A woman has shared her ‘temporary toilet’ hack for those who are camping and travelling long distances over the summer months – though some people were left feeling disgusted
One Brit has come up with a nifty “temporary toilet” hack perfect for the summer months when you’re out camping or trapped inside your car on a long journey.
As we gear up for festival season, the woman took to Reddit to detail her creative solution, which has presented her from being caught short on her travels.
Opening up in the LifeHacks subreddit, she penned: “Van life? Camping? Toilet out of commission at home? Stuck in traffic? Frequent urination SOS emergency, gotta go now? Endless uses! Make bathroom breaks easier and more sanitary with this simple solution.”
The post included a list of essential items for anyone interested in trying out the hack themselves. “Grab a bucket, line it with biodegradable toilet bags, and add some kitty litter to the bottom.” She noted that the kitty litter would suck up any liquid, making it spill-proof and smelling fresh, before suggesting: “For added convenience, use a lid to keep any smells contained until you can properly dispose of the bag. Happy travels and smooth ‘movements’!”
The reaction online was overwhelmingly positive, with one commenting: “I think this is a great tip for emergencies.” A second person agreed: “Stuck in a multi-hour traffic jam with a vomiting child: this would have been a useful backstop.”
Whilst a third chimed in: “I was road tripping in the States plus I’m hiking the mountains, when nature calls usually I dug a hole and then I covered it. Thus said not implying the tip doesn’t have its uses… Actually having some cat litter in a bag or bottle is a great idea if someone is in need of peeing in a kinda busy place.”
Others joined the conversation with their own tweaks to the original hack, offering advice to make those long car journeys a bit more bearable. “Litter will work, but what is way better – not just for smell, but weight wise (and cost) is wood shavings like for hamster bedding,” one user shared. “That is what we used for the composting toilet and I was amazed at how well it worked. If you add a little bit of litter to the bottom, it will soak some liquid up, but the shavings on top work for everything.”
Another savvy traveller suggested: “If you’re extra heavy, consider 2 buckets, 1 inside the other, for structural integrity and height. Also, kitty litter heavy, consider wheat pellets (also made for cat piss and poops) and they are soooo much lighter and easier to manage and store.
“Multiple layers of trash bags so you can do your business, tie it off and leave it in the next bag until you get to your destination drop off. And always have the lid ready to contain.”
However, some people were left ‘disgusted’ by the hack. Acknowledging some people didn’t want to keep their waste in their cars, the woman later updated her post by adding: “I stash litter and a bag in a container and forget about it until I might need it. Ever think about those living in their cars or camping without toilets? It takes up what, a foot of space? I’d rather be prepared than scramble for a dusty, soggy Taco Bell cup I probably don’t even have.”
