Selfsufficientish.com

Actually, I'd reckon that a good deal of the world doesn't even have a Thomas Crapper style toilet, so personal cleaning methods and procedures are bound to vary.

Anyway, being the anally retentive type of chap that I am, I've just made a simple balance and put a newspaper on one side, and toilet rolls on the other. A single newspaper (which prefers to remain anonymous), including all the supplements and advertising crap, approximately balanced 6 toilet rolls. Even at my rate of use (which I'd concede is pretty high), that's one single newspaper balancing a couple of months worth of wiping. A week's worth of newspapers is gonna be a year's worth of toilet roll. Add in the free junk newspaper that comes through the door each week.

Here's another perspective - weight for weight, the amount of toilet paper I use each day is probably comparable to the average number of till receipts we each collect every day. And prolly wouldn't even scratch the surface of the amount of paper a typical office wastes on our behalf.

All my toilet roll purchases say that they are made from managed sources, carry the FSC label, and contain "recycled wood or fibre" (whatever that means). Bleaching may be an issue if it happens, and depends upon how it is bleached. But I understand we have a big surplus of recycled paper, so more of this should be used. I'll look into using wholly recycled stuff from now on.

Don't forget that washing cloth wipes is going to require extra water, extra heating, extra energy to run the washing machine and extra soap - it may all appear to get 'lost' in with another wash, but it is still there.

Putting everything in perspective, of all the changes I can make in my life, not using toilet paper is waaaaay down the list, both in terms of the difference it would make, and my own concept of what constitutes personal hygiene and comfort.

Clara wrote:- can anyone justify deforestation for the sake of wiping one´s arse?

Well it might make the job easier - Ohhhhhh wrong kind of de-forestation!

shirlz! - had to explain to my son why i was laughing.. (I was not completely honest with him either!)

reminds me of a services trick - in some barracks, the loos were basically a row of seats over a gully, down which now and again flooded some water, carrying all before it - you make sure you're in the end one, nearest the water outlet, and when you hear it coming, you drop lighted balls of newspaper...................

Muddypause wrote: Don't forget that washing cloth wipes is going to require extra water, extra heating, extra energy to run the washing machine and extra soap - it may all appear to get 'lost' in with another wash, but it is still there.

Putting everything in perspective, of all the changes I can make in my life, not using toilet paper is waaaaay down the list, both in terms of the difference it would make, and my own concept of what constitutes personal hygiene and comfort.

Well if you cold wash like I do, line dry and don't iron it is still vastly less impact than growing trees, milling them, pulping, bleaching, packaging, transporting etc etc.
Also they are far more comfortable! It might be a small thing but it's something easy to do and it all adds up!

I can't say I will go down the route of wee wipes, why not do what blokes do and shake about a bit, that way you don't need either paper or wipes.

rag_grrl_nz wrote:

Well if you cold wash like I do, line dry and don't iron it is still vastly less impact than growing trees, milling them, pulping, bleaching, packaging, transporting etc etc.

personally, we use toilet paper made from 100% recycled paper, and given the grey colour.. i dont believe its bleached. and there is so much waste paper going around, then whilst I agree that there is manufacture and transport... no extra trees died for the sake of any wiping in this household!

I can see the argument for using cloth for comfort.. and I can see it if you have to bag up and transport your loo paper.. but for those of us with access to sewerage systems ... perhaps there are more worthwhile things to give up first that would have a larger impact on the world.. like say... electric light, computers, imported food (coffee chocolate etc) and so on..

possum wrote:I can't say I will go down the route of wee wipes, why not do what blokes do and shake about a bit, that way you don't need either paper or wipes.

True, but as a famous poet once said -

"No matter how much you shake and dance,
The last drop always goes in your pants"



Nev

I am finding this thread very enjoyable reading. Must be the toilet humour!

This reminds me of my student days.

We decided the money spent on toilet paper could be better spent on beer and as our house was half Indian we went with the washing option.

Next to the loo each person kept their own small plastic jug. The sink was next to the loo so we could just reach over to fill the jug or get the soap. Lean forward or back and pour the water. Use your hand for a better wash if you need.

Drying can be an issue, I'd wriggle abit then wait a moment or two. That was usually sufficiant and we never used 'wee wipes' to dry.

I don't think there's many fashion victims here but I must say, if you're following this option, you must keep your fingernails very short for hygine reasons as it makes it easyer to keep your hands claen.

Why does loo roll, come on a roll? if there was a folding method that could make them space efficient and reduce the amount of waste as there is no cardboard roll, thinking on it- they could also make the packaging 'useable'......mmmm

I'm a mix of methods- wash and a little wipe, why not put a poll up to see the demographics of this subject?

kind thoughts
Deb

They have the folded paper - its that horrible waxy stuff that is sharp n o matter how much you fold it and rub it!!

My Dad said that when he was young they really did have old newspaper cut into squares and stuffed onto a nail in their outside "netty".

I think I'd rather live naked in the wilds then use newspaper....

D'ya reckon you'd get newsprint on your bum?

the.fee.fairy wrote:D'ya reckon you'd get newsprint on your bum?

Just bend over so that I can see what's on TV later.