should washable toilet cloth replace toilet paper for green living?

Question

study shows that the use of toilet papers resulted to the killing of million of trees.

Answer 1

haven't you heard? they can now make tp from recycled papers...so rest easy, your trees are not being killed anymore (not by the paper people anyway).

hmm washable toilet cloth...doesn't it remind you of the "lampin" (cloth diaper) so prevalently used in non-industrialized countries (yeah, like the Philippines)?
as substitute for tp, i don't think so...totally unhygienic if not totally gross.

Answer 2

One of those things that is a great idea but a lot of people think it is gross - like cloth menstrual pads (much comfier than disposables, FYI) and handkerchiefs instead of tissue. Same as with handkerchiefs, people think it is so unsanitary but I have found that cloth actually keeps my hands much cleaner - it does not leak through or shred as easily. Just put them in a bucket by the toilet after using, and when it is full, just dump it in the washer - you don't even need to touch them! Add some green active oxygen bleach to the wash to disinfect them and the washing machine without putting harmful substances into the water. People use water use as an excuse to say it is bad for the environment - but think about the water used in making the toilet paper!...and energy...and chlorine and other chemicals...and trees...all together, an extra load of laundry every now and then leaves a much lighter environmental footprint, especially if you use an environmentally friendly detergent.

So...unless you are incredibly squeamish (ie. not a parent) or very narrow-minded and into commercial brainwashing - GO FOR IT!

Answer 3

If you use an earth composting toilet, any paper you use forms an important part of the compost itself. Processing dirty water has a high financial and environmental cost.

Many of the 'value' range of toilet papers are made from recycled paper now, check out the labels on the products in your local supermarket.

Many people have an area in which they could plant a tree, in their own garden or on a community site. Even a tiny 'ballerina' apple tree can be planted in a pot. This would not only improve the environment but also attract wildlife and insects. The tree itself is beautiful and useful with its pretty pink blossom, fresh juicy apples and leaves to compost.

Answer 4

Install a Washlet.

We have installed a washlet toilet seat made by TOTO on our toilet. We have cut down our toilet paper use a lot. It has a wash that you know sprays and a dryer too. So you only need to wipe like once to make sure or just wash and dry. It has a rear wash and a front wash for females. A deodorizer too so no need to spay scents in bathroom. Lot cleaner that toilet paper and does a better job too. Easy to install.

http://www.totousa.com/washlets_landing2.asp

Answer 5

I would think that the energy used to repeatedly was toilet cloths on a national or global scale would far outweigh the energy used to create toilet paper out of a renewable energy source like trees.

Keep thinking

Answer 6

Yes, of course. Society hasn't used toilet paper for all that long... it's been manufactured as a product to sell and now thought of as "essential" (there are so many products like this).

We use to use cloth to dry ourselves after we'd washed ourselves after defecating. Cloth was very precious, and it would always be washed out and reused. Cloth is so much softer on our delicate skin than paper.

I would argue with anyone that, toilet paper is far more unhygenic than using a soft renewable cloth to dry yourself after washing after defecating. As for the black/greywater from washing, well that should be going through a reedbed, so the plants can extract the nutrients from it and utilise & purify the water, or the biolytic filtration system is pretty good too (that utilises worms and micro-organisms to utilise the nutrients from our **** and turn it back into friable humus).

We have it all back-to-front nowdays. We **** in water, then wipe ourselves with paper... how ridiculous is that!
We shouldn't **** in water, we shouldn't piss and **** in the same place. Nature (or god) separated the two, and they are suppose to remain separate. Urine is a great fertiliser, when diluted with water and given to our plants. **** should be dry composted (and therefore not use any energy or water). So much waste our society generates these days!

Then we wipe ourselves with paper! And we think that's hygenic!?! Arr... no! We are so ridiculous... it's about time we all change our ways.

Answer 7

It doesn't matter.

Ultimately you are going to "wipe" with something or other, and poop is going to be removed from the wash or flush water at a treatment plant, and if dissolved wood pulp is included in the mix it will be recycled by the same organisms that recycle poop anyway, and ultimately be land applied where nature will turn it back into vegetation.

Its a high minded idea that doesn't really make sense, like the low flow toilets. Ever notice that they haven't increased the emission rate of poop by as much as a single turd?

Answer 8

No. toilet paper bio-degrades quickly and trees are a renewable source.

It you want to help the trees, get the newspapers of the world to stop printing thick classified sections every day. One or twice a week is plenty.

Answer 9

I would go with recycled toilet paper before using a washable cloth. Might as well go back to getting diapers delivered to our doors.

Answer 10

Fans of numerical Sudoku puzzles could be spending more time sitting in the bathroom now that toilet paper with individual puzzles on each sheet is available. The "Sudoku Loo Roll" is "long, strong and entertaining."
unbeliveable isn't it.
http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Sudoku_toilet_paper_rolled_out