What You Really Need for a Tiny Home Bathroom (Backed by Science)

You are designing a tiny home bathroom. Learn how to build a complete off-grid setup with the OGO™ ORIGIN Compost Toilet, urine drain kit, and composting best practices—simple, safe, and sustainable.

Designing a tiny home bathroom can feel like a puzzle.

You need a compact solution that doesn’t involve septic tanks, blackwater plumbing, or constant maintenance. But here’s the good news: you can build a clean, odor-free, off-grid bathroom system that’s affordable and proven effective—with the right tools and the right setup.

This guide walks you through exactly what’s needed to create a complete sanitation solution for your tiny house, centered around the OGO™ ORIGIN Compost Toilet—a smart, waterless toilet system designed for small spaces.

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Start with the OGO™ ORIGIN Compost Toilet System

The  OGO™ ORIGIN is a next-generation composting toilet specifically engineered for tiny homes, vans, cabins, and boats. It doesn’t just collect waste—it makes composting easy, clean, and automatic.

What’s Included:

• Composting toilet with automated agitator (for solids)

• Installed quiet fan for ventilation

• 3-foot vent hose for air exhaust

• 12V DC pigtail for battery or solar connections

• One pack of coco coir starter compost medium

• Hygienic spray bottle (for vinegar-water solution)

This compact unit separates liquids from solids to minimize odor and improve composting. And with its small footprint and no plumbing requirements, it’s a perfect fit for off-grid bathrooms.

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Use the Right Compost Medium (and Keep It Stocked)

The secret to clean, odor-free composting? The right bulking agent.

The OGO™ ORIGIN comes with one starter pack of coco coir, a carbon-rich material that helps:

• Balance nitrogen from waste

• Absorb moisture

• Minimize odor

• Speed up aerobic decomposition

We recommend grabbing the OGO™ Compost Medium 6-Pack to stay stocked long-term.

Why Coco Coir

• Sustainable (made from coconut husks)

• High water retention

• Neutral pH

• Easy to store and use

According to the Humanure Handbook and compost toilet experts, maintaining a proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is essential for safe, smell-free composting. Carbon sources like coco coir or sphagnum peat moss create the ideal conditions for aerobic microbes to break down waste safely.

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Manage Urine Effectively with the OGO™ Drain Kit + Gravel Pit

By default, the OGO™ diverts urine into a front bottle. For full-time use in tiny homes, the OGO™ Urine Drain Kit allows you to automatically send urine outside—into a simple, safe gravel pit system.

What is a Gravel Pit

A gravel pit is a low-tech solution for urine and greywater:

1. Dig a 2–3 foot trench or hole.

2. Fill with crushed gravel or stone.

3. Run a perforated drain pipe from the toilet to the pit.

4. Cover and let nature do the work.

This system filters urine naturally through soil and rock—no chemicals, tanks, or odor.
For off-grid homesteaders, diluted urine (10:1 with water) can even be reused as fertilizer around trees or landscaping.

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Optional Add-Ons for Extra Ventilation or Humid Climates

The OGO™ includes a quiet fan and vent hose that works well in most bathrooms. But depending on your conditions, here are some smart add-ons:

Activated Charcoal Filter (Optional)

• Absorbs fine odors and gases

• Great for small or enclosed bathrooms

• Pairs well with an exhaust system

High CFM Fan Upgrade (Recommended if using charcoal filter)

• Ensures strong airflow

• Overcomes backpressure caused by filters

• Ideal for humid or warm climates

In Humid Environments

Skip the charcoal filter and use the high CFM fan only. Charcoal filters can retain moisture and slow airflow—creating the opposite of what you want. A stronger fan helps move moist air out quickly and keeps compost dry.

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How to Maintain & Safely Handle Compost and Urine

Daily maintenance is quick and easy:

• After each use: Spray bowl and diverter with 1:1 vinegar + water using the included spray bottle.

• Solids bin: After 25–30 uses, remove and empty into an outdoor compost bin.

• Urine bottle (if not using drain kit): Empty every 1–2 days and rinse with vinegar solution. We also recommend Lemishine for descaling urea build up.

Safe Disposal of Solids

Transfer partially composted waste into a secondary outdoor bin and allow it to age for 6–12 months. This ensures complete pathogen kill-off and results in safe, nutrient-rich compost for ornamental plants or trees.

Guidelines from the EPA and WHO confirm that humanure compost is safe when properly managed with time and temperature.

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Nitrates, Greywater & Soil Health: What to Know

Urine is naturally high in nitrates, which feed plants—but too much in one place can overwhelm soil. If you’re draining greywater and urine into the same gravel pit, consider:

• Rotating pit locations over time

• Planting water-loving vegetation (like reeds or willows)

• Avoiding discharge near water sources

According to the Rich Earth Institute, urine reuse is one of the most sustainable ways to return nutrients to the soil—just be mindful of concentration and flow.

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Final Setup Checklist: What You’ll Need from OGO™

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Why This Works: Backed by Science, Trusted by Thousands

Composting toilets with urine diversion are not experimental—they’re proven, scalable, and used by:

• Tiny home builders

• National parks

• Homesteaders

• Global aid organizations

They save water, reduce infrastructure costs, and offer safe, effective sanitation anywhere—no sewer required.

With the OGO™ system and a few simple components, you can build a bathroom that’s:

• Off-grid

• Low-maintenance

• Environmentally friendly

• Smell-free and safe

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Ready to Get Started

Use this guide to configure your tiny home bathroom with confidence—and enjoy the freedom that comes with clean, self-reliant living.

For setup tutorials, installation guides, and detailed product specs, explore more articles right here on learn.ogotoilet.com.