Okay, you’ve packed your cast iron skillet so you can have a cookout, all the fixings for S’mores, cause you just have to make these timeless treats over the open fire, but there is one thing we just don’t want to have to think about until we find our campsite. How are we going to go to the bathroom?
We can all agree that doing either number 1 or number 2 at a campsite is always going to be easier for guys than gals. But even so, finding the right place is hard for either men or women.
You always want to make sure you are not standing in anything that may look like a weed or a pretty plant now that is going to leave you scratching later.
Well, the good news is there are several products on the market that address this issue and they are easily available. But even better is there are some easy to assemble portable potties you can put together yourself, some in a matter of minutes.
1 – Your Own Outdoor Toilet is EZ Pee-Zee
One of the simplest yet quite effective porta-potty you can make consists of just three things: a 5-gallon bucket, a pool noodle you can pick up at a dollar store, and a sharp knife or scissors.
You can put a garbage bag in the bucket and let it run over the rim if you want to keep clean-up to a minimum. Take the pool noodle and make a slit right down the middle. This will let you fit it right on the rim of the bucket all the way around the top creating a seat.
If you want to make sure it doesn’t move around while you are using it you can run a line of thick glue around the rim and place the pool noodle over it. If you want clean up even easier, cut the bottom out of the bucket and place it on the ground.
If you want to keep things really organized you can make two potties and mark one for pee and one for poo. Put a piece of tape around each one and mark them #1 and #2. Slide a roll of toilet paper on each handle and you are all set to go – literally!
2 – A Little Fancier Camping Bathroom
If you want to take it to the next level, take a plastic molded garden chair, they are inexpensive, come in an assortment of colors, and nest into each other. Cut a round hole in the seat and place a regular toilet seat over the hole so it looks like an actual toilet.
Place the seat over a 5-gallon bucket and you are almost set. As in the seat listed above, you can add a roll of toilet paper on the handle of the bucket.
3 – The Ultimate Way to Go to the Bathroom While Camping
If you are looking to sneak in a little “glamping,” you can go online and find a number of portable toilets that are made specifically for traveling, camping, even boating. While the two versions that are listed above will certainly do the trick in your time of need, there are fancier versions that you may prefer.
One, in particular that I like is the Jaxpety 5 Gallon Porta Potti. This sturdy little toilet weighs in at around 12 pounds, can hold just about any adult up to 400 pounds, and you can flush it when you are done. Just fill it with water when you set it up and there is a slide valve you have to pull out before you use it.
This porta potty comes in a variety of colors and might make someone who is on the shy side a little more comfortable.
A Little Privacy Please
No matter which kind of toilet you choose to use while camping outdoors, try to find a place that has a little privacy so whoever is using it doesn’t have to feel embarrassed.
This can be easily handled in a simple manner by making sure you bring a sheet or large blanket that you can hang from some tree branches. As you work with it you can find a way to situate the potty chair so that it is covered.
Other Bathroom Camping Hacks
When you know that you are going to go camping you may want to start saving some of your large plastic coffee containers. If you don’t have them ask your coffee-drinking friends to save them for you.
Clean them out well and they make a great place to store your toilet paper. It will keep the paper dry and if you make a wide enough slit on the side you can pull it out when you need it just like a regular toilet paper holder.
If you want to be able to shed a little light on the subject, you can make a sweet potable light that will make it easy to use the potty while it is dark at night. All you need for this simple lantern is an empty gallon milk jug that has been thoroughly cleaned and dried out.
When you are picking up camping supplies see if they have a headlamp. Strap the headlamp around the jug and you have an unbreakable, portable, lantern.
Lastly, everyone should wash their hands after going to the bathroom and being outdoors makes it even more of a challenge but even more important. At the very least get a plastic laundry basket, an oblong one would work best, and fill it with some personal hygiene items.
Get a large spray bottle from the dollar store so you can fill it with water. Pack a liquid soap bottle, a package of wet wipes, a roll of paper towels, and a bottle of hand sanitizer. With everything kept together in one place, it will be easier for adults, and especially for kids to stay clean.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel