Truly Recycled Toilet Paper:
Cloth Toilet Paper Facts

Sure recycled toilet paper is better than non-recycled. But does that make it the most eco-frienly option?

Not even close. When you consider the remanufacturing of the paper, the shipping, and the selling of a single-use product, not harvesting trees (which are usually from tree farms and not forests anyway) hardly makes a dent in the ecological footprint.

If you're really ready to go green, cloth toilet paper is the answer. I know, I know...it sounds pretty "out there" when you first hear about it. But I encourage you to read on as I answer the common questions about using cloth toilet paper (or the "family cloth").

The Facts About Cloth Toilet Paper

Regular toilet paper (or even recycled toilet paper) is a pretty new invention. Historically we've used Sears catalogs, soft plant material (such as broad leaves) and yes, cloth. There were a few key differences: Cloth wipes back in the day weren't washed after each use and family members may have actually shared the same dirty cloth. Yeah, that's not recommended now.

The first concern of most is: Is it sanitary?

The answer is absolutely...if it's done right.

Urine is 100% sterile, so absolutely no worries there. Feces obviously isn't, but with proper care there is no more concern than the following common practices:

• Cloth diapers, used by hundreds of thousands families today and for centuries
• Using a washcloth in the shower to clean yourself
• Washing clothing after someone has had an accident
• Sneezing into or blowing your nose with a handkerchief

We don't think twice about those scenarios, because they are common and accepted. But we've been taught that toilet paper must be disposable? Why? Perhaps because such a highly disposable turns a mighty big profit, even for the so-called eco-friendly recycled toilet paper companies.

Benefits of Cloth Toilet Paper

There are so many reasons to ditch the recycled toilet paper for something truly reusable, such as the family cloth. Here is my list below:

• Affordable: As you'll see below the cloth for your own toilet paper can be gotten for cheap or even free, and washed with any load of laundry, so no extra water or detergent.
• Truly Eco-friendly: No more repeated manufacturing or shipping of a disposable product.
• Softer: Truly the softest option for toilet paper, especially good when you're wiping a lot due to sickness.
• Gets you cleaner: It's true. You feel cleaner because you actually are when using cloth toilet paper.
• Keeps you cleaner: No fingers poking through because it doesn't tear like recycled toilet paper.
• Saves time and energy: It's nearly effortless to care for and is done with your normal laundry, so no late night trips to the store when you've run out

The best way to be convinced though? Try it yourself!

Give it a test run by following the information below and see how you feel about this truly recycled toilet paper.

How To Use Truly Recycled Toilet Paper

These are my personal tips based on my own experience with cloth toilet paper. Give them a try and make any adjustments that you prefer.

• For trial runners: If you're just starting out, ease your way into it by just using cloth toilet paper for urine and keeping a roll of recycled toilet paper for poop. Urine is sterile and there will be no odor.
  
  If you're not sure how you'll like it, try it out with strips of fabric cut from an old jersey t-shirt (which won't fray) or with washcloths. This will give you a good idea before you invest in anything else.


• When you're ready to commit, purchase a yard (or more depending on how many are in your household and will be using cloth) of a cotton flannel. Patterned fabrics might also be a good idea (don't get white!). Cotton flannel is by far the best choice: easy to clean, soft and absorbant. Avoid fleece; it may seem softer but it's not very absorbant and won't leave you feeling very fresh.
  
  Cut the strips into 4x4 or 6x6 inch squares. If you have pinking shears, use them to decrease fraying or if you sew or have a serger, stitch around the edges to prevent fraying. But in my experience, flannel only frays enough to prevent unraveling and so it's not usually necessary, unless you'd like a nicer look or want to avoid any fuzzies in your wash the first couple of washes.


• Next you'll need storage: Clean family wipes can be stacked near the toilet or placed inside a basket or box. But you'll need a place for dirty wipes, perhaps a wet bag with a liner, a small hamper or waste reciprocal with a lid that can double as a "hamper" or a cloth diaper bin.


• Choose your system: There are a few different systems, depending on preference:
  • A wet/wet system: Using moistened cloths from a warming cloth holder to wipe and then placing them in a container of water and vinegar to soak and "disinfect" them before. Lots of extra work unless you prefer it.
  • A wet/dry system: Using warmed moistened cloths, but placed the used cloths in a hamper or wet bag until washing. This can cause some stink unless you're washing them frequently.
  • A dry/wet system: Using dry cloths and placing them used in a container of water and vinegar. We've found the wet part of this system to be unnecessary.
  • A dry/dry system: This is our preference. Dry cloth toilet paper works perfectly and we've not seen a need for soaking before washing.
  • A bidet system: This is another alternative to using cloth alone. Using a bidet on your toilet or creating a bidet from a plastic bottle to clean yourself and then dry with a cloth. This can lead to extra stink from the moist cloths unless you wash them frequently.

Now onto washing your cloth toilet paper:

As I've mentioned above, we've found pretreating or presoaking to be unnecessary and may actually lead to the need for extra care if they soak too long or get too stinky.

Cloth wipes can be washed in any load of laundry that doesn't include cloth napkins, dishcloths, towels etc. Be wary washing them with jeans as you'll likely find a few in your pockets and get to explain it to curious friends. I like to add them to a load that isn't 100% full so that they have extra room for the washing to agitate (which is what actually does the majority of cleaning).

No extra or special detergent is necessary (although you should be using all-natural, dye- and fragrance-free detergent anyway to prevent irritation) and I wouldn't recommend bleach for anything in the world. You can wash them in cold water or switch to warm or hot if you're concerned or have been especially sick lately.

You can dry them in the dryer, or by line drying them in the sun, which does have the added benefit of using the sun to sterilize them. Avoid using any fabric softener and use a cup or white vinegar in your rinse cycle instead, which acts as a natural fabric softener without leaving any residues behind that may cause irritation or infection.

After trying it out it's hard to imagine going back. Even if you oly use them for urine, you'll be glad you made the switch.

Oh, and one last thing...

Keep a roll of recycled toilet paper hanging around for your house guests. No need to freak out the neighbors. Yet.

Ready To Take More Sustainable Baby Steps?

Cloth (recycled) toilet paper is among the "crunchiest" of steps a person can take. But there's always more ideas to help you go green.

When you're ready for a few more steps:

Whatever step you take, remember to have fun!

#1-168 For references on this or other pages, please visit environmental articles.