# Why Do People Use DRY Tissue To Wipe Themselves? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147 "2003-08-14T15:19:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/1 "2003-08-14T15:19:25Z")
Why is it that the conventional way of wiping your butt in the U.S. involves the use of dry pieces of toilet paper? This obviously is not a very effective cleaning method. Think about it. If you spilled some peanut butter on your floor and you had to clean it up, would you reach for a dry paper towel? I don’t think most people would, as rubbing it with a dry paper towel would just smear it around without actually getting the surface clean. Instead, I suspect that you would grab a wet paper towel, or a wet rag, or anything that’s moist in order to clean the surface effectively. So why can’t people apply the same straightforward logic when wiping themselves? I’ve tried to wet the tissue beforehand, but this makes it very weak and prone to tearing through. Paper towels do not weaken when wetted, but I understand that they will clog the toilet. What is the solution? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/2 "2003-08-14T15:29:02Z")
I agree. There’s nothing more annoying than little bits of dried TP getting on you. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/3 "2003-08-14T15:36:22Z")
Well you could keep baby wipes by the toilet… Or they market them for adults as ‘feminine wipes’ or ‘personal care cloths - adult size’ Just don’t use the ones made to clean the bathroom itself… I can’t imagine bleach feeling too good on the private parts! ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/4 "2003-08-14T15:38:06Z")
Thanks. Can you flush baby wipes, or will they clog the toilet? ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/5 "2003-08-14T15:41:26Z")
I’m not sure how flushable baby wipes are… I would think the quantity would matter much like it does with toilet paper… one or two would probably be ok but 20 may give you a problem 🙂 The other wipes I mentioned are designed for adult use and I’ve seen them with the toilet paper in my local grocery so I’m assuming those are flushable. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/6 "2003-08-14T16:51:31Z")
Actually, peanut butter doesn’t seem all that water-soluble, so my first inclination _would_ be to try to wipe it up with a dry paper towel! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/7 "2003-08-14T16:55:23Z")
Someone needs to invent a Butt Swiffer. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/8 "2003-08-14T17:14:23Z")
I don’t use TP anymore. I use Cottonelle wipes. The best thing since sliced bread. [http://www.cottonelle.com/moist/index.asp](http://www.cottonelle.com/moist/index.asp) I swear, if you try them, you wont go back. BTW, I have no affiliation with Cottonelle. I just use their product. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/9 "2003-08-14T18:18:38Z")
"We recommend you print the coupon at home. " I don’t know why, but this cracked me up. ---
**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/10 "2003-08-14T18:31:07Z")
“We don’t smell like shit anymore, weee!” -the happy people in the picture ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/11 "2003-08-14T18:36:24Z")
I used the Cottonelle wipes in conjection with my regular Charmin Plus with Aloe. Thing is I’d not get thru one quarter of the Cottonelle before the damn roll would dry up. I recommend Charmin with Aloe anyday though. Lotion built right into the tp. It’s like a little bit of heaven in your ass every time you wipe. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/12 "2003-08-14T18:36:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > > I don’t know why, **but** this **crack** ed me up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/13 "2003-08-14T18:44:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > \*\*It’s like a little bit of heaven in your ass every time you wipe. \*\* Is it anything like swearing in French? I’m such a geek. WRS ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/14 "2003-08-14T18:47:46Z")
You could just spit on the toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Ink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@White\_Ink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Ink)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/15 "2003-08-14T19:23:52Z")
Baby wipes are not meant to be flushable. Please put them in the trash. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/16 "2003-08-14T20:35:35Z")
If I’m at home I wipe dry first, then wipe with a dab of water from the sink (and a third wipe to “dry”). When I’m at work before I go into the stall I get a paper towel (the normal “hard” type) and wet it, then use it like I would at home. I guess for everyone wiping dry is better than not wiping at all 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/17 "2003-08-14T20:45:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Someone needs to invent a Butt Swiffer. \*\* sNORT!!! 😃 \*\*lieu[/]??? You’re just bound and determined to cost someone a keyboard today, AREN’T you??? ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/18 "2003-08-14T21:15:02Z")
Don’t drink much and eliminate all fiber from your diet. This will cease to be an issue. -Fuji ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/19 "2003-08-14T22:46:40Z")
" There’s nothing more annoying than little bits of dried TP getting on you." I call it a Bunny tail. Surreal, if you wet toilet paper in a little experiment, the stuff becomes a little blob. Thats why one uses it dry. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147/20 "2003-08-14T23:22:51Z")
Anything strong enough to use wet isn’t going to be flushable–unless you’re fond of having the plumber out on a regular basis. Wiping one’s ass with wet stuff is going to involve tossing the used product in the wastebasket. Personally, I’d rather risk having a microscopic layer of shit smeared across my ass than to definitely have a basket of shit-smeared paper sitting around my house. YMMV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-dry-tissue-to-wipe-themselves/195147.md?page=2)