We finally decided to ditch regular toilet paper and switch to homemade TP, otherwise known as “family cloth.” (And we’re telling the whole internet!)
My husband and I moved away from toilet paper for a number of reasons:
(1) It’s dry.
(2) The chemicals it’s processed in are bad for those sensitive areas.
(3) It leaves particles. (Gross.)
Also, did you know that it takes 37 gallons of water, 1.3 kilowatt/hours (KWh) of electricity and some 1.5 pounds of wood to make a SINGLE roll of toilet paper? [1] Not to mention all the energy it takes to process it from our sewer system.
Chemical-laden baby wipes are no good either. They have things like methylisothiazolinone in them, which I can’t pronounce. As a general rule, if I can’t pronounce it (or eat it), then I don’t put it in or on my body.
For years now, I’ve been getting really thin tears “down there” that feel like paper cuts. I’ve now learned that these are called vaginal fissures and can be caused by certain soaps, artificial fragrances, tampons, scented or colored panty liners, and paper toilet paper. When I got married, these vaginal fissures became even more of a problem, as they made intercourse very painful.
Think about how MUCH bleached, processed plant material we put in that area! Tampons. Disposable pads. Toilet paper. It’s all highly processed and full of chemicals, and we put it RIGHT THERE all up in our most sensitive bits!
The solution? Eating a balanced diet (check!) and cloth toilet paper. (I also gave up tampons to use a Mooncup instead, but that’s a different post!)
Okay okay. So is giving up TP taking it too far? Maybe for some of you who are less sensitive than me, it seems absolutely nuts. But guess what?
After we switched to family cloth and cloth pads, MY PAPER-CUT TEARS DISAPPEARED.
For me, it’s life-changing. Living with those tears was terribly painful, and it made fun married-people stuff really hard. I’ve had zero tears since we switched. ZERO. Not even one. And to be honest ladies, I really feel like I’m pampering myself! It’s like when you go to a spa or fancy hotel and they don’t have paper towels, they have fluffy white washcloths that you throw in a woven basket. You know, THOSE? It’s like that, 3-5 times a day. :)
How to make family cloth
First, get some organic flannel patterns that you just adore. (I am seriously in love with these little birds!) Then, I suggest you get a cute little fabric bin to put the finished squares in. Simply cut, double layer, and sew into squares. Then you’re done!
Some of you might be thinking that this is going a little too far or that this is gross, but it makes so much sense to me. For you cloth diaper users, this may not be too much of a stretch. And if you’re really concerned about bacteria, instead of throwing the used cloths into a dry bin, you can throw them into a vinegar and water solution, and perhaps add a little tea tree oil, as well. Voilà!
Many people around the world prefer to rinse first, using bidets, some sort of water bottle or vessel, or even spray bottles. We use this bidet from Amazon, and we love it. It leaves us feeling so clean that the cloth is more just to dry than anything. We only ever need to use one square at a time; and overall, it seems much more hygienic than regular paper toilet paper, which sometimes doesn’t get everything and can leave paper particles. (Ew.)
Also, if you’re wondering if they smell. They don’t. At least ours don’t. Using water and cloth is so much cleaner than paper….I can’t even describe it to you non-water/cloth using folks. Pooping shouldn’t be that messy. If you’re having that much stink and mess…well…I think maybe you might want to evaluate more than just what you’re wiping with.
For me, family cloth has made my bathroom time just *that* much more luxurious, AND it’s helped to heal my body. Go on! Try it! ;)
Also, if you’re wondering about the squatty potty, you can learn more HERE.
New born kittens work best.
I use a water bottle with curved extension (like hospital straws) to rinse, then pat dry with cloth or paper towel. Add a little soap to the water sometimes. Feels so much cleaner than wiping with TP Yuk! You’ll need a week or so to get used to it.
Hey…on the vjayjay fissures. While it is certainly true that chemicals and toilet paper can make these worse, the predisposition to getting them in the first place is often caused by a progesterone imbalance. You can get your estradiol/progesterone levels checked by a simple saliva test for around 40 bucks (Google progesterone saliva test). We are *steeped* in industrial pollutants which mess our progesterone all up, and no matter how clean you’re living you cannot escape all of it. Get tested, it’s easy to fix.
Good day! This post could not be written any better!
Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him.
Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for writing this post! It shocks me how weirded out people get about things like basic bodily functions, but don’t think twice about chucking crap into a garbage can or toilet. No single-use item disappears after you throw it away, that only happens in your mind! Your garbage becomes another neighborhood’s normal – whether it’s the landfill or the closest water source. The amount of water it takes to run a single load of laundry DOES NOT COMPARE to the countless gallons of water, trees, transportation, packaging, and pollution it takes to make a single roll of toilet paper. Pretending these things “disappear” when they are out of your sight is ignorant and a symptom of an over-entitled population. Thank you for supporting a reusable future! :)
I just was watching the video on Greenpeace website and they mentioned toilet paper being one of the consumer demands resulting in rainforest destruction and the very real risk of extinction for animals like the tiger. :( So I searched for alternatives for toilet paper and found this page!!!! Thank you!!!
Hi,
Love your article and it only makes sense. Man has not always had toilet paper. TP is a convenience and always has been. As you stated in your case it definitely was not a convenience but a pain in the youknowhat! There is a saying not too many people have heard, “create a need and then fill it”. Hence, TP. Along with all the down sides of it, the cost is unreal. Thanks for writing this article. It’s needed.
Juanita
Hi Courtney.
I just wanted to say thanks for this wonderful sight. I am making a return to the green road of my youth and I love these ideas. I just wanted to commend you on your patience with people who haven’t read all the responses. You answer the same questions with such a lovely gentle response, so sweet.
Thanks
Julie. Sydney, Australia.
Thanks for dropping me a line. I appreciate it! :)
Do you use them for pee and poo? I have a problem that when I pee, it goes everywhere. I end up having to wipe 7 or 8 times to get it all off, since it runs over my butt and sometimes hits me in the leg. Even then, I don’t feel clean. But I also have OCD. How would these work in my situation? Do you feel that one cloth gets all the pee and or poop off? I think I would feel that one just smears the pee around.
I started using old soft t-shirts, pajamas, and other unusable clothing for my toilet paper, and I like it. I have cut them into smallish squares. I have 2 small containers, one for clean cloths and one for dirty ones. It’s nice to be able to use old clothing that would otherwise just be another rag (which I have so many of already) and for the things that wouldn’t be good for secondhand stores. My grandmother of course used cloth diapers for all her babies, so the practice of reusing toilet items is time-honored.