In TIME’s 2009 Best & Worst Lists Dan Fletcher listed reusable cloth toilet wipes as one of the Top 10 Odd Environmental Ideas. According to Fletcher, “Environmental experts recently called toilet paper ‘one of the greatest excesses of our age,’ leading to suggestions that Americans adopt reusable cloth toilet wipes as an environmentally friendly alternative.”
There was a time when I would have run screaming at even the suggestion to wipe my extremities with anything other than toilet paper; that was about the same time I scoffed at the idea of cloth diapers as something of the past – suitable for 3rd world countries maybe, but NEVER the progressive, modern mother of the new millenium!
My, my, my I have come a long way.
For the record, I do not use reusable toilet wipes, but before you feel too comfortable, I did try it out. Oh yes, I did. My husband was away at an Army training and I thought “Why not!” It was about 6 months into cloth diapering my second child and I stacked a few dozen cloth baby wipes on the back of my commode, pulled in an extra lidded diaper pail, and set to it. Once I got past the immediate horror of soiling pretty cloth wipes, I rather liked it. It was soft (der) and cozy…I daresay I used the restroom more often than before. Since I already used cloth pads for my menstrual cycle, and cloth wipes on my daughter, it didn’t feel like a huge stretch.
But then my husband returned home and promptly purchased a year’s supply of 2-ply Angel Soft toilet paper and the environmental experiment was over. Come to think of it, I’m kinda glad I never had to deal with HIS reusable cloth toilet wipes.
Apparently Americans consume quite a bit of toilet paper.
Fletcher writes, “But what’s good for the tush isn’t good for the environment – soft toilet paper doesn’t contain any recycled material and is often made from old-growth forests.” He went on to say that “A waste expert called soft toilet paper ‘a lot worse than driving a Hummer’ in terms of environmental impact.” OUCH!
The environmentally friendly solution is to use reusable toilet wipes. That’s right – cloth. While it does involve storing and washing soiled cloth wipes, it doesn’t kill any trees and can save a good deal of money (depending on how/what you wash them in).
So what do you say? Do you think you’ll act on the suggestion of waste experts and begin wiping your bum with your baby’s cloth baby wipes, or do you agree with Fletcher of TIME and rate it right up there with the stapleless stapler and urine batteries as a “slightly offbeat way to save the environment”?
Bryana is the owner of 
Becca is a part-time Spanish Teacher and part-time Stay-At-Home-Mom. She's a cloth diaper expert who enjoys spending time with her family, crafting and selling her wares in her very own
Julie is a mom to three kids including a set of identical twins. Through cloth diapering her twins she developed a passion for the industry and is an avid cloth diaper advocate. You can also find her on her blog
I’ve actually gotten snide remarks from visiting family members about the toilet paper we use here at home. We don’t buy the expensive, super soft stuff here. We use Marcal Small Steps. http://www.marcalpaper.com It is one ply made from 100% recycled paper. I actually started buying it because the kids would use too much and clog the toilet with the thicker stuff. It wasn’t until later that I realized what I was buying. It isn’t anything fancy but it works and I feel good about my choice.
I agree, Bryana. I just read something recently that reminded me that the soft TP I was using was indeed very soft because of the virgin forested trees used to produce it! If we all went back to using the one-ply, recycled variety, it would be a lot better. Remember the individual rolls of Scott that Mom used to buy when we were kids? Totally makes sense.
Reusable toilet paper is just too far gone for me. But I’m making the switch to less cushy– and cheaper– TP.
I could totally see myself trying/doing this although I’m not to sure how my hubby would feel about it. It really does seem to make sense though since we already use cloth diapers, and it might actually make my 4 yr old wipe more often, I’m constantly having to remind her to wipe.
It would save us some money because tp is one of those things that I’m actually brand loyal about, ironically it’s Scott tissue original, not the new soft one.
I have a great thing called a washlet. It is sort of like a bidet, it is a toilet seat that you put on your toilet and it has a remote. It washed your tush for you with warm water, then it even has a warm air dry and the seat is heated. The best thing I have ever bought! We use way less toilet paper and with young kids this thing is the bomb!
Mandy-
That surely sounds like a handy gadget. Who wouldn’t like warm water sprayed on their tush!?!
I find it’s totally doable to use both cloth wipes and TP. Many families that use cloth wipes in the adult bathroom don’t use it for bowel movements anyways!
i’m all for it. I use cloth wipes but my husband can’t handle that so we also have disposable wipes on hand for when he is on diaper duty. Since he finds cloth wipes disgusting, I definitely cannot convince him of the virtues of family cloth! maybe one day…
I think cloth wipes for me is where I’d draw the line. I like the idea of them for my daughter, and I even like the idea of cloth menstrual pads– but I couldn’t imagine washing something I’d used on myself…and then reusing those things once they’d been used by the other members of my family. I do think it’s a great idea to buy recycled TP. Doesn’t all TP–even the ones that kill forests–biodegrade easily?
And I LOVE the bidet gadget! I lived in Spain for awhile and they had bidets. Sweet stuff! As soon as I buy a diaper sprayer I’d like to use it as that–though they don’t produce warm water :-(
don’t you mean “forego toilet paper for cloth wipes”?
i’ve been considering it. the thought of washing DH’s butt wipes grosses me out, but i might be able to get over it. we’ll see.