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Survey: What's Your Toilet Paper Alternative?

10-02-09tp.jpg

Earlier this week we asked our readers, why people are still using regular toilet paper over recycled? The surprising response was that many of you aren't using any at all...

 
 

From our earlier post, we found that many of you are ahead of the game and not only have elimiated the fluffy white but also the recycled kind.



(Images: Ever-Green Toilet Paper, AT Survey: Would You Use a Bidet?, moocowmomma's cloth wipes, Green Alternative to Toilet Paper?)

Related:
Greening Our Habits, Revisited... Or In This Case, Ladies, a Necessity
The Diaper Debate, Revisited
Survey: Paper or Cloth Tissue?

Tags

Surveys, personal health, recycled, toilet, toilet paper, bidet, cloth wipe, family cloth, washlet

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Comments (12)

I'm just using the old fashioned stuff, but I'd give my eye teeth to have a bidet. I love those things. If I ever re-do the bathrooms in my house there's no question that I'd get a bidet.

~Mrs. Foss

posted by MrsFoss on October 2nd 2009 at 5:32pm
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I usually by recycled, however, yesterday while shopping and in desperate need for new TP, I was floored to see that the grocery store I ventured into did not have anything recycled! Next time I go to another grocery store

posted by Hollie on October 2nd 2009 at 7:30pm
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I grew up using recycled, but I have recently switched to the good stuff. I would end up using a handful of flimsy recycled to do the job of two sheets of Charmin, so regular white is less expensive and less wasteful for me.

http://jennyknopinski.blogspot.com/

posted by jennykno on October 3rd 2009 at 11:28am
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We switched to recycled after my husband's health issues were under control. It's no fun using t.p. that isn't baby soft if you use the bathroom 30 times a day. Since that's fixed it's recycled and non-chlorine treated!

posted by taynnee on October 3rd 2009 at 12:19pm
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I agree, I would love a bidet.

posted by OriginalNancy on October 3rd 2009 at 1:27pm
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I'd kill for a bidet. I'm looking into washlets.

posted by imake1tgirl on October 4th 2009 at 12:09am
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Sorry but a reusable cloth wipe (family wipe) sounds unhygenic and just plain crazy.

posted by Haunted_Studio on October 5th 2009 at 3:01pm
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I've never understood bidets, they seem so awfully awkward, not to mention space consuming. I can just imagine myself trying to carefully move myself over from the toilet seat while trying not to drip all over the place... Here in Finland, instead of bidets, it's very popular to have a little hand-held shower next to the toilet: does the same thing, much more convenient.

I agree with Haunted_Studio: the cloth wipes just sound yucky.

posted by terrif20 on October 6th 2009 at 7:50am
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It sounds as if, with the family wipe, that you would be adding that much more to your laundry load...more if you are (hopefully) doing a load everyday just of wipes. So you're using more water, more electricity, etc. Unless you're leaving them in the laundry basket for more than a day, in which case - eww.

posted by dallas10086 on October 6th 2009 at 11:56am
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There are a lot of places in the world where the hand held spray is popular. Its convenient, cheap and doesn't need big changes in the bathroom to be accommodated. Its like a tiny telephone shower. this is what it looks like

http://www.angel-india.com/images/jewel019.jpg

There are also other alternatives where the spray is attached on the back side of the commode and is operated by a stop cock.

posted by doshi on October 6th 2009 at 7:25pm
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@dallas10086, they go in a sealed bucket, like a nappy bucket (diaper pail to you Americans) and as you
(1) only use them for pee
(2) wash first (with a spray bottle of water) and then wipe

they're not actually gross. They can be washed with other cleaning cloths, cloth pads, etc - they certainly are not a full load every day, that wouldn't be very environmental! (Although even making recycled paper takes a lot of water).

posted by Rebekkap on November 5th 2009 at 1:11am
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Since my bathroom is too tiny to fit a bidet, I investigated alternatives and found the Biffy (www.biffy.com). It's a sprayer that links into the toilet water source and has a sprayer on a swing arm that hides under the toilet seat. When you're sitting, you pull lever on the side of the toilet that brings the sprayer out under you and allows the water to spray upward. After use you can dry youself with TP or a specially designated cloth. I've had it for going on five years and I love it.

The only drawback is the ocasional visitor who says "Hey, what's this?" and pulls the lever while standing looking down at the bowl. Mostly, though, that's just funny (or maybe I have a cruel sense of humor).

posted by miamc on February 16th 2010 at 1:59pm
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