CLTS focuses on instigating a change in sanitation behaviour rather than constructing sanitation infrastructure. This change in sanitation behaviours is accomplished through a process of social awakening that is stimulated by facilitators from within or outside the community (see also awareness raising). The CLTS approach concentrates on the whole community rather than on individual behaviours. Collective benefit from stopping open defecation can encourage a more cooperative approach. 

People decide together how they will generate a clean and hygienic environment that benefits everyone. It is essential that CLTS involves no individual household hardware subsidy and does not prescribe latrine models.

The CLTS approach concentrates on ending open defecation as a first significant step and entry point to changing behaviour. It starts by enabling people to do their own sanitation profile through appraisal, observation and analysis of their practices of open defecation and the effects these have.

In its fullest sense, total sanitation includes a range of behaviours such as: stopping all open defecation; ensuring that everyone uses a hygienic toilet; washing hands with soap before preparing food and eating, after using the toilet, and after contact with babies’ faeces, or birds and animals; handling food and water in a hygienic manner; and safe disposal of animal and domestic waste to create a clean and safe environment.