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Can you believe the insanity, people? This reusable cloth toilet paper thing is blowing up! We’re now on AOL’s Front Page slider thingy! If you’re new to Frugal Living NW and are wondering why in the world a family would stop using toilet paper, here you go!
Why we tried out using reusable cloth toilet paper
The reasons why one might use reusable cloth toilet paper
Reusable cloth toilet paper FAQ — this post directly addresses many of the assumptions made in the comment section of the HuffPost article (yes, wash and dry them on high heat, use a lidded bucket before washing, and obviously, have toilet paper on hand for guests)
And some more fun — Switching to reusable menstrual products
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Reusable toilet paper not your thing? No biggie. Here are the best deals on toilet paper and baby wipes:
Angel Soft for 37¢ per double roll shipped
Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong for 43¢ per double roll shipped
Huggies Simply Clean Baby Wipes for 1.8¢ per wipe shipped (cheaper than Costco!)
For my regular readers, you simply MUST go to the HuffPost LIVE post (there’s a video about the topic of reusable toilet paper as well) and READ THE COMMENTS. It’s totally making my day. It is amazing how fired up one can get about a stranger’s bathroom behavior. For the record, I DO NOT smoke weed. But I do love drinking Starbucks and Dutch Bros.
Enjoy!
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I don’t follow this blog as closely as I used to so forgive me if this has been covered, BUT Angela has lost so much weight?!
Am I right? I almost didn’t think that was her in the photo. I think
she looks great and am proud of her. I applaud her for putting herself out “there” to such scrutiny. I don’t think I would have the courage, and our family does some “strange” things too.
Oh my goodness. You’re now my best friend forever. I have lost weight! So.much.harder than the last four kids, but it’s gone. Thanks for your sweet comment. I feel so pretty right now :).
Ha! This made me laugh and be horrified at the same time. It’s like dispose-ability equals hygiene instead of using common sense. I believe the commercialization of a generation or two has led to a lapse of information. Before any of the world wars, what do you think was used monthly by women? Hm? How about babies? Our grandparents survived it, even our parents… 🙂 Congratulations, Angela, on making the big-time! 🙂 Hopefully, they’ll find another topic to “have fun with” soon…
Missed it on AOL’s homepage but found it across the pond on the Daily Mail’s site. You’re global, Angela!
P.S. Don’t even bother reading the comments, I gave up after the first 10 or so. Blah, blah, blah.
Yay for poo being a popular subject! Go Angela!
Oh Angela, I’m once again ashamed for man and woman kind. So many cruel words from people who are ignorant. I couldn’t even read thru all the comments. Well, you still have a follower here! While I am still going to remain a faithful buyer of Costco’s tp and Huggies wipes, I salute you for all your green efforts. 🙂
Keep up the fabulous work!
Wow, some of those posts are a crack up. Apparently, none of the people who worry about germs and disease have any men living in their homes. I have the “honor” of washing the underwear of 4 men and if I believed half of the Huffinton Post comments, I would also have to buy disposable underwear for the males in the household so I would not contaminate my washing machine.
Jill according to those commentors maybe you should warn people before shaking hands…it’s only fair for their health’s sake…I never knew how fragile a washing machine was! …and here I thought the bleach was really getting all the poop smear contaminants out…Huffington Post scientist public readers to save the day once again!!
Wow. Don’t you just love it when people so self righteously let their ignorance hang out for the world to see via the internet? Who cares so much about how other people wipe their bottoms that they leave hateful remarks on an article? Some cultures find tp unsanitary and clean up with water and their hands. In the not so distant past, baby bums were cleaned with rags instead of disposable wipes. My grandparents used to horrify me with stories about outhouses, corn cobs, and the Sears catalog. You do whatcha gotta do. Lord help these folks if the world as they know it ever comes to an end! (By the way, I <3 Cottonelle, but I'll settle for Charmin.)
WOW!! I read some of the responses at the Huffington Post and am truly surprised at the ANGRY and ignorant tone to so many of them.
While this isn’t something I would do, I would still befriend, visit, eat with, etc. someone who chooses this for themselves.
As far as shaking hands with someone- you never know if their hands are clean whether they use toilet paper, cleaning cloths or wipes! I really don’t understand the mentality of so many people saying they wouldn’t shake hands with you. HUH?!?
To each his own- I just don’t get the mean -spirited attitude of so many people. Sad really.
My first reaction is that using toilet paper is because it keeps disease down. As with facial tissue, you want to lessen the chance of getting ill. Feces is one of the most dangerous issues we face and it is important to use toilet paper. Washing foul clothes in the clothes washer only fouls the washer for other clothes that you wash. I don’t think you have factored in another washer cost to handle all of your other laundry.
Wait are you saying that NOTHING cleans poo off of a cloth and that it sticks permanently to any other surface?! That’s incredible! How on earth do we survive day to day!!!??? Oh the humanity!!!
People wash cloth baby diapers in the washing machine. When I was a teen a friends dad wouldn’t buy TP, we used rags at her house instead. Not a big deal. If feces is as dangerous as is being said, I must be in dire circumstances because I literally shovel and walk around it all day on a farm! Bleach kills germs and disease, and in the process sanitizes the washer.
Right?? I feel like some of the people on here have some sort of weird inept mental block. I don’t remember being taught in school how thin paper is more hygienic than a cloth is. Maybe I missed that lesson on charmin propaganda. Holy moly!
Charmin propaganda……hahahahahaha!
Personally, I think using rags is disgusting. It would smell to leave them sitting there and you are only saving $96/year. That’s $8/month. Are you that cheap that $8/month is that big of a deal, as opposed to having TP. Weirdo.
No wonder the rest of the country thinks everyone in the Pacific NW is a bunch of green freaks (FYI- I live in the Pacific NW too)
Poo-poo to trolls
Hahahaha!
I read the comments and was completely surprised at the amount of people who decided that using a clean cloth instead of toilet paper was “unsanitary”. Apparently 99% of the readers of Huffington Post have done quite a bit of scientific research on the amount of germs and residue left on a piece of cloth after it has been thoroughly washed and the results show that there is just too much risk involved. It seemed like many had not even read the entire article based on some of the reactions about how it probably was not cheaper if you add in water and soap usage…and do these people really not have a waste basket sitting next to their toilet that sometimes gets used toilet paper in it? If they do it probably makes their whole house smell. Everyone knows that only used Q-tips and nose tissues go in there. I would seriously hate to be around these families if anything was to ever happen to them in a situation like hurricane Katrina…I mean if everyone couldn’t use thin sheets of paper to wipe our butts to keep us sanitary we’d all probably just die.
I guess I am at the age (over 60) where staying healthy is imperative. Keeping foul towels around to pass germs to other surfaces where they can remain for days would not be recommended by any scientist.
I don’t recall reading about “keeping foul towels around”. It seems you may think its a bad idea for these towels to be tossed around a house after use and left for days. I agree and I’m sure Mrs. Davis does too. I find it quite hysterical that after reading her article that you came to the conclusion that this is what she does. Surely if you ever decided to use a cloth instead of a wipe or tp you wouldn’t put it somewhere where it could touch other surfaces or even leave it for enough days to cause it to start to smell….maybe you don’t trust yourself enough. I’m pretty sure based on what I read that Mrs. Davis doesn’t let her “foul towels” touch any other surface or let them pile up to the point of causing a smell as common sense would direct. I usually change my bathroom waste basket (along with whatever it contains) every couple days, I hope you do too. I’m sure any scientist would recommend it.
If you are over 60 surely you remember and have used outhouses, where poop literally piled up until a new hole was dug. I’m 38 and have used them, no biggie. Keeping rags that you wiped your bum on in a container doesn’t spread germs to other surfaces, nor does it cause illness. If you’re worried about that I’d certainly be more worried about the vegetables grown in manure than rags in a bucket!
Favorite comment on The Huffington Post so far:
“Me neither. I use the three seashells.”
Can’t. Stop. Giggling.
Awesome! Thing to remember as some of my 2 year old son’s shows say, everyone poops.
this well def help people find this sight which us a great way to start deal finding as a lot of the deals and such are very new couponer friendly and even if your not in the nw, you can live anywhere and take advantage of Amazon deals
I agree that this is a little extreme and not really for my family but I have thought about a washlet now after reading this to help reduce some costs overall and maybe be cleaner. It is hard for me to imagine that people would be so harsh. I know that the internet people feel like they can post anything with some form of anonymity but to be harsh is not okay. I really feel this is a huge problem with today’s instant environment and society. Would they really say it to your face? Good for you and I hope your families do not get too disturbed by the now national attention. I know you have kids I hope that they are at an age where they can laugh this off.
I have been a loyal blog follower for atleast a year and coincidentally I’m also in Portland. I recently watched the show extreme cheapskates and I had no idea that you were the same person!
My hat is off to you (as always) for having the guts to try the no TP experiment and to share it with everyone.
I did read the Huff Post article and comments and was blown away by the backlash….wow!! Not only were you maligned, but the entire pacific northwest! Why would people need to get that angry?
This is the internet. No need for reason or compassion around here.
Good point!!
I haven’t been on Extreme Cheapskates. Must be another adorable thirty-something from the Portland area :).