Can you flush the toilet paper in Greece?
One of the commonest questions first-time visitors to Greece ask is “is it true that you can't flush paper down the toilet?” Unfortunately, in the vast majority of accommodations, cafes, bars, shops and restaurants, the answer is “yes, it is true!”
Don't flush toilet paper in Greece
American and British plumbing is twice as large (four inches/100mm). The Greek pipes just get clogged. They don't call them 'modern conveniences' for nothing.
While Americans in particular are used to flushing their used toilet paper down the pipe, they must break that habit if they are traveling to Turkey, Greece, Beijing, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Bulgaria, Egypt and the Ukraine in particular. Restrooms will have special waste bins to place used toilet paper.
3. Flushing Toilet Paper. This one may take some getting used to, but Santorini's sewage system can't handle flushed toilet paper. That trashcan placed next to the toilet is for all (and we mean all) of your soiled paper products.
That's right, when using the toilet in Greece do not put toilet paper down the toilet. The reason for this is simple. The sewage system in Greece is not designed to handle the flushing of toilet paper. If you did, then you are likely to block the pipes in the sewer system.
In Greece, especially in the Aegean islands near the Turkish border, taking photos of military facilities is simply forbidden. Avoid any trouble with the authorities by respecting this rule.
I am sure most first time visitors want to test the system and try to flush to avoid the bin. Somehow the Greek toilets have been designed to swirl the paper around and deposit it on the side of the bowl. Now you are going to have to use the bin but now with soggy paper. It is best to simply get used to using the bin.
Indians travelling abroad often face problems when they have to use toilet paper instead of water. On the other hand, the westerners exclusively use toilet paper to clean up, unlike Indians, who are more comfortable with using water.
Millions of Muslims and Hindus around the world were bowled over by this need to buy toilet paper since they typically wash their backsides with water. According to Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the six significant Hadith collections in Sunni Islam, the left hand should be used for anal ablution after defecation.
In India and the Indian subcontinent, over 95% of the population use water for cleansing the anal area after defecating. The cleaning of hands with soap/ liquid soap after this cleansing process is very important. In urban areas and newer settlements bidet showers are widely used.
Can you flush toilet paper down the toilet in Rhodes?
Yes it's true about paper in the bin, but toilets do indeed flush.
You may be wondering why you can't flush toilet paper in Greece and think the Greeks could just start using more accommodating pipes like the rest of Europe, but perhaps their sewage processing works just wouldn't take it either. But then it can't be great to be putting all this paper in the landfill instead.
All apartments in Corfu usually warn customers not to put toilet paper down the toilet, certainly no Ladies 'pads' etc….. these items swell in water and block the sewers. They usually ask you to put all toilet paper into the pedal bin next to the toilet! (Yuk!
v The toilet system on Zakynthos is not as developed as in most other countries. As a result, you can't throw any toilet paper into the toilet. There are bins next to the toilets where you can throw away your toilet paper.
