Car Living Basics: How Do Car Dwellers Go to the Bathroom?

Let’s just get this out of the way, because it’s one of the first questions people have and one of the least talked about in an honest way: how do you go to the bathroom when you live in your car?

At night, I keep it simple. I use an oval pitcher to pee, and if I’m parked somewhere like gravel, dirt, or sand, I’ll open the door and toss it outside. I don't do it on concrete, though. It seems disrespectful to me when there are other options.

One thing people don’t realize is that peeing into anything other than a toilet is not mentally easy at first. In my SUV setup, I have to kneel while peeing (and I'm a female). It took me over a year to fully convince my bladder that it's okay to pee in a pitcher this way.

I have a folding portable camp toilet that stores flat under my bed platform that I use when I’m in a proper camping situation without access to a bathroom. I line it with standard kitchen trash bags, using separate bags for liquid and solid waste.

When I need to use it for solid waste, I add pine shavings afterward, which you can find in the pet section, which helps with odor. The shavings come in a much smaller bag and are easier to store than large bags of pine pellets and work just as well.

Now, here’s the part people don’t always want to talk about: disposal.

Let's start with pee. As long as that's all it is, you can safely pour it over rocks, gravel, or worst case scenario, dirt, (there is a debate as to the appropriateness of pouring it over plants.)

Now, let's talk about poo.

According to experts, the proper way to dispose of it is to dig a hole at least 6 inches deep and bury it. In reality, most people end up using public trash cans at places like gas stations, truck stops, or large retail stores. As a car dweller, I certainly don't have space to carry a shovel. And the rules are different in the desert.

That’s just the truth of it.

Because of that, I’m very careful about how I package everything. I triple bag solid waste (which has been covered in pine shavings so there is little odor,) and place it inside a larger sealed trash bag so there’s no chance of it leaking or creating a problem for others.

When I have access to a real bathroom, I use it. If I’m parked near a convenience store or truck stop, I’ll go inside, even at night. Those places are usually well-lit, have people around, and I feel safe enough to use without worrying too much.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s manageable. Like everything else in car living, you figure out a system that works, and over time it just becomes part of your routine.

This is one of those topics people don’t talk about openly. What’s been your experience with this? Have you found a system that works better, or are you still figuring it out?