Extreme Green: Reusable Toilet Wipes By Robert Roy BrittThe New York Times reported yesterday that the softness sought in toilet paper by Americans is wiping out forests.After all, paper doesn't grow on trees. Oh wait, it does. and that's the problem.While toilet tissue can be made from recycled paper, U.S. customers "demand soft and comfortable," said James Malone of Georgia Pacific, which makes Quilted Northern. That soft tissue comes from the first-generation paper made directly from trees, rather than recycled paper. The fibers are longer and can be fluffed up so that even that bear doing his business in the woods desires the soft squares.Millions of acres of forest in North America and Latin America are harvested to meet the need, writes Times reporter Leslie Kaufman, who calls it the Charmin effect.Swooping in to save the day are Wallypop toilet wipes, a reusable cloth product.The sales pitch: They're comfy and environmentally friendly. You can use them wet, and they won't fall apart. "It's a lot more comfortable and soft on your most delicate body parts," the company states. "It's also more economical, uses less paper, and saves you those late-night trips to the store."Without judging the potential that this product will catch on or making any off-color jokes, a brief description for how to use these green wipes if you're itching to do so. Well, actually, you can figure out the first part. Then, according to the company:Step 1. "Shake, scrape, swish, or squirt off anything you don't want in your laundry, and then toss the wipe into the pail or container."Step 2: Store the used wipes in a wet bag or a diaper pail. "Some families find it easiest to put a small wet bag in their bathroom - either just laying on the floor near the toilet, or hanging from a nearby doorknob, cabinet knob, or hook."Step 3: Wash with the diapers if you have a baby in the house. Otherwise, for neophytes in laundering poop-stained cloth, an important tip: Wash them separately from other laundry. "Wash in hot, dry in the dryer. You may add whatever laundry additives you desire - chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, tea tree oil, lavender oil, stain remover, whatever."The company admits there's "a certain ick factor involved."Indeed. If you try this at home, let us know how everything comes out.Meanwhile, the Times reports environmentalists are hoping the price of recycled paper — which has dropped sigificantly in the recession — will encourage consumers to accept more environmentally friendly toilet paper. (Each U.S. resident goes through about 24 rolls a year.)"No forest of any kind should be used to make toilet paper," said Allen Hershkowitz of the Natural Resource Defense Council.
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How far are you willing to go to save your planet?
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The Romans used a swab on a stick which you then immediately washed in a little stream of water that toilets were equipped with. I don't know if everyone used their own, or if you then hung it on a hook ready for the next person.
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Reusable wipes!..... In parts of asia they use water (from a hand shower) to wash off and then dry themselves. It does save a few trees.......but it doesnt save the water though...........esp when they have had a very spicy meal.........lol
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Next idea please Sorry but i dont want a bunch of shit towels hanging around the house, once its used i want it gone with everything else lol. Im all for saving the planet but i think i will hold out until the next Save-Our-Planet sales pitch is thrown at me.
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Not that far. That's kinda really gross any way you look at it. I don't care what the company making them says.And besides, the vast majority of people will probably NEVER give up toilet paper, regardless of trees. I know I wouldn't
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so many layers to this...in some cultures, there was a differientation made between the "food hand" and the "dung hand" rather than the left or right. The meaning of wich should be obvious.This concept of needing the first generation fibre for good t/p is also stupid. I only use the recycled paper product and it's fine. Personally, super soft t/p really doesn't feel like it's cleaning me.Also, one must consider the environmental cost of doing laundry.I wouldn't say this is a resolved issue by any means, however, it does come up in the debate between disposable and reusable diapers. One becomes more landfill while the other takes fresh water, electricity, dumping detergents and then becomes landfill eventually.There's no easy answer but I'm trying to do my part by stopping to use my favorite Harp Seal baby fur, soaked in crude oil ass-whipes
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In Thailand they have a small hand-held shower nozzle on a flexible hose by the toilet, which the Thais use. When we visited there, we ended up giving up toilet paper entirely and doing it the Thai way. There was no drying arrangement, though, which was not a problem in tropical heat but might be a problem in colder climates.
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Originally Posted By: unsuperviseddifferientation made between the "food hand" and the "dung hand" rather than the left or right. The meaning of wich should be obvious.It still exsists though on a lower rangeRight hand=food handLeft hand=dung handAnd people dont accept lefties easily (they make fun of them alot) They also donot accept money or gifts or food/water given to them using your left hand..........its often taken as an insult.There are many ways to save the environment without going too far and being ridiculous.Recycled t/p or paper production uses a lot of water and harmful chemicals for bleaching which isnt environment friendly though it does save trees.What maybe be labled as environment friendly for 1-2 reasons maynot be that friendly if looked deeper.
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Originally Posted By: Ineligiblebut might be a problem in colder climates. Well you could use warmer water and a soft cotton cloth to dry off (It will stay clean though a bit wet from soaking up the water but it aint that gross).........much better than the original idea that started this thread.Its not just the Thais who do it........its very common in asia and middle-east.
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will always use my soft and fluffy toilet paper!!!
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Bunch of pansies. If you cared at all about your planet you would just go out and pick up some leaves off the ground and use those. Personally, like Mr. U, I don't know how anybody can use that super soft fluffy stuff. I hate that shit. I'm all for recycled, rough, toilet paper that can scrape off whatever shit I can throw at it. I think that soft crap is only for ladies to use on their delicate bits or some such crap.
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Originally Posted By: OldFolksI think that soft crap is only for ladies to use on their delicate bits or some such crap. I honestly hope they don't. They'll never stop finding the little pieces if they do.
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OMG Scotty, you just reminded my of the young Brave who picked up some "no-name" toilet paper...he brought it back to the store and said "I have a name for your no-name toilet paper!I call it John Waynecuz it's roughit's toughand it don't take no shit from no Indian"
