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.
I have to agree with you somewhat I used Angel Soft TP and I wiped more vigorously then I should I guess and it was like I had paper burn it was not nice!!Since I have been using softer type but yeah you are going to have residue they should be able to make better TP!! When we were poor hippie kids we used the phone book honestly no $$ for TP.So I wonder about the washing machine getting dirty guessing you must use Bleach?? Back to the chemical again.answer on the washing machine question would be appreciated.
There are a lot of alternatives to bleach. I put vineger in my fabric softener compartment and 2 cups of baking soda on top of my load of cloths when I start the machine. There are other options too if you google them.
I’ve used cloth in the past, but no one else in the house would get on board. I found it to be much more gentle and cleansing than paper. Since our bathroom was so tiny, I’d moisten the cloth a little bit first if I needed to. I used cheap washcloths (like the kind you can buy $5 for 20) and they happened to be the same ones I used for wipes for my son when he was a baby. I kept a little trash can next to the toilet where they went until I did a load of whites-in hot water with vinegar. Nothing really gross about it.
Sarah:
we use cloth pads around here and yes, the blood does stain a bit but – who else sees it? I guess you could have special ones for guests – or maybe you keep paper TP in the guest bathroom…
I would hope you would keep tp for guests.
We keep our toilet paper roll filled for our guests.
If blood staining is an issue simply pour a little hyrdogen peroxide (I use the cap from the bottle) over the stain…it will bubble the blood right up and out of the fibers. Then toss in the wash. This is a trick my mother taught me YEARS ago when I first started my monthly- and has saved litterally hundreds of pairs of panties..
Do you use this when you menstruate? Would it be too hard to get the blood out of the fabric? Or do you rinse off before wiping?
Great question! I actually use water to rinse when I menstruate, and then use the cloth to dab dry just in case there is still blood. I also use cloth pads. :)
A little hydrogen peroxide (I use the cap from the bottle) poured over the blood and/or stain will bubble it right up and out of the fibers. Then toss in the wash. It works EVEN if the blood has set for DAYS.
I bet you’ve accidently tossed the family cloth after wiping in the toilet ;)
I can only imagine waking up to pee and being dazed like you know you can get.. Than having to fish this cloth out of the toilet..
But I like the idea, and I’m not against it. How to get the rest of the family on board though?
I had a little trouble convincing the wife at first, but I started doing it myself and then just asked her to try it and said that they are there and you are welcome to use them. We’ll save soo much toilet paper… Eventually she gave in and started using them.
Just start using them and make them plenty accessible. I leave mine at the foot just below the normal toilet paper so they are always visible and accessible.
I have a question about wiping using the family cloth and getting urinary tract infection. I have tried using TP without flushing it, but in doing so, I always end up with an UTI. Does the family cloth prevent this? Thanks!
I have absolutely nothing against your valiant effort to do away with conventional toilet paper, after all I’m not a big fan of it myself. But I just can’t help wondering, has it ever, during your lifelong battle with painful tears, occurred to you that the simplest solution would be to just wash yourself instead of wiping? I don’t know how common they are in America, but in this country, the inventions known as BIDET or BIDET ATTACHMENT have been known for a fairly long time… ;-)
thanks for the bidet attachment idea. I’ll have to look into that!
We use cloth wipes in combination with our “washlet” which is probably the best option for people whom might be bidet fearful. Our wipes after a washlet clean of the butt don’t have much on them, and are really just to get anything left and the water off one’s butt.
A washlet replaces your toilet seat and has a reservoir for warming water, it splits off of the main water line that feeds into the back of the toilet tank with a simple adapter that usually comes with it. You do need an electrical outlet by your toilet or an extension cord ran to connect to an outlet somewhere.
Washlets are very common in Japan where most households have them. I promise you won’t ever go back to dry rough toilet paper after you give spraying your butt with warm water and wiping dry with a soft cotton blend cloth on a warmed toilet seat (yes most of the seats on washlets are warmed).
Checkout Toto USA for some of their models, the baseline model is plenty adequate and is what we have.
Um – most economic and ecology friendly is old panasian tradition – to use left hand…
Well, yeah, but you still gotta wash that hand. (You DO wash that hand, I hope? :))
Not if you are left-handed!
(If you are crazy enough to do this I wonder if you would consider humanuring. http://www.amazon.com/Humanure-Handbook-Guide-Composting-Manure/dp/0964425831/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372470356&sr=1-1&keywords=the+humanure+handbook Also, the more fiber you eat the less messy it is coming out. Maybe TMI, but maybe useful info.)
This is so fun! I wish I could do this but unfortunately we only have access to a community/coin laundry room and the water doesn’t get hot enough to clean our baby’s cloth diapers, so my guess is that it wouldn’t clean cloth TP either. In the future, when we have our own washing machine, I’ll probably try this!
It’s so great that you are open enough to share this (and other things)! I really love reading some of the things you post.