Cloth Toilet Paper? Yay? Or Nay? (aka "Family Cloth")

Been using what we call "family cloths" here for a couple of years. I basically thrift for towels at my local little thrift store, cut them up in squares. Have a diaper pail for used ones. Wash every couple of days. Came in VERY handy during the pandemic...  I keep TP for guests, and gave that away to friends in desperate need.
While I do get a bit concerned about the water use, I think it more than evens out, in terms of not filling up my septic tank, not using paper products.
A good friend also simply rinses/washes his cloths right after use, hangs them to dry.
I am lucky to have a washing machine that can do small loads with much less water.
The roomies I have here, use a clip-on inexpensive bidet, so they also use very little TP.
Reminds me, I need to replace my store of TP, in case the nation goes into a TP buying frenzy again!

Who washes the shit?

Before disposable diapers, there were cloth diapers (used with diaper pins and plastic pants) that went into the diaper pail. The poopy ones were quickly rinsed off in a clean toilet and then popped into the pail. Every couple days or so, the pailful of diapers was washed in the washing machine on the hottest setting and the pail was rinsed out.

This isn't all that different, except no diaper pins and plastic pants! (I remember that as a big sister, one of the first things I checked when my little sister was crying was whether a diaper pin was sticking into her.)

We got some of those garden pump up sprayers to use as a bidets. One per family member and a few extra. We don't use them every day, but in case of emergency like the toilet paper scare of 2019. So, family cloth....no, thanks.

Adam Klaus wrote:Bidet.  The civilized way.  Your bum's never been cleaner.  You're welcome.

And I really wish I had one! I come from France and the bidet is a consistent feature in French bathrooms over there, but not here. I really wonder why? Americans tend to be so focused on removing every germ in the environment...
It is very convenient before or after sex too. It is a way to get that area clean without having to spend more warm water on a shower.
Additionally, if you have physical limitations that make it difficult to clean your bum, well, there goes. When done with #2, you can sit on the bidet and turn on the water. When clean, you can just sit on a towel and proceed to dress yourself.

Hannah Holley wrote:Does any one use toilet cloth ?
What are your thoughts ?

When my kids were babies, I used cloth diapers, so using washcloths for adults is not as far fetched as it sounds at first. It sure is messy with babies though, because they defecate directly *in* the diaper. It involved having a homer pail with some bleach and water in it and a butter knife [dedicated, of course] to scrape the worst of it in the bowl.
I was glad to get out of this phase for the smell it created in the bathroom, but if COVID should come back and TP gets rationed again, I could see going that route:
Adults can pee/ poop in the toilet, so the mess is not as bad. If I had to, I would use a wet washcloth to clean my bum and then place the washcloth in a pail with a little bleach again, and a cover. We pee multiple times a day but poop usually just once, so it may not be as bad.
For comparison, I had 2 kids in diapers at the same time, and 12 nappies were used for each kid on average, so I washed one big batch  of nappies a day for about 2 years and I survived.
I didn't finish my thoughts about the bidet: For women at that time of the month, it is invaluable: Not only the odor is minimal but if you suffer from these darn cramps, warm water is the ticket for those. If you were to use a washcloth, I would add some salt to the soaking water. [It prevents the blood from drying out.]

I lived in India for quite a few years as my husband is Indian. We never used toilet paper. There was always a  bucket of water left in the toilet with a small container for washing your self afterwards. Many toilets I used did not even have running water and so no way to have a bidet. Most Indians were grossed out at the Idea of using toillet paper back then and thought of it a a dirty way to leave your bum after pooping. My husband still only uses water to clean with after going to the toilet. He fills an old small soft drink bottle and just pours it on to clean himself then dries off with a towel. He refills the bottle and leaves it sitting beside the toilet for the next use. I also have a a femal friend who has a little bottle with holes in the lid for spray cleaning herself after urinating. Works a treat - just squeeze the bottle. We were confused when we saw people freaking out about toilet paper shortages - no-one really needs it. However as a person who cleans hotel toilets I've found toilet paper to be the most hygeinic 'cloth' to wipe over the toilets when going from seat to seat so to speak. Spray the seat and rim etc., wipe over and flush away then on to the next one.

I started using 'family cloth' back at the beginning fright stage of this 'pandemic', buying a couple of flannel sets in Etsy.  I like the ones that are about the size of a maxi pad...not the square.  They stack easily.  I have a little covered can beside the toilet for the used ones.  I only use them for urine, so we still have regular TP.   But this has reduced use tremendously.  If you have multiple females in a house, I imagine the savings would be significant.  Since they are not visibly soiled, I throw them right in with my load of laundry and have no additional laundry expense.  

In one of the many lodgings I lived in, in France, we had "Turkish-style" toilets: a ceramic appliance with a hole [about 6" diameter", I would say] in the center of a square with 2 elevated pads on each side on each side to stand/ crouch and do your business. Because the hole was plenty big, and TP was expensive, dad would cut/ tear regular newspapers. The ink must have been better than nowadays because we didn't get a black bum from it. [chuckles]
The closest thing I found is still being sold on Amazon for -can you believe it- $128.80:
https://www.amazon.com/GladyStore-Squatting-Household-Defecation-Deodorant/dp/B08GQ3274T/ref=asc_df_B08GQ3274T/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475826852804&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7558938832881106722&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019203&hvtargid=pla-1167851657927&psc=1
They have improved on the model as the gush of water is now coming from *under* the rim of the contraption. Ours had a big water tank and a chain to yank it open. The water would fall from about shoulder height and be [somewhat] guided by a pipe that had the purpose of irrigating all *around* your feet. It didn't always work that way. That is the only time mom would cuss!

Ever since we were forced into lockdown and people began hoarding TP I started using old wash cloths to wipe and only use TP for solid waste. I've saved a lot of money and don't need to stress over empty shelves or limits on how many packages of TP they will sell us. Win win I say and I'll never go back to the old way. Just rinse the cloth until it needs cleaning then start on another.

Cécile Stelzer Johnson wrote:In one of the many lodgings I lived in, in France, we had "Turkish-style" toilets: a ceramic appliance with a hole [about 6" diameter", I would say] in the center of a square with 2 elevated pads on each side on each side to stand/ crouch and do your business. Because the hole was plenty big, and TP was expensive, dad would cut/ tear regular newspapers. The ink must have been better than nowadays because we didn't get a black bum from it. [chuckles]
The closest thing I found is still being sold on Amazon for -can you believe it- $128.80:
https://www.amazon.com/GladyStore-Squatting-Household-Defecation-Deodorant/dp/B08GQ3274T/ref=asc_df_B08GQ3274T/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475826852804&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7558938832881106722&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019203&hvtargid=pla-1167851657927&psc=1
They have improved on the model as the gush of water is now coming from *under* the rim of the contraption. Ours had a big water tank and a chain to yank it open. The water would fall from about shoulder height and be [somewhat] guided by a pipe that had the purpose of irrigating all *around* your feet. It didn't always work that way. That is the only time mom would cuss!

Thank you for sharing this. My first experience of this style of toilet was on a tour of a monastery in Taiwan decades ago. I don’t remember it having a flusher. I’ve seen something similar with a flusher at airport restrooms in Japan. But I’ve never seen them this “modern”.

Does it also wash so you don’t need toilet paper? Or is the water only for flushing to clean it?

Chuckles. No; it only flushes the waste, not your bum. That would require a particularly good aim unless you wanted to wash your clothes too. [Although if the Turkish hole in the floor is poorly designed, as in the French example I gave, you  could *also* get a free footbath].
Emperor Vespasian created the first public latrines. [They are necessary in large towns like Rome where men will not have the patience to get home before they relieve themselves sometimes.]
It was, essentially a "weeping wall" we called "pissoir" [No translation necessary, I presume] on the outside of a public building and set behind a privacy wall. The water would run continuously and men could urinate against the wall. [Yeah: another thing that was designed by men, for men and not useful to women in the least!].
Incidentally, the French were publicly and internationally shamed for so long over their public restrooms that stank and the stinginess of "Madame Pipi" [who handed you only an amount of paper commensurate with your tip]. So they finally designed a "State of the Art" cubicle [in the late 60s] where a man or a woman could have privacy to tend to their needs. [It was your comment that inclined me to speak of this].
You put a coin in the door to open it. Yep, they are *paying* public toilets. Certain things will never change, but now, the paper is free! [Unfortunately-or fortunately- Madame Pipi lost her job]. As you shut the door, inspiring water starts running gently in the washbasin [for inspiration and to clean your hands afterwards]. You also get soothing, relaxing elevator music as encouragement.
You turn to look at the contraption... But wait!? all that is ... is a bowl... without 'exit'. You hesitate. Then with your needs ever pressing and the fact that you've paid your dues...You squat [A ring to sit on is not hygienic] and do what you came to do, then wipe and toss the paper in the bowl, wash your hands and exit. SHUT THE DOOR! You may want to hang around to make sure that *something* happens [but you have to shut the door locked for the full treatment]. You would be mortified if another customer came and saw your poop there.
You are soon rewarded: A thunderous noise tells you that the bowl pivoted and is now upside down. A high pressure pump from below the floor is cleaning the bowl with a high pressure stream of water, [maybe a bit of bleach too?]
Mission accomplished.
As I join this link for your enjoyment, I see that they are now FREE!. Just push a button to enter! What will we think of next!                   https://toilet-guru.com/france.php

There must be another thread somewhere on the forum about this same subject. In that one I found out about 'pee rags' (here they are called 'family cloth', but it's about the same). And then I made a pile of them using old towels. That was a few years ago. I still use them and am glad with this system. I use them (as the name 'pee rags' says) for pee only. For poop I still use t.p., so that is there for guests too (they never understand why those rags are there).

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:There must be another thread somewhere on the forum about this same subject. In that one I found out about 'pee rags' (here they are called 'family cloth', but it's about the same). And then I made a pile of them using old towels. That was a few years ago. I still use them and am glad with this system. I use them (as the name 'pee rags' says) for pee only. For poop I still use t.p., so that is there for guests too (they never understand why those rags are there).

There is!
https://permies.com/t/137885/ungarbage/finally-Toilet-cloth

I'm still using them most of the time. I made a goal in Jan to see how long I could go on one roll of toilet paper with night time and poop use only. It's about three weeks and that has continued. So, my paper use has decreased a lot, I feel better about my septic tank health and it's lovely not to worry about tp residue from wiping. Generally, I'm a fan of my toilet cloths / pee rags and miss them when I'm away from home.

Sunlight is a great antimicrobial treatment… so, drying the reusable laundered cloth wipes on
the line and in the sun should take care of germ concerns.

Hannah Holley wrote:Does any one use toilet cloth ?
What are your thoughts ?

If trees are your worry, why not buy toiletpaper made by the leftover from either the Hamp or Bamboo industry instead?

I use washable liners and pads, and as many has mentioned, the use of energy and water to clean the cloth, might not justify the change.

Anne Nielsen wrote:

Hannah Holley wrote:Does any one use toilet cloth ?
What are your thoughts ?

If trees are your worry, why not buy toiletpaper made by the leftover from either the Hamp or Bamboo industry instead?

I use washable liners and pads, and as many has mentioned, the use of energy and water to clean the cloth, might not justify the change.

For me this isn't an issue because I'm going to rinse my hands after wiping and wash laundry anyway. The increase in the amount of water used to include these is negligible.

Guys -- get this.

1. Install a bidet.  (Ours was less than $100, easy install.)

2 . Use family cloths to dry yourself after you wash your perfectly clean butt.  (We call them 'butt cloths' but whatever floats your boat!)

This not only saves you TONS AND TONS OF MONEY on a yearly basis that you'd otherwise be literally flushing away, but they aren't dirty.  They're way less dirty than all the dishcloths from the sink we wash with them, that's for sure.  The use of the bidet basically means that you're already clean and you're basically using the cloth just to get dry.  Therefore, the cloths stay clean.

Also, your butt will never be sore again.  Seriously.  For those of us with digestive issues, there's really no better way.


Also, when you go to someone else's house, and you have to poop, you'll find yourself in absolute dismay that you have to go back to the barbaric habit of wiping yourself clean without a bidet.  It's horrible.  We've all experienced this in our house and we look at each other like... wow, I can't believe we ever used toilet paper like heathens.  It's like going back to a time when people don't brush their teeth.  It's terrible.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and try it.  Have toilet paper on hand for guests and just hide your tidy box of 'butt wipes' when anyone comes over that isn't awesome enough to appreciate how amazing this is.

You'll thank yourself.  You'll never have felt cleaner, and you save so much money, AND you're not cutting down trees anymore to wipe your butt.

Seriously.  <3

Has anyone read about or experienced bidets giving urinary tract infections to women?

We have well water where I’m currently living and I believe I got a UTI after trying this Peri Bottle (portable bidet.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZH2XHB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9BEJEFTSY5JSEZC93ZNF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I think it had been 20 years since I had a UTI last and thankfully I got rid of it in a few days but I’m wondering if the trick will be to use filtered drinking water in the Peri Bottle?

The other people who lived here for 15-40 years drink the well water but it tastes funny to me. I did a drinking water test on it but I’d like to test it for mold or other contaminants.

I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions.

(I haven’t tried the family cloth but I think for pee it would be very reasonable as I’ve used menstrual cups, cloth pads, and period undies for years now.)

Alana -- I have not personally heard of that, but I can definitely see how it could easily happen with the handheld re-useable bidet like that -- if any bacteria (from well or from splashing) got in the bottle, I would think it could certainly be the cause of a UTI.

We are on some pretty horrible well water that we don't drink at our current place, and it has killed some insects, snails and even mice that we were raising ... so we don't give it to anything anymore.   But we use it with the bidet and haven't had any problems at all.  Ours is attached right to the toilet, and is this one here:  https://www.amazon.com/Luxe-Bidet-Neo-120-Non-Electric/dp/B00A0RHSJO/ref=sr_1_5?crid=320WCVAH4YOYA&keywords=bidet&qid=1649177926&sprefix=bidet%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-5

With these it's a constant supply of fresh water and it's not sitting in the container.

Hopefully it's not your well water itself but maybe the handheld bottles need to be sterilized every few days or so to keep bacteria from establishing?  I'm not quite sure.  I know my daughter's drinking water bottle for school (and the dog water bowls) get pretty nasty after even 2 days in warm weather if we don't completely clean them out so I imagine the bidet bottles would be similar.

Could it have been an irritation at the meatus, rather than a UTI?

I once drank so much cinnamon tea over a several week period, I thought I had a UTI.  A friend and practicing herbalists who followed my condition  finally suggested it might not be an infection.

I quit the cinnamon binge and the symptoms cleared right up.

I think it’s possible that you might have squirted the water at the “wrong” angle, and or with  too much pressure, or were just too vigorous.

As girls we are taught to scrupulously protect our vaginas and vulvas, but they don’t have to be kept sterile or viewed as such.  We don’t want pathogens, or coli form organisms to grow there, but as some prominent feminist from half ago century said:  “the vagina is a self cleaning organ”.  In that era, more vaginitis was caused by douching with countless products… advertised on TV.  We’ve come a long way 😊

We don’t want bacteria in our urethras or bladders, or kidneys, and we don’t want anything disgusting in our vaginas, but the random introduction of a few bacteria should be ok.  

The meatus is tightly closed, except when we consciously open it!

If you consider the proximity of the anus to the vagina, it’s likely there are a few coliform bacteria finding their way every day.

My guess is that, just as our eyes have antimicrobial secretions to protect them, and our milk has antimicrobial properties to protect our young, our vaginas as integral parts of human survival through the ages, can probably neutralize  a few microbes in “clean” water… especially if we have a healthy community of benign organisms.

Though I have already said it, it’s worth repeating, the flora of the vagina do not extend into the urethra.  

I have a water squirter myself,  most of the women (and men) of Africa don’t use toilet paper, they use a little watering can of water, and their drinking water is well water or surface water, and when the Peace Corps sends volunteers to such places, they are given the means to filter and purify the available water… so the water African women are using for personal hygiene is not as clean or microbe free as the water in the USA, and other industrialized nations.

Just my opinion