Rural accommodation Greece - disposing toilet paper and pads

[limetrees32]

Going with friend to stay in her usually unoccupied old family home in the mountains near Spartica.
She tells me that it's normal throughout Greece not to flush toilet paper but to put in a bin.
I'm not used to this , can someone help me feel ok about it.
I have very active and messy bowels !!

I took nappy bags to Greece in the 90s

You’re welcome! ☺️

It’s just that OP mentioned a cat litter scoop 🤨

🤣🤣🤣 I see what you mean! I thought that was to scoop out accidentally thrown in paper but yeah she could have the wrong idea. I absolutely hated it tbf.

Yeah they told me this when I went there in 2000. The plumbing system is one of the oldest in the world and can't take paper etc. I found it pretty grim tbh and the bathrooms did stink.

But I hoped they might have modernised it by now. Maybe not. I guess you just use nappy sacks and take it to the garbage outside soon after you use it.

DH hates Greece for this reason. He generally does a quick wipe and jumps in the shower for a proper clean.

I'm depressed by the number of suggestions of nappy bags or dog poo bags. What a waste of single use plastic. The planet is doomed! Just accept that it's normal in Greece and empty the big regularly. Or as has been suggested invest in a portable bidet.

It isn’t just rural areas where this is an issue, it’s all of Greece including cities. It’s because the waste pipes are narrow and paper will block them. It’s the same in other European countries too.

I sympathise OP, I have IBS and as well as the mess issue, I have to use the toilet many times a day. I wish I’d bought a portable bidet before I went to Greece. I’m buying one to try, though without going into too much horrendous detail, I don’t think 500ml of water will make much of an impact!

Move with the times cyclistmum. There are lots of biodegradable options. I use these on my boat. https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/naty-compostable-nappy-bags-50s/020856-10139-10140?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19976733553&gclid=Cj0KCQjww8rQBhDjARIsAE43KPM5_v-4yUcpxdV8j1zDhSv5toLZLBYaVm0jITOKAD5vT6k2pF0nh2UaAtoVEALw_wcB

I think every villa we've ever rented in Greece has required us to use a bin, not flush.

I use moist toilet roll, then tie it up in a dog poo bag. We don't use scented ones as I can't stand the artificial smell. But we use very strong ones. Empty the bin every day. It's never been an issue.

Or swimming in the sea and meeting your own, and other peoples, poo smeared toilet paper bobbing alongside you.

It takes a day or so to get used to but then it’s fine. Since the OPs original post also included sanitary products they clearly don’t quite grasp the principle.

in the Uk only flush pee, poo, puke and paper.

in Greece only flush pee, poo and puke.

I have heard this. Take loads of nappy bags or poo bags.

Normal there - double bag the bin contents and put it to the outside bin twice a day. You’ll get used to it

Take wet wipes?
A bucket with a lid is usually provided.
Line bucket with a plastic bag and tie up back and empty at end of each day/each morning.

I have a tiny old Greek cottage in a not very touristy village. The trouble is, most villages are not connected to a main sewage system anyway but have an unemptiable cess pit each. (The village 6 miles below mine at sea level has just got main sewage pipes but, as each house has to pay to get their house pipes connected to it between house and street, it is not going to happen, as they mostly can't afford it.Those of us in slightly more remote hilly or mountainous bits will never get it.) Once the cess pit is full, you have to get another one excavated in your garden and it costs thousands of pounds, so we absolutely don't want any paper or products down the loo or the useful bugs that process waste in the pit will die. Towns and cities are more often on the main system but many/most have older narrow waste pipes that block with paper. It is common to see bins for used toilet paper and notices in the loos at airports and bus stations, etc (so take it as a general rule in Greece). Don't worry, you will get used to it and I hope you enjoy your holiday.

Not Greece but Cyprus. Have lived here for 15 years and still very little if any progress.

You get used to it!No one,literally no one,ever looks except to make sure tp is safely deposited.A few extra clean sheets to lay on top so no one 'sees' anything on the off chance.Change daily,doesnt stink.

take a bottle of water in and rinse off your butt. Then you’re wiping a relatively clean butt no matter your bowels and the paper is clean. Wrap sanitary items in paper before putting in the bin.

You could also repurpose a Neti bottle as a bidet. Easier than turning yourself into a pretzel with a water bottle. Lower it from the front between your knees, aim and push the button.

How long does a cess pit last? What happens when you run out of room for another one? What happens to the old one if it can't be emptied?

It’s the same in Turkey, Thailand and probably many other places. You can’t upgrade old sewer pipes easily, so you just flush nothing other than bodily waste.

You get used to it very quickly.

Hotel rooms normally have a bidet spray hose. It’s usually cold water, which can be refreshing. My washloo at home has a warm water option.

Public loos can be a bit of a shock when you find an unlidded bin, worse one with dirty paper looking at you.
If you don’t have nappy bags, it’s usual to either wrap your used paper in clean paper. Or put a couple of sheets of clean paper over the top so the next person doesn’t have to see it.

I too have a dodgy gut after surgery, and take wet wipes and nappy sacks with me.

In self catering, take the rubbish out every day. You’ll want to empty the normally quite small kitchen bin in a hot climate every day too. Put all into a black bin bag, tie it up and throw into large container on your walk into town for dinner. At this point you will be glad you always have wet wipes with you for wiping after touching the communal bin.

Completely normal wrap a clean piece around the used piece and empty the bin regularly and when you get home remember you can flush it again because you do weirdly get in the habit quickly

When I stayed in Greece I took scented nappy bags with me so it was all sealed up and not loose in the bin. Much more hygienic

I didn't know this.

I always use wipes and never toilet paper but had no issues flushing them when in Greece!

I'm not sure Greece has many bum guns, at least not in my experience.

Just fold the soiled paper in on itself to help cover any offending material. The detritus also acts like a stinky cement, holding the paper together. Toss in the bin. Empty bin regularly. Enjoy your holiday in one of the most gorgeous countries on Earth!

https://wypeuk.com/

Use this! Or have it to hand as spare alongside baby wipes. You squirt it on the toilet paper and it makes it moist to clean better. Fits in handbags
Definitely take scented nappy bags!

For sanpro I think you'll have to use tampons and wrap in toilet paper then put in nappy bags. Otherwise a menstrual cup is best but obviously harder to get used to if you don't use one, plus hard with a shoulder injury.