When we talk about the Leave No Trace Principle 3 – Dispose of Waste Properly, one of the points that always generates debate is: after all, should we bring everything back (with the support of solutions such as the Outdoor Portable Trash Bin by Gaia Adventure) or can we bury feces in a properly dug cat hole? This is a topic we discuss in depth in our Leave No Trace – Instructor Level 1 Course, but that is not the focus of this article.
Here, I want to highlight a point common to all practices: regardless of what you do with feces, it is much better to wash yourself than to use toilet paper. This logic applies to nature — and even to everyday life at home. After all, we have the bidet, the hygiene spray, or even the shower. But what about when we are outdoors?
From squeeze bottle to CuloClean
Years ago, in a program by Outward Bound Brasil (OBB), I learned to use a squeeze-type bottle and liquid soap for hygiene. It works well, but it can happen that the water flows back and wets the hand holding the bottle.
It was precisely to solve this detail that the CuloClean was created — a small accessory that turns any bottle into a portable bidet, bringing even more practicality.
The problem with toilet paper in nature
Toilet paper (or wet wipes) is the traditional hygiene solution, but in practice, it’s a big problem. That’s because it should never be left on the trail: it must be packed and carried back, separated from the rest of your backpack. And unfortunately, it’s common to see piles of toilet paper on the trails.
But there’s also an essential health and hygiene point: toilet paper does not clean effectively. It only removes part of the residue but does not guarantee complete hygiene — unlike the combination of water and soap (at least 60 meters away from any water source!). This detail makes all the difference on long hiking days when discomfort or even problems such as chafing can easily arise.
From the Leave No Trace point of view, used toilet paper is one of the most unpleasant wastes to manage. The CuloClean appears as an ecological, practical, and economical alternative to completely eliminate this waste from the equation.
Why use CuloClean?
The device offers several advantages:
- Real sustainability: using water instead of toilet paper means less waste produced and less environmental impact.
- Superior hygiene: only water provides the feeling of being truly clean, without the need for paper or wet wipes.
- Prevention of chafing: on long hiking days, poor hygiene can cause discomfort and even ruin the experience. Washing helps maintain freshness and skin health.
- Ultralight and compact: it weighs only 11g, fits in any pocket, and takes up less space than a roll of paper. For ultralight trekking practitioners, it’s an almost mandatory solution.
- Weight and volume savings: there’s no clean toilet paper to carry, nor dirty paper to bring back.
It’s worth mentioning that for those who still prefer to use paper, CuloClean itself sells waterproof hygiene pouches to store waste and properly dispose of it at home.
A homemade and quite nice option is to use a ziplock bag (preferably the reinforced ones) and, to avoid seeing what’s inside (in this case, used toilet paper), you can decorate it with colorful duct tape (silver tape). This will also make the bag more resistant, and you can use it several times (just wash it)!
Customized Ziploc bag with colorful duct tape
Points of attention
Not everything is perfect:
Obviously, CuloClean requires available water. In areas of scarcity, it may be necessary to carry a little extra just for hygiene.
- In very cold environments, the cold jet can be uncomfortable.
- Still, these limitations are small compared to the benefits.
Origin and compatibility
CuloClean was launched in 2018 through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter and is manufactured in Spain. It is compatible with the two most common thread diameters of plastic bottles and can also be purchased with the brand’s own soft, reusable bottle. The brand also offers CuloClean versions in various colors, including the Glow in the Dark (it glows in the dark!) option.
Clean, light, and conscious
CuloClean is more than a curious gadget: it’s a practical tool that helps us align personal comfort with environmental responsibility. By eliminating toilet paper from the equation, it simplifies the application of Leave No Trace Principle 3, improves hygiene during outdoor activities, and contributes to reducing our impact on the planet.
That’s why it’s part of the Bidet Kit we use in Gear Tips courses and the CAPACITAR Program — and it’s a solution we recommend to everyone who wants to experience nature in a cleaner, lighter, and more conscious way.
Where to buy
In Brazil, CuloClean will be available starting January 2026 for all students of the Leave No Trace – Instructor Level 1 course, as an optional purchase along with enrollment.
Additionally, those who have already completed the course will also have the opportunity to purchase the product under special conditions, directly through Gear Tips.
Another alternative is to buy CuloClean products from Amazon Spain, with international shipping.
To learn more
If you want to dive deeper into the topic of hygiene in outdoor activities, especially in the female context, we recommend reading this article on our blog: Menstruation and Outdoor Activities: How to Ensure Minimum Impact.
This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)
