How to make your own reusable toilet paper
A few years back, my family took a 10-day adventure to make our own cloth toilet paper (reusable cloth wipes). The response varied between milk curiosity to downright ANGER. Who knew that people cared so much about how strangers wiped their privates?
If you’re also curious or perhaps even interested in giving this reusable toilet paper thing a shot, here are answers to your cloth toilet paper questions:
What is a family cloth/reusable toilet paper/reusable wipe?
A piece of cloth that is used in lieu of toilet paper that can be washed and used again.
How do you make reusable wipes?
You can buy cloth baby wipes off Amazon, etsy, a wholesale site or make them yourself. The cheapest option is cut up an old t-shirt, bath towel, flannel bed sheet, or something else, or you can make some out of fabric from the fabric store.
I went the sewing route. I purchased about seven yards of soft flannel from my local fabric store, washed it a couple of times, and sewed them double strength (two layers). Total overkill — the two layers were actually too thick for most situations.
If I did it again, I’d just cut up the fabric with pinking shears so the edges wouldn’t fray. If a double layer was needed, just fold the thing in half. I made each wipe about 7 x 5 inches finished (similar to the size of a baby wipe).
Actually, if I did it again, I’d just buy a pack of cloth baby wipes off Amazon. I don’t suggest you use regular washcloths — they are way to thick for this business.
I selected a patterned design just because I could. If you’re concerned about staining, buy brown or another dark color.
I seriously spent WAY too much time researching the size, material, and construction of these things. I suggest you just cut some and see how it goes because, come on, you’re wiping yourself with these. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
How many wipes do you need?
I suggest you have a 3-4 day supply for your family. If you have less, you’ll be annoyed with how much laundry you have to do. If you have more, you won’t do laundry often enough and stuff will start stinking.
So, if you’re stocking for men and boys, you don’t need so many, right? The ladies will need a bunch more.
For my family of six, I should have about 100 wipes to have a four-day supply. Ideally, I’d want to wash every three days.
Where do you store the clean wipes?
Really anywhere.
- In a drawer next to the toilet
- In a basket on the toilet tank
- In a re-purposed baby wipes tub on the toilet tank
- In a drawstring bag hanging from the toilet paper holder
How do you actually use them?
Just use them dry for urine and wet them a bit in the sink for the other stuff. I did put a bunch in a plastic wipes container and wet them down to save the “wet one in the sink” step, but they started smelling mildew-y within a day or two.
You can also keep a spray bottle filled with water by the toilet to wet them down. I knew our bathroom would experience significant water damage if I gave my boys a water bottle while pooping, so we went with the “wet before you sit down” strategy.
You could use a bidet, a spray hose installed in your toilet, or even a peri-bottle to clean off after poop, then wipe with a dry cloth if you’re super concerned by the mess.
Do you use the wipes again or do you wash them between uses?
This question cracked me up. Sorry. Obviously you wash them between uses. “Reusable” means you don’t throw them away, but they are washed between uses.
Where do you store the used wipes?
Again, a few options.
Obviously, in a container of some sort. Most people instinctively want to throw them in a bucket-o-liquid (like water, water + baking soda, water + bleach), but there are a number of problems with this. Buckets with liquid pose a drowning risk for small children and obviously buckets with bleach pose a danger, especially for, say, boys with diminished brain capacity (read: all boys under 12).
Another problem is that throwing them in water actually breeds bacteria growth. I realize that most people a few decades ago threw the dirty diapers in a pail with some liquid solution, but that’s pretty much not the recommended method anymore.
So, no water soak.
You can put them in a “wet bag” made for dirty diapers or a plastic garbage can or a sweater-sized mesh laundry bag, which is what we did. I purchased a small can with a swinging lid from the Dollar Tree for each bathroom and they worked perfectly.
This drawstring mesh laundry bag from Amazon should work well if you want a liner.
Do the stored used wipes stink?
Eh, not really. If you’re washing them every few days you’ll catch them before the urine smell gets too toxic. And honestly it’s the urine you’ll smell before the poop. Weird, I know.
How do you wash the wipes?
Again, I did some serious research into this not because I personally cared (I am not a germ-a-phob) but because I knew some of you were going to freak on me over the washing of these things.
There’s not a ton of information out there about how to properly wash reusable wipes. Most of the directions are on washing cloth diapers which is close, but not exactly the same.
Cloth diaper washing techniques are concerned with preserving the cloth diaper itself (shape, absorbency, pH balance, color) as the thing is on the baby’s bottom for a couple of hours, so this stuff actually matters. We really don’t care about all of this with wipes because they are touching our skin for 1-2 seconds and keeping the shape and absorbency on a small piece of cloth isn’t worth the extra washing care involved.
These factors pushed me to the conclusion that most of the “wash separately, add certain detergent, soak for a certain amount of time, add an extra rinse cycle, do a final vinegar rinse” routine was unnecessary.
I was concerned with two things:
1. Washing the wipes in hot water and drying them in the dryer on hot to kill feces germs (urine is sterile).
2. Washing the wipes separate from kitchen towels in the rare case of contamination.
Yes, I washed the wipes with other stuff. And no, I wasn’t worried about poop touching the other clothing. Seriously? I’ve been accidentally touching other people’s poop ON MY SKIN for almost a decade. Direct contact, people. Washing wipes with my clothes isn’t a big deal at this point.
Some factors to consider: Most of us with children just throw pee-clothes and poop-streaked underwear in the wash with everything else. We don’t bust out the haz-mat suits. This is the same. Plus, all of our undies contain some amount of germs and we are assured that the washing/drying routine gets them clean enough to wear again without killing us. Again, a similar situation with the wipes.
YES, I know it’s not exactly the same, but it’s not as bad as some of you are imagining.
If you use a mesh laundry bag or a wet bag, you just pull it out of the garbage can and dump the contents into the washer along with the bag. This keeps you from any direct contact with the soiled wipes. If you have a top-loading washing machine, it’s super easy to just dump the contents into the washer without needing a bag.
You’ll probably want to rinse out the bucket and let it air dry every couple of days to avoid mildew issues.
Do you use fabric softener or a vinegar rinse or bleach?
No. The flannel I used for the wipes is soft and actually gets softer with use so I don’t think any softener is necessary. And bleach is so 1977, right? I just used regular fragrance-free laundry detergent (that’s what we use on everything).
How did you convince your husband to use wipes?
Really? You must not know the man. He hasn’t used toilet paper in 15 years and calls toilet paper “sand paper.” He’s been using baby wipes for his wiping purposes since 2000 and was the first one to fist-pump this experiment.
Do you make guests use the wipes?
Of course not. I want to keep my friends. I had toilet paper available right there on the roll for their wiping pleasure.
Will you be making this change for the long term?
No. But, rest assured, my husband has is a full-on reusable wipes convert. I have switched to the one-ply toilet paper in an effort to use less natural resources.
Still fascinated? Be sure to read why we tried out using reusable cloth toilet paper and the reasons why one might use reusable cloth toilet paper.
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Yes! I love this! Iām from the cloth diaper era and see nothing wrong with using cloth for wipes…..and washing them and reusing. Thank you.
You are absolutely the cutest!!!! Thank you for posting your research.
Thanks for the great article! š
I could have done without this line:
“bleach pose a danger for boys with diminished brain capacity (read: all boys under 12)”
Another advantage of not using conventional, flushable TP: you can flush less! Even using conventional TP, it’s no big deal to start flushing every 2nd or 3rd pee. But if you don’t need to worry about TP accumulating and clogging the toilet, you can probably save the flushing for when there’s poop.
Conventional baby wipes are a bad idea; not eco-friendly. I like the idea of using cloths. I’m on board with it for sure!
Thanks for the info. I already have fleece that I’ve washed to preshrink. I wasn’t sure if I had to sew around the edges to keep them from fraying, but thanks to your adice I’m just going to cut with pinking shears. I’m so happy about how much time I’ll save by doing that. Btw, I chuckled at your dry wit in your writingā obviously buckets with bleach pose a danger for boys with diminished brain capacity (read: all boys under 12). That cracked me up!
Fleece may not be the best fabric for this use, as it isnāt absorbent and is actually made of plastics. Cotton flannel (which most people find laying around their homes in the forms of old sheets or pjs) is the best bet as it is strong, soft, and absorbent. Plus, itās a natural fiber so when it eventually needs to be tossed itās much more eco-friendly. If you mistyped and meant flannel, sorry! Disregard!
(Iām not bashing fleece- it definitely has itās place. I use it as a leak-resistant backer in my cloth menstrual lads. I just think flannel would be better for reusable wipes)
Sorry for the multiple comments- I tried to respond directly to Linda but it only posted it on the main thread, and now I canāt find a spot to delete.
Fleece may not be the best fabric for this use, as it isnāt absorbent and is actually made of plastics. Cotton flannel (which most people find laying around their homes in the forms of old sheets or pjs) is the best bet as it is strong, soft, and absorbent. Plus, itās a natural fiber so when it eventually needs to be tossed itās much more eco-friendly. If you mistyped and meant flannel, sorry! Disregard!
(Iām not bashing fleece- it definitely has itās place. I use it as a leak-resistant backer in my cloth menstrual lads. I just think flannel would be better for reusable wipes)
This is an older post, but I wanted to update on my own experience using cloth toilet paper. I have used cloth toilet paper since reading this, and other posts regarding its use. I LOVE it! I purchased some organic cotton cloth baby wipes on Amazon for a nominal price. (I have since purchased three more sets). I have these in a bottom drawer in my bathroom sink cabinet. I purchased a small step-trash can, and use this next to the toilet for the used cloths, and wash them when it is full. There has NEVER been any odor. I do not use any water, vinegar or other liquids for soaking, just the used cloths. I made a liquid wipe formula from equal parts of witch hazel and aloe vera, adding a few drops each of calendula and comfrey infused oils. (I get irritation from using regular TP at work: REALLY, just like sandpaper!) I have washed these with other clothing, and have no issues with it. For #2, I will spray a bit of the wipe liquid and wipe my front, then a TINY bit of real TP to wipe most of the poo off, then another swipe with the cloth wipe with the liquid and swipe the back. There is usually no poo left on me, so it is basically clean as well. I also used cloth diapers, and this was decades ago (my kids are in their late 30s now). I washed their diapers and had no issues, and I, like this post says, have no issues now. For those who read this and are disgusted, fine, don’t do it, but allow those of us who have done it for YEARS and prefer it, alone. I hate that I have to use TP in malls and at work. The TP usually is extremely harsh and hurts. I know that in Europe, they are horrified at our use of TP. I also know they use bidets, which is fine, but you don’t want to go with a wet bottom for long! I would add one to my older home’s toilet, however, in the winter on my well system, the water is C.O.L.D.!!! There would be no way to heat it up, and I won’t suffer that much! So I have found my way works extremely well for me, and has for many years. I urge you to have an open mind. And especially don’t judge us who tired it and like it.
Urine is NOT sterile. This misinformation needs to stop being spread. Please read a reputable science article on it, and not some nature dude drinking his pee on TV.
i started using my homemade toilet paper a year ago I love it. I purchased some fleece material at the local mission thrift store for like $3;99 I got enough for over a weeks or two worth. come home cut them out and stacked next to toilet in container. after I simply place them in an old kitty litter bucket that I covered with contact paper. simple wash them . so so much softer than any toilet paper out there.
Still thankful for this article (originally read when it first was posted)! Thank you for spreading awareness of disposable alternatives. ā”ā” Every little choice adds up!
24 pack Family Cloth in organic bamboo velour, cotton velour and even fun prints!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/591752767/unpaper-family-cloth-set-of-24-2-dozen
As easy as installing a tap with water or a small shower head nearby. then you use a bidet towel for each family member š
I found the link to the wipes I purchase for this. They are organic cotton baby wipes, and VERY soft! I am going to be cutting some of them in half as they are still too big for wiping urine. Should be about right when I decide to use them for #2: getting closer to doing that!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001O2AJKE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Oh My Gosh!!! I laughed out loud at this post! I have 2 young boys. One that loves stuffing the toilet with rolls of tp. This post made my day! Thanks!
I’m 69 and live alone, so I did not have to convince someone else. I didn’t like the cost and waste of resources that toilet paper is, so I switched to family cloth a few months ago. I LOVE THEM!!!
I took a couple of packages of facecloths from Walmart and cut them in half [since I din’t waer tshirts]. I fold them in thirds for use. I took a cat litter container and cut it down to hold the clean cloths. I already had a small waste basket with a cover, so I moved that to the bathroom and it works great. I labeled it “Not Trash”.
I have a cleaning lady who comes in once a week and does my laundry and my cloths get thrown in with everything else. I use a homemade laundry detergent with a vinegar rinse [and have for years].
Yes, they are only washed once a week. No, I haven’t had any smelly problems. Yes, I keep a few rolls for others tho few visit me. No, I’m not going to return to TP. No, tnhe cleaning lady isn’t grossed out about it, I asked.
Bidet toilet attachments or portable bidets are extremely easy to find these days. With these you can remove all visible excrement. When you go to wipe you’re basically just drying off because there is no visible soiling on the wipe. In this way it is actually superior to toilet paper. Using toilet paper after using a bidet is messier because the moisture soaks through. The combination of bidet and cloth wipes is also extremely superior for anyone with any condition that causes their anus to be irritated or sensitive.
I actually researched bidets that attach to the toilet. Problem I have: I’m on a well, and in winter, the water is nearly at freezing temps. You can’t heat it up with an add-on-bidet! (I don’t know about built in ones…) Not doing THAT! Yikes. So cloth or family cloth it is, and I have been very pleased with the results.
OH, just to add (for some who have commented regarding yeast infections and giving it to them via these: I had a VERY bad yeast infection for 2 years that was, according to my doctor, due to an unchecked case of diabetes. Didn’t “share” that with anyone else using my cloths!
If you’re willing to spend the money, $249, the model I own does have a heated reservoir (as well as heated seat and heated dryer fan). It’s a SmartBidet SB-1000.
I attached a hose to a special nozzle on the sink’s faucet and I also use the cloth – in other words, BOTH. If I use water, and I do, then cloth is preferable over paper (and often over nothing). Doesn’t help with your well issue, I realize.
I was curious why you’ve decided not to do this for the long term?
Very interesting idea. Somewhat compelling to me. Not sure how the fam would feel though!
I found this post awhile ago. Never implemented the cloth toilet paper due to the ick factor.
Yesterday, I went to the dollar store. Bought a delicates holder (shaped like a toilet paper roll) and a couple pieces of soft fluffy material. Last night I finally made a few from old t-shirts, along with the fluffy material. I will deal with the ick factor each time I wash them by hand, with gloves. lol My reasons are as follow but not in any particular order:
1. On disability, not enough money.
2. Run out too many times due to lack of money. Rent, utilities, and food for myself and the two pets is more important.
3. Some toilet paper is just too scratchy & rips the tender skin. I noticed no one mentioned this painful part.
4. Never really felt clean.
5. Went through way too much toilet paper.
So, I was excited this morning to test this method out. I must say…it’s wonderful! I use less material (2 or 3 squares). Feel cleaner! No more pain or ripped skin! The ick factor will be doubled since I plan on making a few nose tissues, round ones so I don’t get them mixed up. Allergies. I have a tendency to *ahem* gag at the sight of this stuff. But, hopefully I will learn to tolerate it since I am not giving myself a choice to go back to toilet paper and Kleenex.
Luckily I live in a travel trailer so I am used to not flushing tissue down the toilet. Small trash can. For my used cloth receptacle I use a small square plastic container with a lid attached. A small spray bottle next to the toilet too.
I am grateful for people like you that research this stuff. Thank you!
I forgot to add this part. I do have a few rolls of toilet paper for visitors.
Just an FYI: I have been doing this for several years now, and love it! If I happen to run out before noticing and washing, I HATE using TP as it seems SO harsh and scratchy now, or it just smears!!! Same for the toilets at work, they are REALLY harsh!
I still am a bit slow about using for #2, but do plan to eventually be totally TP free. Funny, as in my normal preps, I have purchased around 200 rolls of TP!!! Guess I can use them for barter!
Just started this morning! Used it for both 1 & 2. Small spray bottle next to the toilet to spray cloth for #2.
I soak mine in hydrogen peroxide before washing! I buy it powdered like Oxi-Clean but in a paper bag. Mix it with the appropriate amount of water for the 3% hydrogen peroxide concentration, and it sanitizes and removes stains. AND hydrogen peroxide breaks into H2O and O2 over the course of 24 hours, so when you toss the liquid, it will either be all H2O or most of the way there. Perfectly safe for the environment!
Where can you get powdered hydrogen peroxide? Never heard of it!!!
I can still smell urine after I wash and dry them with other clothes. I store used in a dry plastic trash bin with a bag. Is a vinegar/water bucket of liquid a good idea (I live alone) or baking soda/water mix? Which would be best?
I actually keep mine totally dry in a separate tiny step trash can near the toilet. I smell nothing. Once you add water, there WILL be a smell, so don’t use anything! I use either a homemade laundry soap, adding several drops of tea tree to the wash, and again tea tree to the final rinse and add white vinegar to the final rinse also. Or an eco/ingredient friendly store bought laundry soap and follow the same steps to launder. I have several wool dryer balls that I have poured essential oils into for the dryer, and don’t overdry. I never use dryer sheets as these will make the cloths water-resistant. If it is summer, you can hang in the sun to help with sanitizing and a nice, fresh scent. I only wash towels and these types of cloths together, as I find that washing and drying regular clothing with towels causes a lot of towel lint to get on my clothes. Best of luck!
I will be hand washing mine.
PS, I recommend the book “The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why it Matters by Rose George.
It’s highly readable and very informative.
For those who chose to use disposable wipes, please toss them in the trash and not the toilet. They cause significant problems binding up pumps at sewage pump stations and sewage treatment plants. That increases maintenance costs to the public and also causes pumps to wear faster, hastening replacement.
I’d add that in places like China with Los buildings and pipes, you aren’t supposed to throw ANYTHING, even toilet paper in the toilet. It all goes in the trash can.
I meant OLD buildings
Hi there – just wondering how come you didn’t make this change permanent? Is there a reason you went back to toilet paper? Just curious.
Oh, mostly because toilet paper is just so convenient. And my children HATED using the reusable cloth. I didn’t have the energy to push through the pains of transition :).
I asked my Doctor about using reusable wipes after having a heated discussion about the sanitation issues with them. My Doctor said to ask reusable wipe supporters if they would be comfortable using them as dinner napkins after washing them. Good question or unfair?
I would say it’s not that it’s an unfair question, but rather it is not a very good question. I have been washing my family cloths (see other postings of mine for how I do it) for going on two years now. No infections, if that’s what you’re aiming for. I don’t think the doctor’s comment is very apt. But for the record, sure, I would wipe my mouth with a clean cloth, and I’m sure I have once or twice as I’m sitting on the commode, for whatever rando reason. There’s really no reason I can think of not to do this, at least from a health perspective. I will never go back to awful toilet paper. Yech.
Waaaaaay late to the party, but I’d say unfair. Does he think we shouldn’t wear underwear since we wouldn’t want to use THOSE as dinner napkins either?
I wish I would have read this a week ago. I ordered wash cloths from Amazon and they are way too big. I’m going to figure out how to donate them to someone who will want them and go buy some nice flannel and a pinking sheers. Talk about overkill! Geeze. I love the idea of family cloth. I’m slowly changing my life over to more earth-friendly habits. I have not even talked to Hubby about it. If he wants to get on board, fine, if not, well that’s fine also. Ever since I started drinking more water, I’ve been using an insane amount of toilet tissue and I just can’t keep doing that. Thanks for a great article about a sensitive topic. We really need to learn how to treat the earth more kindly!
I purchased some smaller, baby cloths to use. I still plan to cut them in half, as I have discovered that for my needs they are too big. Similar to these, but mine are organic cotton:
https://www.amazon.com/Cloth-eez-Two-Sided-Baby-Wipes-Flannel/dp/B01MAUMBM2/ref=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520358716&sr=8-10&keywords=cloth+baby+wipes
These are perfect and I really love them. I have purchased three sets now, and when I finally do halve them, will be set for quite awhile before I need to wash.
AND, again, I can’t say enough about how much softer they are on my bum! They also seem to do a better job of getting things dry down there.
Best thing I ever did for myself and the environment. Also, to the guy whose doctor asked about using them to wipe your face, YES I would feel totally safe using these for other things, but since I have separate towels and cloths for dishwashing and toilet use, have no issues. Does HE have an issue with washing his underwear with other items of clothing, say handkerchiefs or shirts????
With a toddler in the house I would just wash them with diapers. I use wipes myself sometimes. I have been thinking of making the rest of my family go to wipes to. I prefer old t-shirts cut up, no sewing. š
Awesome! You’ve answered all my questions in one spot. Thanks so much. We are slowly implementing the change to a more sustainable and less of a consumer lifestyle. Plus we have lots of boys so your humor makes it so much more fun!
Mahalo,
Maria
Wow. I am surprised at some of the comments here. I am a supporter of a woman’s right to CHOOSE. This means, that neither the government nor fellow countryman (or woman) has the right to dictate what a woman must do with her own body. This includes how many children she wants to have. If Angela wants to have 5 or 15 children, it is HER choice! Besides, I find it hard to believe that anyone on this page has the authority on being “green”. Everyone must do their part. Can we all be better stewards of the planet? Sure. Unless you live a life like the No Impact Man (check out his documentary), don’t go waiving your finger at other people when it comes to being green. …And personally, I think it’s awful to say that the world needs one group of children more than another. I can’t believe someone actually posted that.
I am in a second marriage. Between us we have 16 children. Many adopted. So for those of you who are bashing on big families let me share with you the value of creating a viable and productiveā¦and wonderful human being.
Two of our adopted children are mentally handicapped. They both achieved far beyond the “professional’s” expectations.
We have four boys who have their own very successful business. All four make deep in six figures. We have two nurses, a soon to be radiologist, a New York Times bestselling author who has one of her series being scripted for a movie by the same individual who did Harry Potter. We have a daughter who is in upper management at Disney, several teachers, another who flies all over the world with EBAY and yet another who flies all over the world with his business.
My husband is an attorney. I have been in the legal field as well for many years. We do our own laundry, yard work and house work. And most of the time my husband does his vehicle maintenanceā¦unless it is something super-time consuming.
None of our children are a drain on society. All of them are highly productive and are a positive impact on society both politically and in the area of charity work.
Soā¦.all of you who have issues with large familiesā¦I pity you.
well stated!
congratulations on your family!
Hi, wanted to tell at least some one out there that bleach must be used every time these are used. I’m just now getting over one of the worst bladder/yeast infections caused by either using the wipes or my home spun lady pads. Wow! And I haven’t had either problem in years. So back to store boughts and just a modern expense in daily living. I bet before sanitary toilet paper came along, many people had infections, another reason they used old phone books that could just be pitched.
I don’t know. When I read these posts that say to add bleach and wash the cloths every 2-3 days, I think, “that’s defeating the purpose.” And to me at least part of the purpose is ecological and if you are using tons more water personally than otherwise, and bleach…? I just don’t understand.
There is a way to do a “pre-wash” with water so that a lot of gunk doesn’t end up on the cloth.
I’ve just started doing this, and I hope to avoid the yeast infections. We will see. I refuse to go less than 2 weeks without laundering (did I say that right?). I’ve got the cloths in a compost bin now (clean) with a filter, and so far so good.
Let me clarify the pre wash. I mean, like a bidet. Washing the …. body, if you get me. I’m not worried about urine, but BMs are a concern, hence the pre wash, or just – wash.
Anyway, I’ve been doing this about a week. It is so much better than paper that I am determined to make it work. I would think if you wash in hot water, that should be ok.
I found an article about a year or so ago regarding this āmovementā. I went online and purchases some baby cloths and found this to be pretty low cost for me. I use a small step trash can with a removeable bucket to put the used ones in. When I wash them, I use homemade laundry soap, washing soda and a few drops of tea tree oil in the wash and also in the white vinegar rinse. I use hot water. I have found they do NOT smell! and I only wash once a week, and maybe less (but it is only me). I still buy toilet paper, but this is more for bartering purposes when the SHTF. I havenāt actually tried this for number 2 yet. I also have a spray bottle of 1/2 & 1/2 witch hazel and aloe vera gel which I will use (with toilet paper) for wiping number 2. I may just have to try it with the wipes.
I use the the cloths now exclusively, one and two. But as mentioned, I do have a bidet hose, so while there is f. matter it’s residual, or not much. I know – TMI. I wash them every three weeks. It’s just me. So far I’m ok.
laundry detergent could be it. I have no problems using cloth mama pads. I make my own laundry detergent and my sons skin allergies went away too. I line dry when I can and no fabric softner. I wash at least twice a week and you can also rinse and then wash with regular clothes. I love my mama pads and do not plan on ever going back.
I am interested in this. A couple of questions/issues.
One, urine may be sterile, but the skin that is touched when wiping may not be and likely is not. Viruses lurk inside and out. I’m not that concerned about it, it’s more just a little issue I have that saying urine is sterile doesn’t solve everything.
Second, I want to do this, but at most I do laundry in the machine every two weeks. I am not too hyped on the idea of generating more laundry water and electricity not to mention my effort to get to the machines 4 floors below and back up, just to wash family cloth. Any suggestions?
Why are people so mean? Family size is no one’s business. My husband and I are planning to go green and be a little more frugal. We have a little girl and she’s not on cloth diapers yet but we will be making the switch! I seen you tried many experiments what else have you tried besides the no toilet paper. I’d really love some other options.
I still want someone to explain how you disinfect your hands after handling a contaminated cloth. Bacteria, viruses and parasites cannot be eliminated with wet-wipes or common household cleaners. Also, cross contamination of a washing machine will occur when infected cloths are washed in water below 120 degrees. How do you rationalize saving a few dollars against the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses?
Wash your hands with soap for the time it takes to sing happy birthday twice. Rinse with water. You should be doing that anyway.
As for contamination, if you are really concerned, use a SMALL amount of bleach in your rinse water. That’s what some sewage treatment plants use to disinfect effluent. Chlorine is ver toxic to aquatic species, so the also dechlorinate by running the disinfected effluent through a de chlorination basin (basically just a concrete basin, like a swimming pool, with baffles in it so the water flows through slowly and the chlorine dissipates (like leaving tap water in a pitcher before you put it in your fish tank). Other ways to disinfect are to use chloramines, ozone, or ultraviolet light. None of those are too practical for home use.
This sounds beyond disgusting! So you’re supposed to wipe your derriere with a damp cloth after number 2, and then what? Hang the cloth up to dry with fecal matter on it? You gotta be kidding! Use toilet paper after going for a pee, and use your shower head’s most powerful setting after #2, this way you’ll be truly clean!
Ah, Kitty. Continue reading for exactly HOW to handle a soiled cloth.
Doesn’t change the fact it’s ubergross. Sorry.
Gee, Kitty good thing you were born after “pioneer” days. What do you think people used to do. Ever heard of using a corn cob? Yes, to wipe your rear end.
Oh sweetie, when you grow up and realize the money you save, it’s worth it. It’s not gross. If you’re so worried about the poop, use TP for that and the cloth for urination. More environmentally friendly too.
It’s just pee and poop, no need to act like a baby over it. š
Interesting how you think using clean cloth is gross but are advocating to use chemical-filled paper which breaks down, scratches and doesn’t absorb to “clean” yourself. We’ve been a cloth family for 2.5 years and are grossed out when we are out and about and have to expose ourselves to nasty, inefficient toilet paper. None of us have ever had an infection of any sort with cloth because it is FAR more sanitary than wiping with a piece of paper and are by far much cleaner using cloth than we ever were with disposable toilet paper. Interesting enough, we did not make the switch for a financial or “green” reason but because I’d just had surgery and toilet paper was impractical as I could not sit down to use the bathroom and my young son, who’d endured dietary negligence via a childcare provider was experiencing frequent, painful diarrhea so toilet paper was the equivalent of sand paper.
My husband was not initially on board, which was fine, but upon trying cloth, couldn’t imagine going back to being scratched by paper which breaks down and leaves pieces behind.
If you don’t care for cloth, that’s your call but don’t judge what you’re too afraid to try and don’t judge others for choosing to be cleaner and greener!
Hi, I just wanted to say, that I am a single college student and I became interested in family cloth because I think the cost of toilet paper and the amount that is used was way too much. As I “go green” I have noticed I have various motives for each action. Sometimes I am wanting to be frugal and save money, other times, I worry about chemicals, and sometimes, the environmental impact. Either way, I have been using cloth wipes for almost 6 months with no regrets. I love how absorbent and luxurious they feel to use and they don’t take too much time or resources to make or wash. Plus, if you count sewing them as a fun activity, then you’re saving a little bit of money on entertainment haha. Really though, I would recommend it if you’re on the fence. It’s been a very positive experience for me and my wallet. Also, I wash on hot (sometimes with a full load of clothes.. depends on how laundry is looking that week) and I throw in a little vinegar with the rinse cycle as I do with every load of laundry. Then I throw them in the dryer. I wish sun bleaching was an option for me, but I live in a small apartment without a balcony.
Using cloths and washing them allows for contamination of your hands. And do you actually believe normal handwashing prevents e-coli transmission? Touching surfaces and preparing food transmits e-coli. I doubt anyone would want a surgeon operating on them after he/she touched a contaminated cloth. Why do cloth users ignore the disease risks medical professionals have known for a century?
You just wash you hands after handling the cloths?
….Just washing your hands doesn’t eliminate the massive concentrations of e-coli and other bacteria on cloths. The risks of e’coli and urine contamination illnesses when handling soiled
‘cloths’ without antiseptic washing and scrubbing is naĆÆve.
Are we discussing before leaving the bathroom, or while washing the cloths? Because I keep my cloths in a small trashcan with a lid and I carry that bin to the washer and toss it right in, without touching the cloths. It’s a very simple maneuver.
Hi John… Let’s put it this way(for me personally): I work in a hospital. I have come in contact with chicken pox, e. coli, MRSA in the nares, MRSA in the open wound, blood, urine, feces, and pretty much everything you can think of.
My own bodily fluids don’t bother me a bit. Also, there are more germs in movie theaters, airplanes, public restrooms, and(gasp!) YOUR MOUTH! Yep. We have less germs in our feces and urine than our mouths! Crazy, huh?
Granted, this isn’t for everyone, but there are ways to do this where it’s more sanitary.
And if it’s really that huge of a concern, you could always wear gloves when handling them.
The CDC has advocated soap and water over hand sanitizers….
I’ve worked in the medical field, and washing with soap and water thoroughly is still protocol.
Oh, Dear God! THEN don’t use them yourself!!! WHY do you keep coming back to this post if you disagree so vehemently? Just to keep hating on those of us who have used them for years without issue? Leave us alone and keep using your TP. WE won’t hate you for doing so, but stop with all your negativity to us. I have done this for YEARS without any issues, and feel fine about it. Some of us here have also, and some are wanting to try it out to see if it works for them. Some will continue, and some won’t for whatever reason. Some will also say that they won’t as it is disgusting for them and leave it at that. I’m ok with that…at least they don’t keep bashing us about it. Some do it this way and some don’t and that is everyone’s personal choice.
surgeons wear gloves
I am just getting started with family cloth, though I’ve used cloth pads for years. I’m a single woman, but I’m a doula, and became obsessed with cloth diapers (which my mom used on me) as a way to help educate my clients. One big reason for family cloth no one has mentioned yet: old pipes.
My old house has old pipes that will eventually need replacing. For now, though, I can’t even flush 1-ply toilet paper regularly, so I turned to family cloth. If I didn’t have many friends who cloth diaper, I don’t know what I would have done, as I don’t think most child-free single women know about this stuff.
In the 3rd world we use water and our hands for #1 then water, hands and soap for #2. Of course wash your hands after! The more fortunate has a bidet in their toilet. Google “bidet”. Saves a ton of money and laundry detergent and bleach to wash your reusable toilet paper. I understand the savings in toilet paper but $95/year and maybe environment it also increases the cost in detergent, bleach and energy. In my opinion, it’s counter productive or if you consider other factors it’s a wash.
I understand that science is not generally understood or respected by many Americans. However, it is important to try to offset the ill effects of denying science, climate change, etc. by pointing to at least one study:
http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2009/jul/family-planning-major-environmental-emphasis
Kevin, don’t you see this frugal living thing is a sham? It’s all about being ‘cheap’ and not about being environmentally friendly. It’s a farce.
Eh. There are two sides to every coin. I use a DivaCup(look it up if you’re curious) because it’s cheaper AND greener.
But I use all-natural and organic makeup because it’s better for my skin. Definitely not for my wallet!
I use these more out of an experiment. And my own curiosity. I like them so far! š
My husband says we need to continue to have kids to outnumber the stupid people in the world.
We do consume less as a large family because the use of resources is spread over more people. It costs the same to fill the van or heat the house regardless of 2 or 6 occupants. We recycle and reuse more things to save money.
Great. So when each of your children grows up and buys a car, then that’s less than the only child down the block that only buys one car? Math is fun!
Anna, math is fun – and so are compassion and love. Humans are not evil in regards to the planet. We make an impact on this planet in both positive and negative ways – ALL of us, no mater how green we are. Some leave a larger amount of trash physically and others leave trash via emotions and negativity.
I am in a second marriage. Between us we have 16 children. Many adopted. So for those of you who are bashing on big families let me share with you the value of creating a viable and productiveā¦and wonderful human being.
Two of our adopted children are mentally handicapped. They both achieved far beyond the āprofessionalāsā expectations.
We have four boys who have their own very successful business. All four make deep in six figures. We have two nurses, a soon to be radiologist, a New York Times bestselling author who has one of her series being scripted for a movie by the same individual who did Harry Potter. We have a daughter who is in upper management at Disney, several teachers, another who flies all over the world with EBAY and yet another who flies all over the world with his business.
My husband is an attorney. I have been in the legal field as well for many years. We do our own laundry, yard work and house work. And most of the time my husband does his vehicle maintenanceā¦unless it is something super-time consuming.
None of our children are a drain on society. All of them are highly productive and are a positive impact on society both politically and in the area of charity work.
Soā¦.all of you who have issues with large familiesā¦I pity you.
I’m glad my parents didn’t think 5 children were too many…otherwise society would have 3 less teachers, a paramedic, and a mechanic…ALL of us working for people we don’t always know or like….but I digest (must have been that free snack I got from the FLNW website postings)…I never really thought about cloth toilet wipes….sure beats filling up our landfills, or sewage filling our rivers and water supplies…might have to give it some serious thought…after all, if babies use it to cover their little bums, and like it, maybe I’d like it also…
I like to use baby wipes, and my baby is 18! lol. But they can be expensive too.
One of Angela’s children may grow up to save the world, know one knows what the future holds.
Unless your telepathically reading & posting online in the dark then you yourself are also contributing to the worlds Eco footprint. It’s hard to avoid anyway you slice it, all we can do is hope your efforts help.
1. They’re “green” in more way than one. 5 kids yes, but I’m willing to bet the “green” she saves due to couponing far outweighs what some of you probably spend on your one child.
2. Not sure the difference between using cloth diapers and reusable toilet paper.
3. Ever think that she may be going green by not using condoms? I would rather use recycled toilet paper than recycled condoms.
Oh my goodness I just died alighting at this. Yes recycled condoms are no good.
Stinking iPhone changes everything. I just died laughing.
Alighting was still awesome, lol.
Wow the ignorance of people. Clearly her having a large family is non of your business. And if you do the math she said a family of 6 so that would clearly be 4 kids. As if you would know she has a husband because she comments about him. Unless you are so ignorant that you stopped reading and ran your mouth after seeing how big her family is.
Did you bother to take the time to read her blog?
“My husband, Will, and I own a real estate investing and contracting business (he actually runs it, I just enjoy the fruits of his labor!). We have five children: Audrey (9), Willy (7), Nathan (6), Matthew (4) and Lucy (1) and live in the Portland Metro area.”
You must be a member of MENSA, huh? I bet you home school.
Now that’s not very nice Kevin. I do home school my children. They are getting the best education. We are going to do home colleging as well.
Your initial was both rude and obnoxious, this comment is offensive.
Back in the day, before I retired from nursing, we used a vinegar solution to disinfect many things for re-use. I know this is an old post, but is still a popular subject among people trying to reduce their carbon footprint. I personally used a vinegar solution soak for my diaper pail, rather than bleach or baby laundry soap as so many of my friends did in the late 60’s. Vinegar also helps with odors. I use it for my undies pail… I have Crohn’s and can’t afford to toss all my soiled ‘accident’ undies. I keep a drawstring bag in a covered pail with a vinegar solution. When ready to wash up, I tie up the bag and toss it in the washer, reserving the soiled water, which goes down the toilet. I wash on a long cycle with laundry soap and a vinegar rinse. Now, to address the infections issue, we didn’t have MRSA in hospitals when I worked there. That was a younger bunch who got the joys of that, but I have had many patients since I worked in the hospital that came to us after surgery and a hospital stay that did have it. My facility never had a case that didn’t originate in the hospital. The common factor to all of those cases was hospitalization in a facility that allowed the use of hand sanitizer, instead of old-fashioned soap and water. The difference? Soap and friction, and the method and amount of time we washed our hands. Ever seen a person rub the hand sanitizer on for more than a few seconds? To address Jeff’s concern that bleach might be necessary, let me say that over 40 years of being a mother, grandmother and nurse, gives me the confidence to say a good soak in vinegar for the wipes, and good three minute scrub for your hands will keep you from infection. I personally have never had a yeast infection that didn’t occur immediately after antibiotic treatment, and those quit happening after I learned about yogurt! To Kevin, I would say you may have read the ‘blog’, but you didn’t read this particular post very well because she clearly states in the section concerning number of wipes to make that she figured about 100 for her family of SIX. Apparently your non-home-schooled education didn’t include reading comprehension.
5 kids really???? Geez Angela everyone knows you need to have 1 more! It is so mean to the 1 kid who doesn’t have a sibling to partner with. Even number of children is the best!!! :-).
Oh wait this was about alternative butt cleaning options, I’m sorry I will keep my options about your family size (and Obama) to myself. Keep up the good work that you do!
Somebody had to have five children to make up for those who shirk their social obligation and remain childless or have below replacement rate of children. Who else is going to pay into social security and care for the elderly? And I’m not even being sarcastic. Families who want their children and have larger than average numbers of them on purpose them tend to produce people who contribute to the well being of the world. There are first world countries that are begging and paying their citizens to have MORE children (Germany, France, Australia) . The US would be in the same boat if it weren’t for strong immigration.
Seriously, I admire your intestinal fortitude (ha ha) at posting about reusable toilet paper. I can’t even handle cloth diapers in the wash machine and throw away poop underwear.
Oh, I throw away poopy underwear too. Ain’t no one gots time for that.
I agree. Poop underwear goes in the trash. Everytime.
Oh screw you and your thinking that childfree people are selfish. Yes, let’s overcrowd the planet by having 5-10 kids! YOU are the selfish ones. I choose not to squirt out kids and get bashed for it.
I am in a second marriage. Between us we have 16 children. Many adopted. So for those of you who are bashing on big families let me share with you the value of creating a viable and productiveā¦and wonderful human being.
Two of our adopted children are mentally handicapped. They both achieved far beyond the āprofessionalāsā expectations.
We have four boys who have their own very successful business. All four make deep in six figures. We have two nurses, a soon to be radiologist, a New York Times bestselling author who has one of her series being scripted for a movie by the same individual who did Harry Potter. We have a daughter who is in upper management at Disney, several teachers, another who flies all over the world with EBAY and yet another who flies all over the world with his business.
My husband is an attorney. I have been in the legal field as well for many years. We do our own laundry, yard work and house work. And most of the time my husband does his vehicle maintenanceā¦unless it is something super-time consuming.
None of our children are a drain on society. All of them are highly productive and are a positive impact on society both politically and in the area of charity work.
Soā¦.all of you who have issues with large familiesā¦I pity you.
REPLY
Excuse me, sorry to interrupt. Some of us (the childless ones) would love to have children but are physically unable to have them. Yes, there are those that make the choice to not have children. But, so what? That is a personal choice. I happen to be one of those that can’t have kids. There’s a lot of people who shouldn’t have children.
But, what does this have to do with the main subject? She stated how much they’d need for 3 or 4 days for a family of that size. It is a reference (sort of like a guide) for the rest of us. We need to adjust the amount of family cloth according to our family size.
I, personally, like the idea of using family cloth. Now I know what I can do with all my old t-shirts.
Look before you leap.
I think that there are some people who are commenting that have no good intentions by doing so. With that said ignorant people who make comments about a persons family size not being “green enough” should keep their comments to themselves. It was after reading this article that my husband and I have also made the decision to switch !!!! We are a family of 6. 2 boys and 2 girls. We also have a cat and a dog. Maybe not “green” enough for some…I have a question about when “aunt flow” comes to visit every month. Do you continue to use cloth. Continue to wash with others or do you separate? Thank you for having an awesome website with so many helpful hints and deals.
Erin: That’s the “issue” many people have with cloth. I suppose it depends on your tolerance for that particular fluid. When we were doing this experiment, I had a baby and was still breastfeeding, and, you know, didn’t have to deal with that. I might take a few day-a-month break from the cloth if I was still doing using wipes.
That is what we were thinking. Thank you very much…
Mama cloth (reusable cloth menstral pads) are wonderful! Reduced cramping and shortened periods are a couple of the ‘side effects’
How many wipes does it take to compensate for the ENORMOUS ecological footprint 5 children creates?!
I agree with Kevin, having five children has a huge ecological impact on our planet. How do you reconcile this?
She doesn’t have to. Children may not be considered ecologically friendly, but if that’s how children are viewed then perhaps those viewing them that way shouldn’t be having them. You know, for the planet and all.
Her decision to have that many children can be mutually exclusive to wanting to leave a smaller footprint. Maybe having more kids has increased her desire to leave things in a better place than she found them. But it’s just plain silly to think she can’t be green and have many children. Besides, it’s the people with only a few kids who are spoiled rotten who have the greatest impact ecologically. If you’ve given your kids more than one iPod or cell phone then your impact on resources are greater than the author already, even if you just have one kid.
I’m hoping I’m misunderstanding . . . Are you aiming that at the blog’s author?
Yes, this is a question poased oto the blogger. In a Huffington Post interview, the blogger pointed out that her family is trying to go green. That’s a little impossible at this point.
Actually, I said we did an month-long experiment trying out different “green” activities, one of which was using reusable toilet paper.
Oops. “Posed.”
I don’t understand why you question Angela’s choice to be blessed with children. What the world needs is more children. Especially Christian children. But this president wants to take that choice away from families and make them have abortions.
MAKE them have abortions? Oh I cannot believe you are for real. While I don’t judge someone for having five children (that they can afford), I do judge someone who says that this world “needs” more children. You are aware of the millions of starving/homeless children in this world, correct?
The president is making people have abortions? That is a pathetic or horrible thing to say.
Yikes- so far out there and irrelevant I do t even know where to start. As a non-Christian I guess my kids aren’t quite the blessing yours are. Insane internet posters are insane.
I think I missed that part of the President’s State of the Union speech?
Don’t you agree that any actions in attempt to “go green” or “live green” make a difference? If you are using electricity, tossing out any trash, or flushing a toilet you potentially could e ‘more green’ kwim?
Who are you to judge her family’s decision as to how many children to have? Seems completely irrelevant to the blog post.
Wow. So you, as an upstanding and awesome human being, have a right to place judgement on another based on their family size? You have no idea how much I hoped I was misreading your comment. How many butt wipes does it take to make up for being a jerk?
-signed a large family (through foster adoption, but if we had been able to maintain a pregnancy we’d likely have more) that uses cloth everything – even locally teaching cloth 101 classes, teaches our kids to conserve, reuse and recycle and hold value to our natural resources, be active and helpful within or community and who loves on others in need.
I know single people who produce twice as much garbage as my family of four. There are some things that are actually easier with larger families: buying in bulk (a friend of mine makes her own flour because with her family of 10, it quickly became cheaper to buy the mill and mill the grain herself. She buys directly from the farmer, reducing shipping from the farmer to a store then to her. There is less packaging and processing. Very green). Many hands make for lighter work — gardening becomes easier, tasks that require a little more effort/laundry to be clean can become easier when there are others to pitch in.
There are lots of Portlanders complaining about every other week pick up. Our family, with two kids in (cloth) diapers, uses the smallest bin and still has space. We don’t buy tons of stuff, 90% of our baby gear has been used by at least four other babies, all of it will be passed on instead of tossed. Having kids does not mean you have to be an avid consumer and consumption (the production/transportation/disposal of things) is what leads to less green living.
To tie this all back to the topic, though it doesn’t seem that Kevin minds leaving the topic: personal wipes do a great job. Sewage treatment plants are struggling to keep up with the new craze of flushable wipes and everything else that goes down the toilet. Not only do personal wipes save an individual family money it saves taxpayers money. If only everyone could be so generous.
Apparently your parents had one child too many…
We’ve used family cloth (or butt wipes as the kids call them, lol) in our house for over 5 years. Its not just about saving money on toilet paper – without the details – you just get much cleaner with a wet cotton wipe than you do with flakey toilet paper.
Financially though, with 5 of us here full time (we homeschool and work from home) we would go through an easy 3 – 4 rolls of TP a week. That’s 156-208 rolls/year or $55 to $72/yr. Over 5 years that means we’ve saved somewhere in the neighborhood of up to $360.
I wouldn’t go back to regular toilet paper, though we keep it around for guests š
I have seen this before and it just seems to be where the frugal lifestyle jumps the shark? I say that because by couponing toilet paper I usually get it from .30-.40 cents/roll. I always wonder what the offset is in terms of hot water and laundry detergent? And like most people this has a substatial ewwwww factor for me….
Jeff, make sure you read the previous posts linked above for the discussion on cost comparisons.
Done! I still have two reservations tho. First that the bang for the buck factor is much lower than couponing at a savings of ~$7/mo. and secondly it still seems unsanitary to me. Having said that I chased the topic of spreading germs this way around the internet and found many sources that said it’s fine, and but one source that cautioned that yeast infections could be spread more readily through this, uh, “medium”…
I do buy the argument that it’s no different than cloth diapering however.
We bleach ours *gasp! We had a kiddo come into the house with a skin condition that was able to be “shared” . . . So I do use bleach on the family cloth.
Yeah I think bleach is somewhere between a good idea and a must with this. That would subtract some additional savings from the annual total.