Let's talk, ladies! Women and composting toilets

Whether in customer service, at trade fairs, on the campsite or in an exchange with female friends at the regulars' table, sooner or later three questions always arise on the subject of women and composting toilets: "Does this really work as a woman?", "What do I have to bear in mind when using it?" or "But what do I do when I have my period?" The first question can be answered with a short, succinct, and cheerful "Well, of course, and wonderfully so!" We explain the other two answers in more detail in this post.

The sitting position and aiming as a woman on the composting toilet

At the first attempts, women on the dry composting toilet usually need a little longer to find the optimal sitting position. This is due to the anatomy. A woman's urethra is only 3 cm to 5 cm long, while a man's is 15 cm to 20 cm. For this reason, the gentlemen of creation can relax, hang and run. For the ladies, on the other hand, easy sliding back and forth on the toilet seat is the order of the day.

No fear! As a woman, you don't have to cover any mileage in the process. A gentle forward or backward movement of the hips is enough to do the small business in the front of the divider and place the big one in the back. You can also optimize your sitting position by changing the leg angle. Most users swear by an upright sitting position for better aiming. 

It is important not to slide too far forward. Depending on the design of the separator insert, it can otherwise happen that the urine splashes against the wall of the separator during a strong central stream. 

If you, as a woman, lean further back and some droplets of urine end up in the solids container, this is not a bad thing. In that case, just use a little more litter to bind the moisture. 

Women and composting toilets: What to do during menstruation?

Being out and about during strawberry days is stressful enough for many women. So going to the bathroom should definitely be relaxed and not add stress. The great thing is: During menstruation you can continue to use your composting toilet as normal.

If blood flows with the urine canister, only the color of the contents will change. You can simply continue to empty the canister every two to three days as usual. If any rims form, they can be removed with diluted acetic acid. Pour this into the canister and shake it well. Even if unwanted traces remain in the separator or on the toilet seat, these can be easily cleaned away with diluted acetic acid or agents containing effective microorganisms. You can find lots of helpful tips on cleaning the composting toilet in our composting toilet guide.

If you use a menstrual cup, you can empty it into the solids container. Add litter to the container to speed up the drying process and prevent odors from forming. 

You should not dispose of tampons, pads or panty liners in the composting toilet. These hygiene products absorb moisture and hold it inside. What is desirable when used proves to be an obstacle when disposed of in the dry composting toilet. The moisture trapped in the fibers creates a permanently damp climate in the solid waste container, which is difficult to compensate for with litter. Therefore, as with conventional toilets, hygiene products do not belong in the potty, but in the trash can. 

Conclusion

A man's job? No way! As a woman, you have no restrictions whatsoever when it comes to the composting toilet. The only thing you have to be a little more flexible about is the sitting position. But you'll get the hang of it in no time. And between you and me: even for the men of creation, "the first time" on the mobile urinal is an unusual first. 😉