thailand is your go-to manual, blending step-by-step know-how, real tales from the immigration office grind, and up-to-date info to make you a bum gun pro. Whether you’re wrestling with work permit requirements for teachers in Thailand, juggling Thai visas, or dodging tourist visa woes with your valid passport, mastering the Thai bum gun is as vital as your bachelor’s degree or employment contract. Let’s wash away the confusion and get you thriving in Thailand, one spray at a time—because once you use the bum gun, there’s no going back!

 
A bidet shower hanging next to a white toilet.
 

What’s a Thai Bum Gun and Why It’s a Big Deal

A Thai bum gun is your new hygiene MVP—a handheld bidet sprayer perched near the toilet seat, built to spray your bum clean after a pee or poop. It’s a game-changer, outshining toilet paper, and a must for foreign nationals sorting work permits or visa extensions at the Thai embassy. You’ll find bum guns everywhere in Thailand—public restrooms, gas stations, language schools, even quiet rural areas and bustling Bangkok shopping malls. I once watched a newbie teacher in Thailand fumble his first bum gun spray at a gas station—water hit the ceiling, his shoes, everything—but by day three, he was raving about the clean finish, swearing off toilet paper for good. Pair it with wet wipes or your own paper if you’re easing in, but Thai people stick to the bum gun for that spotless clean. It’s eco-friendly too, cutting paper waste to nothing—a perfect match for your teaching career and Thailand’s green streak.

 
 

The Thai Bathroom Lowdown

Thai bathrooms are water wonderlands—think wet rooms with concrete floors, tiled walls, and a drain hole designed for the bum gun’s spray. Back in your home country, toilet paper might be king, but Thailand bets big on clean water. Public toilets, educational institutions, and university demonstration schools often skip paper entirely, leaving you with a bum gun or nothing. I hit a Thai school bathroom during a non-immigrant visa run—no toilet paper in sight, just a bum gun and a janitor’s smirk as he showed me how to spray. Whether you’re a foreign teacher with a teaching license or a traveler on a Thai tourist visa, this is your new reality—pack your own paper, add some grit, and you’ll adapt like a champ to Thailand’s unique toilet culture.

 
 

Why Thailand Loves Bum Guns

In Thailand, personal hygiene is non-negotiable, and the bum gun is living proof. Its spray trumps toilet paper every time, a fact Thai authorities at the immigration bureau won’t quiz you on—unlike your visa and work permit stack. From rural areas to shopping malls, it’s a clean habit woven into Thailand’s fabric. A foreign teacher on a non-immigrant B visa told me he went from skeptic to addict in days—after a week of bum gun life, he couldn’t imagine using toilet paper the same way. It’s gentler than paper, slashes waste to a few squares for drying, and vibes with Thai visas and eco-goals—ideal for anyone aiming to legally work here with a Thai work permit.

 
 

Toilets in Thailand: The Triple Threat

Thailand serves up three toilet styles: squat toilets, flush toilets, and combination toilets. Squat toilets—the classic Thai school setup—dot gas stations and rest stops, while flush toilets (Western-style toilets) gain ground in cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Combination toilets mix both, often tossing in a bum gun for good measure. Check public restroom signs—traditional figurines point the way. I’ve seen English teachers on non-immigrant B visas tackle all three in a single week, from a dusty squat toilet on a road trip to a sleek Western-style toilet at a top international school—knowing your options keeps you ready for any toilet challenge Thailand throws at you!

 
 

Squat Toilet Cleaning 101

Most squat toilets in Thailand ditch toilet paper for a bucket or spigot. Pour water—three scoops for pee, five for poop—and wash your bum the correct way. A bum gun kicks it up a notch if it’s there. Wet rooms with concrete floors handle the splash, keeping it clean—a lifesaver for foreign teachers mid-employment process. I once survived a squat toilet at a gas station with just a bucket—no frills, but it got the clean job done, proving Thailand’s toilet game is all about practicality.

 
 

Bum Gun vs. Toilet Paper: The Hygiene Showdown

Toilet paper smears; the bum gun washes. Paper leaves bits; the bum gun’s spray blasts them away. In Thailand, where personal hygiene is king, toilet paper’s a backup—bring it if you’re nervous, but the bum gun reigns supreme. A teacher stressing over visa fees at the Thai embassy ditched toilet paper after a week of bum gun bliss—said it felt like a hygiene epiphany. It’s cleaner, greener, and a no-brainer for teaching English pros chasing a teacher’s license or legal employment. Trust me, once you use the bum gun, you’ll wonder why paper ever mattered—Thailand’s bum guns are the real deal.

 
 

How to Use a Bum Gun: Step-by-Step Guide

Mind Prep for Your First Spray

New to the bum gun? It’s not rocket science, but swapping toilet paper for water throws Western countries folks for a loop—especially on a tourist visa. Take a breath—after a few sprays, you’ll be sold. It’s like prepping all the documents for your Thai work permit at the immigration office—new turf, but you’ll nail it. Whether you’re on a non-immigrant B visa or non-immigrant O visa, this is your clean crash course—embrace it like a pro and spray your way to confidence in Thailand’s toilet scene.

Step 1: Gear Up for Splash City

Thai bathrooms are wet chaos—lose the shoes! Wet rooms mean water everywhere, so barefoot or flip-flops are your play. Jumpsuit? Drop it low or lift a leg to keep your legs dry. On a squat toilet, stand facing the toilet stall door, grip the toilet seat or bars, and lock in your best angle. I saw a foreign teacher on a non-immigrant B visa slip mid-spray at a public toilet—water soaked his gear, but he laughed it off. Dodge the bum gun’s spray, and your bum stays clean without a soggy tumble—Thailand’s toilets demand agility!

Step 2: Stock Up—Bring Toilet Paper

Toilet paper isn’t guaranteed in Thailand—public toilets might charge 2–5 baht for a few squares or have zilch. Language schools, Thai schools, even the immigration bureau can leave you stranded. Always bring toilet paper or wet wipes—it’s not just about a clean bum, it’s survival. Stash them with passport-sized photos for your non-immigrant visa hustle. A mate on a teaching position forgot once and bartered baht for paper at a gas station—don’t be him; pack your own paper and roll with it in Thailand’s unpredictable toilet landscape.

Step 3: Test the Bum Gun First

Before you spray your bum, aim at the toilet bowl for a test spray. Water pressure swings from drip to jet—pull the trigger and tweak it. Keeps your legs dry, no mess to curse. It’s like double-checking all the required documentation for your work permit—a quick test spray avoids a disaster. I’ve seen foreign nationals skip this and drench their socks—one even turned it into a soggy tale at a Thai school staff room. Don’t join that club—test spray and spray smart with your bum gun in Thailand’s toilets.

Step 4: Spray Like a Thai Pro

Fire a short blast into the toilet bowl to set water pressure, then spray—men aim down, women front-to-back. Wash your bum thoroughly, dodging your legs or clothes. On a squat toilet, shift for the best angle. The bum gun’s spray crushes toilet paper—use it, and you’ll feel clean like a local. A Thai school janitor once coached me mid-teaching job, showing me how to spray with precision—now I wield the bum gun like a pro every time across Thailand’s toilets.

 
An empty roll of toilet tissue.
 

Bonus Tips and Tricks

The Bare-Hand Trick

Locals pair the bum gun with a bare hand—usually the left—for a deeper clean. It’s their better-job secret. Not there yet? Grab wet wipes, bring toilet paper, or snag gloves from a shop. Outside shopping malls, paper’s a ghost—pack your own. I tried the bare hand on a dare at a public restroom—it worked, left me clean, but I stuck to wet wipes after that bold move in a Thailand toilet.

No Bum Gun? Bucket to the Rescue

No bidet shower? Spot a bucket or plastic container by a water tub. Pour water—three scoops for pee, five for poop—until clean. Keep your legs splash-free. Broken flush? Dump eight scoops into the toilet bowl, or use the bum gun if it’s around. I’ve survived a public toilet with just a bucket—no frills, but it’s a reliable clean fix. A foreign teacher friend once faced this at a gas station, mastering the bucket like a Thailand toilet veteran.

Easing Into Bum Gun Life

First-timers from Western countries balk—water over toilet paper? Wild! Start in a public toilet with tame water pressure, bring toilet paper to dry, and lean on wet wipes. You’ll crave that clean bum soon. It’s like the renewal process for your Thai work permit—tricky at first, then smooth. A non-immigrant B visa pal flipped from “no way” to “every day” in a week—now he’s a bum gun diehard, spraying his way through Thailand’s toilets with glee.

Never Flush—Always Bin

Don’t flush toilet paper or wet wipes—Southeast Asia pipes can’t handle it. Dry your bum with a few squares to dodge a wet bum, then bin it—every toilet has one. Flushing risks a mess. I learned this the hard way at a Thai school—plunger in hand after a flush fail, vowing to bin it forever. Stick to the bum gun, and keep Thailand’s toilet pipes clean.

Dry Off Like a Pro

Post-spray, dry with your own paper or toilet paper—public restrooms rarely stock it, so bring it. Bin it right, or face a wet bum shuffle. A foreign teacher once air-dried mid-teaching job, turning it into a staff room laugh—pack paper, skip the breeze, and stay clean in Thailand’s toilets.

Hand Washing: No Skipping

Wash your hands with soap and water—germs don’t play. Thai toilets often skip soap—shopping malls deliver, but elsewhere it’s hand sanitizer or nada. Pack hand sanitizer with your visa fee cash. I’ve seen English teachers dodge this and regret it—one got a lecture from a Thai ministry staffer about keeping it clean. Don’t slack—wash up every time in Thailand’s toilet zones.

Post-Squat Hand Washing

After a squat toilet, wash your hands hard with soap and water. Wet rooms and bum guns mean splash—don’t let germs hitch a ride. A Thai ministry bathroom taught me this: no soap, just hustle—next time, I brought my own to stay clean after tackling Thailand’s squat toilets.

 
 

Bum Guns Across Toilet Types

Squat Toilets

Squat toilets rule Thailand—stand facing the toilet stall door, grip the toilet seat, and use the bum gun smart. Some need a bucket flush. Flexibility’s your edge.

Western-Style Toilets, Thai Twist

Western-style toilets pop up in Thailand—think top international schools or city hotspots. They’re like a kitchen sink sprayer for your bum. Sit, aim, and enjoy a clean finish. A teaching position buddy swore by this hybrid—best of Asian countries and Western-style toilets.

Combination Toilets

Combination toilets blend both—spray away! I’ve juggled all three on non-immigrant visa runs, from a squat toilet at a gas station to a Western-style toilet at a top international school.

 
 

Beyond the Bum Gun: Wins and Woes

Wet rooms test your balance—flip-flops save the day. No toilet paper in public toilets? Bring toilet paper or wet wipes. The wins? Cleaner than paper, gentler on skin, and eco-friendly—less for the Thai ministry to worry about. For foreign teachers in the employment process, it’s a clean upgrade worth every spray. I’ve seen English teachers stumble at first—wet socks, slippery floors—but once they use the bum gun, they’re converts, preaching its clean gospel across Thailand’s toilets.

 
 

FAQs: Bum Gun Answers

Q: Do you use a bidet before or after wiping?
A: Spray first with the bum gun—no wiping needed! Dry with a few squares of toilet paper, bin it—beats toilet paper solo.

Q: Does Thailand use bidets?
A: Yep—bum guns reign! From gas stations to Thai schools, bidet showers crush toilet paper.

Q: How do you wipe in Thailand?
A: You don’t—use the bum gun! Spray your bum clean, dry with own paper, bin it—toilet paper’s optional.

Q: How do you correctly use a bidet?
A: Test spray into the toilet bowl, tweak water pressure, spray—front-to-back for women, down for men. Use the bum gun right—clean and done.

Q: Can I use it on a non-immigrant B visa trip?
A: Totally—non-immigrant B visa or tourist visa, bum guns rock public restrooms. Bring toilet paper just in case.

Q: What if my teaching job’s toilet has no bum gun?
A: Rare—use the bucket or wet wipes. Most schools have bum guns, so you’re set.

 
 

Why Bum Guns Win

Cleaner than toilet paper? Check. Gentler? Yep. Eco-friendly? Cuts paper big time—perfect while you legally work in Thailand. Dry with a few squares, bin them, and bask in clean bum glory—a slam dunk. I’ve seen foreign teachers swap paper for bum guns and never look back—why settle for less when you can spray your way to clean in Thailand’s toilets?

 
 

Teach, Spray, and Rock Thailand

Master the bum gun, and Thailand’s yours—from squat toilets to Western-style toilets. Join our April 2025 training at kidsenglishthailand.org/teacher-training-program-thailand for teaching positions starting May—your teaching career awaits! Check out our social media links at the bottom of the page. Like & subscribe to keep up with everything new from us here at Kids English Thailand.

 
 

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Matthew John https://www.kidsenglishthailand.org
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