How to Make a Toilet for Camping
No matter where you are and no matter what you're doing, when the call of nature comes, it cannot be ignored. Knowing how to make a potty for camping will help preserve sanitary conditions on long backcountry trips and might also be a useful survival skill in case of a major emergency. Making a camping toilet is something usually only done on long trips---on short trips, each camper usually just digs a small hole to relieve themselves in.
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Things You'll Need
- 5-gallon or larger bucket
- Heavy-duty garbage bags
- 2 2-by-4-inch boards
- Kitty litter
- Shovel
Instructions
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The Swanky Option
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1
Open up your heavy-duty garbage bag (usually a tall kitchen bag or any size larger than that will do the job) and insert it into the 5-allon bucket. Drape the edge of it over the outside of the bucket to keep it from falling back in.
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2
Place the 2-by-4-inch boards across opposite edges of the bucket, forming a rudimentary seat. The boards can be of any length, but you'll probably want to trim them to 24 or 36 inches long for the sake of convenience.
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3
Use the toilet only for solid waste if possible. The more urine that is in the bag, the more likely you'll have a smelly spill.
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4
Sprinkle kitty litter into the bucket every time it's used.
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5
Swap the garbage bag liner out for a new liner as frequently as possible or feasible, depending on your situation. If you're out in the backcountry, you will, in most cases, pack your waste back out again in the bags, so make sure to double- or even triple-bag them for the sake of odor reduction and also to prevent embarrassing spills.
The Trench Option
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Dig a trench about 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. It should be as far away from water sources, eating and living areas as possible---50 feet at a bare minimum. Make sure to locate your trench toilet downhill from living areas and water sources and also downwind from your camp if possible.
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7
Straddle the trench and use it as a toilet.
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8
Sprinkle or kick dirt over your waste in the trench once you're done. As the trench fills in, you can either keep lengthening it or you can fill it in completely and dig another trench at least 3 feet away from the first one.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're going to be using the bucket as a camp toilet for a long time, you might consider purchasing a toilet seat at a thrift store and placing that on top of the boards for extra comfort.
