# Going without toilet paper: Meet the adults switching to a reusable cloth **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 29, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033 "2014-01-29T14:28:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/61 "2014-01-30T17:45:05Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > This may be true for certain parts of the world, but in the Pacific NW Untied States and most of Canada, paper is made from the limbs, stumps and scrawny parts of trees that used to be just pushed up into a pile and burned. Like this: > > [timber slash burns - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=timber+slash+burns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=alnpUojBDdH1oATjv4KYDQ&ved=0CCQQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=934) > > The good wood is still cut into lumber and only the remains are chipped for paper pulp. There has been a revolution in forest practices within my lifetime where I live. Years before, all the stumps, and debris would have just been burned, now it is too valuable and gets chipped and sent to the paper mills. The idea that whole, good trees are being cut just for toilet paper is a myth. At least in my area. [hijack]You just brought back a wonderful childhood memory of climbing the old 12 foot cedar stumps and logs left because they were “inferior” that, lying down, were taller than my grandfather, Weyehaeuser left after logging. They were left 50 years before I was born.[/hijack] We don’t use paper towels, but toilet paper? Pry it out of my cold dead hands, if you must. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/62 "2014-01-30T17:51:39Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > yeh… heheheh… moar bidet jokes anyone? > > Theres a reason we’ve evolved to using disposable things imho. Are these “butt cloth” women still using those nasty [Diva Cups](http://www.amazon.com/Diva-Cup-Model-1-Pre-Childbirth/product-reviews/B000FAG6X0/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1) I wonder? Scroll down to T S Johnson’s 2006 Amazon review of the thing if you dont already know what this contraption is. Just dont read it out loud at the restaurant please. You’ll take my Diva Cup from my cold, dead…hands? Yes, you have to insert it and that involves touching your gentians. But it’s seriously a life changer. ---
**Author:** ![DvorJaques](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3e96dc/32.png) [@DvorJaques](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DvorJaques)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/63 "2014-01-30T18:53:59Z")
As a former cloth diaperer I can attest that those ladies are probably right about it not smelling. When you do cloth diapering no poo goes into your hamper or washing machine, basically you get one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/Cloth-Diaper-Sprayer-styles-may-vary/dp/B002BS1NPK) and rinse off all of the poo from your diaper or wipe and then store it wet in your hamper. Wash at least every other day and you won’t have any stink. Of course if you have a sprayer to wash off the poo from your cloth why not just eliminate the middle man… My little guy isn’t potty trained yet, we switched to disposables recently so my sister can use his diapers for her newborn. I was shocked at the stink of disposable diapers, we used to store the dirty cloth diapers in a regular trashcan with the lid down and never experienced any stink. With the disposables the #2s go into a plastic bag and straight into the trash chute. The #1s go into individual plastic bags and then into a trash can which is emptied every other day or so and still it’s stinky… ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/64 "2014-01-30T19:33:50Z")
> [@amijane](#): > > Yep. I’ve lost mine and my vagina is bereft. It’s always in the last place you look … ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/65 "2014-01-30T20:07:07Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > How do you catch them to wipe on them? Hey, I actually have a real answer for this one. 🙂 You herd their chicks by canoe into a net corral with a ramp into the back of a cube van. They follow the chicks. (It’s how our municipality gets rid of Canada Goose.) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/66 "2014-01-30T20:14:49Z")
There are a lot of family cloth people on a cloth diapering board I’ve been reading. I mean, it’s a little nutty, but frankly it seems less nutty if you’re cloth diapering too, since, you know, you’ve already got a bunch of cloth diapers hanging around the place with poo on them. Just throw it all in the wash. I mean, we’re not doing it, but I see how you get there. I do wonder what happens when guests come over, though. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/67 "2014-01-30T20:19:54Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I do wonder what happens when guests come over, though. Confusion over the cloth napkins. ---
**Author:** ![DvorJaques](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3e96dc/32.png) [@DvorJaques](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DvorJaques)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/68 "2014-01-30T20:26:48Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I do wonder what happens when guests come over, though. I would never consider family cloth, I hate laundry with a passion\*. But I would just love to visit a house where they have cloth toilet paper. I love the idea of a flannel wipe to wipe your bum with, especially if it was wet with a little warm water. \*Why did I do cloth diapers considering laundry is my least favorite things in the world, I can only blame pregnancy brain. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/69 "2014-01-30T20:56:35Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > You’ll take my Diva Cup from my cold, dead…hands? \ No actually I dont want your Diva Cup … :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/70 "2014-01-30T21:16:59Z")
Speaking as someone whose job it was to keep track of the various and sundry chemicals used in recycling paper, I can see their point about not exposing your most delicate bits to any remnants of them. Ammonia and sulfuric acid shouldn’t touch my ladyparts. After reading this article and other discussions around it the last few days I’ve had to pause for thought. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/71 "2014-01-30T21:30:19Z")
I think ammonia and any acids are neutralized in the processing arent they? Ive never burnt my bits on TP. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/72 "2014-01-30T22:54:14Z")
I have never used a bidet. Do you use soap, or just rinse? And just your hand to wash? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/73 "2014-01-30T23:10:59Z")
When I have encountered one (in Europe) I just used it like a Water Pik for my underbits. And then pat dry with the TP. No soap but what do I know, Im a Murkin. eta almost forgot my bidet story: my plumber was telling me about how he kept getting calls to fix the upstairs toilet by a certain family. Turns out the grandmother was using the bidet to wash her feet and kept overflowing it! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/74 "2014-01-30T23:18:51Z")
Thanks. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit the deficiencies in my potty-training at my age - thank God for the anonymity of the Internet. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/75 "2014-01-30T23:40:48Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > When I have encountered one (in Europe) I just used it like a Water Pik for my underbits. And then pat dry with the TP. No soap but what do I know, Im a Murkin. > > eta almost forgot my bidet story: my plumber was telling me about how he kept getting calls to fix the upstairs toilet by a certain family. Turns out the grandmother was using the bidet to wash her feet and kept overflowing it! Why, does she normally wash her feet in the toilet? ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/76 "2014-01-31T00:39:44Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Why, does she normally wash her feet in the toilet? I think she’s of a culture that does wash feet frequently and she perceived that was the purpose of the gadget. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/77 "2014-01-31T03:27:24Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > When I have encountered one (in Europe) I just used it like a Water Pik for my underbits. And then pat dry with the TP. No soap but what do I know, Im a Murkin. > > eta almost forgot my bidet story: my plumber was telling me about how he kept getting calls to fix the upstairs toilet by a certain family. Turns out the grandmother was using the bidet to wash her feet and kept overflowing it! Why would it overflow? As long as the toilet isn’t plugged up the water level in it remains constant. If she was using the bidet to wash her feet, she was just blasting the bottoms of them. If she wasn’t careful, the water would have been everywhere but the toilet its self. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/78 "2014-01-31T03:29:40Z")
She was probably splashing around. Not sure, I just got the story from the plumber. ---
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/79 "2014-01-31T08:27:31Z")
I don’t know what’s so odd about washing your feet in a bidet though, that’s pretty much their only use around here I would think. Even more so since, a least here in france, the toilet and the bathroom are separated 90% of the time, and the bidet goes in the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033/80 "2014-01-31T08:31:58Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > When I was in Thailand, something that I found fascinating was that the toilets all had [small showers attached](http://taraminthailand.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/img_0084.jpg%3Fw%3D690%26h%3D460), for hosing down your lower regions (or at least I sure as heck hope that’s what they’re for, it would be awful if someone caught me using one and it turned out that they were meant exclusively for pet hamster cleaning). > > Brilliant idea, fun to use, cuts down drastically or eliminates completely the amount of residue that you need to wipe off. I have no idea why we don’t have those over here. > > (Really, it was all I talked about after that trip. “How was the scenery? The food?” “That was all great, sure, but let me tell you about the _toilets_…”) Heh. Yeah, we use the mini-showers in much of urban India too, and I honestly don’t understand why they’re not standard world over, especially since most people who experience them seem to like them. I seriously dislike the pooping aspect of visiting exclusively toilet paper countries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-toilet-paper-meet-the-adults-switching-to-a-reusable-cloth/680033.md?page=5)