# Which way should you wipe? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351 "2006-03-07T06:32:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/21 "2006-03-07T16:13:51Z")
I use a circular motion. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/22 "2006-03-07T16:20:15Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I often wonder how many people are just wiping with dry TP. I I do. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/23 "2006-03-07T16:21:46Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > I use a circular motion. Clockwise or counter-clockwise? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/24 "2006-03-07T16:48:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > (This is GQ, so chuckle quietly to yourselves and keep the discussion focused on the OP.) 😃 ::chuckles quietly:: I do use the in/out method described, but with toilet paper, and only a little bit in. Logically, that would do a better job. ---
**Author:** ![surlyprince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@surlyprince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surlyprince)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/25 "2006-03-07T20:33:05Z")
“One up, one down, and one to polish.” -Arnold Rimmer ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/26 "2006-03-07T20:38:18Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > So nobody else wipes in-out, in-out with a bottle brush, then? Well, yeah, but you still have to . . . Oh, you meant that as a joke, right? ---
**Author:** ![gunzack89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gunzack89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gunzack89)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/27 "2006-03-08T00:50:08Z")
im a guy, and i go back to front…it seems like front to back is impossible! ill have to make an effort to try now.lol. ---
**Author:** ![mathemagician](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mathemagician](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mathemagician)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/28 "2006-03-11T07:05:24Z")
> [@Greenback](#): > > My wife and I match the OP exactly. In fact, I have had this as a thread idea for a while now. > > Google ads are talking about yeast infections. Nice to know there’s others out there! Front to back is just weird – although, I should point out that I’m a ‘between the legger’ and not a ‘reach arounder’, so that might make a difference. Well thank you all for responding to such a gross post – and also for your excellent advice. I’ll have to give the bottle brush a go! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/29 "2006-03-11T12:39:23Z")
Since the basics of the General Question were answered, let’s move this to IMHO since it seems to be mostly that. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/30 "2006-03-11T13:25:22Z")
Possible TMI? Do other people do seperate wipes for seperate holes? If I’ve only peed, then it’s back to front from between the legs. If I’ve done other stuff, then that gets a seperate wipe and it’s front to back. I never wipe everything with one wipe though…that’s icky. -Mosquito ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/31 "2006-03-11T13:35:07Z")
Okay I work for a medical facility. Doctors, nurses, aides (like me), and all other medical personel state: Women front to back, other wise there can be infections. Nothing coming out of the back part should get in or on the front part! Btwk, the eldery ladies I take care of don’t normally wipe at all unless I make them… So I guess that could always be another option. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/32 "2006-03-11T13:56:54Z")
Front to back! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/33 "2006-03-11T13:58:13Z")
> [@MissMossie](#): > > \ > Do other people do seperate wipes for seperate holes? Seperate wipes, front to back. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/34 "2006-03-12T00:29:58Z")
Since I bathe after every dump, it don’t matter: but I wipe front to back so as not to soil one’s balls. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/35 "2006-03-12T01:06:26Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Since I bathe after every dump, it don’t matter: but I wipe front to back so as not to soil one’s balls. 😛 I was going to ask why you bathe after every dump, but if you can’t wipe back to front without soiling your balls, I guess already have my answer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/36 "2006-03-12T01:18:02Z")
It can only be front to back. Why risk it? And ladies, really, no matter how careful you are, if you go back to front, please, please, please bathe afterwards! I’ve thought about this as well. If I were to do the reach-through rather than the reach-around, I’d be afraid of getting shit on my wrist. Here’s what you do. It may be my only contribution to mankind. When you sit, spread the cheeks. Get a clear line of sight from your ass to the water. Don’t let any “smearing” happen. When complete, wipe twice front back while spreading a cheek with the free hand. Then use a smaller piece to go back to frone a few inches to clear anything cought in the crack at the top. Then go front to back once or twice again. Say what you want about me, my ass is as clean as it can be without using a Brillo pad and bleach. And if you shower once a day, this should be all you ever need. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/37 "2006-03-12T01:18:15Z")
> [@surlyprince](#): > > “One up, one down, and one to polish.” -Arnold Rimmer It is interesting to see an Arnold RIMMER quote in this thread. _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/38 "2006-03-12T01:37:08Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Yeah I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere unless I first fold up the TP and wet it a little in the sink. I often wonder how many people are just wiping with dry TP. > > I’m a dude too BTW, just a bit of a clean freak. It’s funny, because if we got shit on any other part of our body, we’d do more than wipe it with dry tissue. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/39 "2006-03-12T02:22:05Z")
I feel like I should put another TMI warning, but I think this whole thread could be possible TMI. I don’t understand the big deal about wiping back to front if all you’ve done is pee. Provided that you don’t reach all the way back, it’s not like you’re cross contaminating anything. I would feel weird if I wiped front to back up after peeing, like I would end up with urine in my vagina. Yeah, I know urine is sterile and all, but that doesn’t mean I want it rubbed all over my favorite body part. I feel like wiping back to front after I’ve peed is wiping away from my vagina, which seems like a good thing in my book. -Mosquito ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351/40 "2006-03-12T05:30:33Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Since I bathe after every dump, it don’t matter: but I wipe front to back so as not to soil one’s balls. 😛 “One’s balls”? Whose balls are you worried about soiling, pray tell? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-should-you-wipe/347351.md?page=1)