Thai Bidet Shower vs Toilet Paper 2025: Ultimate Guide for Teachers & Expats
Imagine arriving in Thailand in 2025 as a foreign teacher, clutching your non-immigrant B visa, ready to start your teaching job at a top international school.
You enter a Thai school bathroom, expecting a familiar toilet paper roll. Still, instead, you’re met with a Thai bidet, a handheld bidet shower, often called a bum gun, poised to revolutionize your hygiene routine.
Don’t worry!
This 2025 guide to bidet shower Thailand 2025 will turn you into a bum gun pro.
From public restrooms in Bangkok to rural schools in Sukhothai, the Thai bum gun is a hygiene staple.
I’ll compare bidet showers to toilet paper, dive into Thai bathroom culture, and provide a step-by-step guide to using a bidet shower.
Let’s wash away the confusion and help you thrive in Thailand one spray at a time!
What Is a Thai Bidet Shower (Bum Gun)?
A Thai bidet shower, commonly known as a bum gun, is a handheld bidet sprayer mounted next to the toilet.
It’s designed to spray a jet of water to clean your bum after a pee or poo, offering a cleaner alternative to using toilet paper.
You’ll find bum guns in public restrooms, gas stations, Thai schools, shopping malls, and even hotel bathrooms across Thailand, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
For foreign teachers and expats, mastering the bidet shower is as essential as securing your work permit.
A colleague on a non-immigrant B visa once sprayed water everywhere during his first time using a bum gun at a gas station ceiling, shoes, the works, but by day three, he was a convert, swearing off toilet paper for good.
It’s eco-friendly, hygienic, and gentler on the skin, aligning with Thailand’s 2025 sustainability initiatives.
Thai Bathroom Culture: A Water-Based Approach
Thai bathrooms are typically wet rooms, featuring tiled spaces with concrete floors and a drain, designed for the bidet shower’s spray.
Unlike Western countries, where toilet paper is the norm, Thailand prioritizes clean water for personal hygiene.
Public toilets in educational institutions, markets, and rural areas often lack paper, leaving you with a bucket, a bum gun, or nothing.
I once visited a restroom during a visa run at the Thai Immigration Office, and there was no toilet paper, just a bum gun and a janitor’s smirk as he showed me how to spray.
Whether you’re a teacher with a teaching license or a traveler on a tourist visa, adapting to this Thai bathroom culture is key to thriving in Thailand.
Why Thais Prefer Bidet Showers Over Toilet Paper
Personal hygiene is a cultural priority in Thailand, and the bidet shower reflects this value.
Here’s why Thais choose water over paper:
Cleaner Finish: Water washes away residue that toilet paper can smear.
Gentler on Skin: No irritation, especially in Thailand’s humid climate.
Eco-Friendly: Reduces paper waste, supporting Thailand’s green initiatives.
Cultural Tradition: Water-based cleaning is deeply rooted in Thai hygiene practices. People often use the left hand for washing and the right hand for eating or drinking.
A teacher I met in Chiang Mai went from skeptic to advocate in just a few days; after a week, he couldn’t imagine using toilet paper the same way.
For expats in Thailand 2025, the bidet shower is the best solution for hygiene and sustainability.
Types of Toilets in Thailand: What to Expect
Thailand offers three main toilet types, each equipped with a bidet shower:
Squat Toilets
Squat toilets, which require a certain level of balance, are common in rural areas, gas stations, and Thai schools.
They often lack toilet paper and rely on a bucket or a bum gun. Stand facing the toilet stall door, squat, and spray carefully.
Western-Style Toilets
Found in cities like Bangkok and international schools, Western-style toilets often include a bidet shower, which functions like a kitchen sink sprayer for your bottom.
Sit, spray, and enjoy a clean finish.
Combination Toilets
These hybrids combine squat and Western-style features, always with a bidet shower. They’re common in public restrooms and offer versatility.
I’ve tackled all three in a week, from a squat toilet at a rest stop to a Western-style toilet at a language school.
Knowing your options prepares you for any Thai public restroom.
Bidet Shower vs Toilet Paper: The Hygiene Showdown
Here’s how a bidet shower compares to toilet paper:
Cleanliness: Toilet paper smears; the bidet shower washes thoroughly, leaving no residue.
Comfort: Water is gentler than paper, reducing irritation.
Eco-Friendliness: Bidet showers cut paper waste to a few squares for drying, supporting Thailand’s eco-goals.
Cost: No recurring paper purchases, just water, abundant in Thai wet rooms.
How to Use a Thai Bidet Shower: Step-by-Step Guide
Prepare Mentally for Your First Time
New to the Thai bidet? Swapping toilet paper for water can feel daunting, especially if you’re on a tourist visa. But like navigating Thai work permit requirements, it’s a skill you’ll master quickly. Take a deep breath—you’ll be a convert after a few sprays.
Step 1: Gear Up for the Wet Room
Thai bathrooms are splash zones; remove your shoes or wear flip-flops. In a wet room, water goes everywhere, so adjust your clothing (e.g., roll-up pants) to stay dry.
Step 2: Bring Your Toilet Paper
Toilet paper isn’t guaranteed in Thai public restrooms; some charge 2–5 baht for a few squares, others have none.
Language schools, Thai schools, and even the immigration office can leave you stranded.
Always carry toilet paper or wet wipes for drying after the spray.
Step 3: Test the Bidet Shower’s Water Pressure
Before spraying, aim into the toilet bowl for a test spray. Water pressure can range from a drip to a jet.
Adjust the trigger to avoid soaking your legs.
Step 4: Spray Like a Pro
Fire a short blast into the bowl to set the pressure, then spray men aim down, women front-to-back while sitting or squatting.
Wash thoroughly, keeping your clothes dry.
Bonus Tips for Mastering the Thai Bidet Shower
The Bare-Hand Technique
Locals often use their left hand with the bidet shower for a deeper clean, reserving the right hand for eating or drinking.
Not ready?
Use wet wipes or regular toilet roll/tissue.
Outside shopping malls, paper is scarce; always pack your own.
No Bidet Shower? Use a Bucket
If there’s no bidet shower, look for a bucket, a plastic container, and a water tub.
Pour water three scoops for pee, five for poo until clean.
For a broken flush, use eight scoops to flush the toilet bowl.
Easing Into Bidet Shower Life
First-time users from Western countries may hesitate over the use of water and paper.
Start with a low-pressure bidet shower, bring toilet paper to dry yourself, and use wet wipes for additional cleaning.
You’ll soon crave the clean feeling of a hygienic wash.
Never Flush Toilet Paper
Thai septic tanks can’t handle toilet paper or wet wipes; always dispose of them.
Flushing risks clogs.
I learned this at a Thai school after a failed flush, now I've been everything to keep the pipes clear.
Dry Off Properly
After spraying, dry with toilet paper; public restrooms often do not provide paper.
Bin it to avoid a wet bum shuffle.
Wash Your Hands Thoroughly
Always wash your hands with soap and water, as germs are a genuine concern.
Thai toilets often lack soap, so it's a good idea to carry hand sanitizer.
It’s essential for maintaining hygiene in Thai schools and staying clean after a splashy wet room experience.
Troubleshooting Common Bidet Shower Challenges
No Water Pressure
If the bidet shower has no pressure, check if the water valve is off, turn it on gently. If broken, use a bucket or wet wipes.
Slippery Wet Rooms
Wet rooms can be slippery.
Wear flip-flops or go barefoot to avoid falls.
No Toilet Paper or Soap
Carry toilet paper, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer.
Be prepared for any situation.
2025 Hygiene Trends in Thailand
In 2025, Thailand continues to prioritize eco-friendly hygiene.
Public restrooms are upgrading to high-pressure bidet showers with water-saving designs, and some international schools are installing bidet attachments on Western-style toilets.
For expats in Thailand 2025, this means easier adaptation to Thai hygiene practices, with a focus on sustainability and cleanliness.
FAQs: Your Thai Bidet Shower Questions Answered
Do You Use a Bidet Before or After Wiping?
Spray first with the bidet shower, no wiping needed!
Dry with a few squares of toilet paper and bin it for a cleaner finish than using toilet paper alone.
Does Thailand Use Bidets?
Yes!
Thai bidet showers (bum guns) are standard in public restrooms, schools, and homes, far outranking toilet paper.
How Do You Wipe in Thailand?
You use the bidet shower to spray clean, then dry with toilet paper and bin it.
Wiping is optional.
How to Use a Bidet Shower Correctly
Test the water pressure in the toilet bowl, adjust the spray, and aim front-to-back for women, down for men.
Can I Use It on a Non-Immigrant B Visa Trip?
Absolutely!
Bidet showers are available in most public restrooms, making them ideal for teachers on non-immigrant B visas or travelers on tourist visas.
Why the Bidet Shower Wins in Thailand
The Thai bidet shower is cleaner, gentler, and more eco-friendly than toilet paper, making it the best solution for personal hygiene in Thailand.
It reduces waste, aligns with Thailand’s 2025 green goals, and ensures a spotless finish perfect for your teaching career or expat life.
Once you use it, you’ll never go back to paper alone.
Teach, Spray, and Thrive in Thailand
Mastering the Thai bidet shower and Thailand’s toilets from squat to Western-style will become second nature.
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Final Thoughts
We hope this post has inspired and empowered you on your teaching journey in Thailand!
Kids English Thailand is here to support you with tips, insights, and resources to make your experience truly amazing.
Want to dive deeper or have questions?
Check out our related posts below, or connect with our community of educators making a difference in Thailand.
Let’s keep thriving together!
On 13 October 2025, Thailand officially replaced the old blue work-permit book with the new fully digital e-Work Permit system (eworkpermit.doe.go.th).
Everything now happens online except one short biometric appointment.