What Toilet Paper is Best?

Michelle Dawn · 01-06-2008, 08:14 AM

A little potty talk...

We usually buy a large pack of whatever is cheapest on the shelf, but I find I we go through it awfully quickly. Does anyone have a specific brand that they use and recommend? I'm thinking it might be worth the extra money to buy a quality tissue if it is going to last longer. Any suggestions?

Miss Rosie · 01-06-2008, 10:15 AM

Heh. Okay, this might freak some people out, but I'll post it anyway.

Buy a few packages of cheap washcloths and cut them in quarters to make little towels. Then, to an empty dishsoap bottle, add 1/2 tsp cider vinegar and two drops of very gentle, unscented baby shampoo. One drop of straight decyl polyglucose would probably work, but as I'm nowhere near out of baby shampoo, I haven't had a chance to try that yet. Wash oneself thoroughly after using the toilet, and pat dry.

I got the idea from my former step-father, who was from the Middle East. He'd been raised to wash after using the bathroom, not wipe, and to him, toilet paper was ineffective and a bit disgusting. Once I gave it some thought, I realized that he had a point. After a bit of trial and error, this is the method I like best.

I have not attempted to convert my kid, but for myself, I now prefer this over toilet paper, especially cheap toilet paper, which tends to be scratchy and sometimes dissolves during use. The washcloths are a one-time buy, and the vinegar and baby shampoo are used so sparingly that they seem to last forever.

lucille · 01-06-2008, 11:20 AM

Ok, the DIY toilet paper idea has totally grossed me out for the day.

We buy the target brand paper that is in the blue package. We buy the big bulk packs.
We found the same issue, some of the cheaper brands seemed to have less product and you go through them faster than better brands. The target blue label seems to be the best combination of cost vs. actual usable product. They also put it on sale about every three months. Target also sometimes spits out coupons with your receipt for another dollar off of their brand of toilet paper.

Miss Rosie · 01-06-2008, 01:51 PM

I thought this would hit someone's squeam factor!

I'll add that I was a cloth diaper user who washed her own, and I used washcloths and a similar, homemade solution to clean the baby instead of pre-packaged wipes. Between that and the Middle Eastern stepfather, it wasn't a huge leap for me. I wash my undercarriage in the shower every day. I don't consider this any worse.

Also, simply rinsing off when you pee requires no actual touching of anything you'd prefer not to touch. Plain water will work, or you can go whole hog with the baby soap and vinegar.

Jess · 01-06-2008, 02:24 PM

The washcloth idea is interesting. I'm not sure I would employ it, but it certainly leaves some food for thought. Also, that's a very "green" sort of option by using something reusable. Huh.

I usually buy whatever I can get on sale with a coupon - usually Charmin or Cottonelle (if there's a sale). If not, I buy Target blue brand.

Michelle Dawn · 01-06-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Rosie

Heh. Okay, this might freak some people out, but I'll post it anyway.

Buy a few packages of cheap washcloths and cut them in quarters to make little towels. Then, to an empty dishsoap bottle, add 1/2 tsp cider vinegar and two drops of very gentle, unscented baby shampoo. One drop of straight decyl polyglucose would probably work, but as I'm nowhere near out of baby shampoo, I haven't had a chance to try that yet. Wash oneself thoroughly after using the toilet, and pat dry.

Although it isn't for me, this hasn't grossed me out Miss Rosie! I ditched the disposable pads years ago and plan on using cloth diapers when my baby is born in April.

As for the TP, I live in a small city in Canada and we don't have Target. Bummer (LOL, how appropriate).

Isis Uptown · 01-06-2008, 02:34 PM

I'm not grossed out, either, though I'm sticking with paper. I'm willing to spend a little more to get the Scott 1000 rolls. We buy the biggest pack we can find, and usually have some left from the previous pack when we add a new stack to our stash.

My mother uses a store brand of toilet paper, in the small rolls, and when I was staying with her post-Katrina, I ended up buying Scott toilet paper for the bathroom I used; it's strong enough that you use less of it than the flimsy cheap product anyway.

beren · 01-06-2008, 02:36 PM

This doesn't sound frugal, but after Rosie's story, I want to do both. Maybe one pass with the paper and then do the wipe with the cloth.

Miss Rosie · 01-06-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beren

This doesn't sound frugal, but after Rosie's story, I want to do both. Maybe one pass with the paper and then do the wipe with the cloth.

Why not try it? You might find yourself transitioning to just a wash once you get used to it. I started out doing the front rinse thing, and ended up doing a full wash because I liked the results so much.

My best friend calls it a homemade bidet. I think it actually goes one step better because of the soap. Certainly, it's nowhere near as bad as cleaning up after a baby that's starting to wean. The hardest habit to develop is remembering to refill your bottle right away, before you need it. Otherwise, you find yourself sitting there muttering appropriate expletives.

As for how green it is, that depends on where you live. Water isn't much of an issue here, but in some areas, a biodegradable, one-use thing is actually better.

Miss Rosie · 01-06-2008, 05:00 PM

One more thing...

This recipe of mine is very customizable. I use vinegar to tweak the ph and discourage yeast infections, but someone with dry skin might add aloe gel or pure vegetable glycerin. A woman with an active yeast infection might consider garlic extract, acidophilus powder, or maybe even yogurt whey.

I'm not sure how any of this would agree with the soap, but they're all ideas on how to make this more than just an alternate system of keeping clean.

01-06-2008, 08:14 AM	#1
Michelle Dawn Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: C-Town, PEI, Canada Posts: 68 Reputation: (10)	What Toilet Paper is Best? A little potty talk... We usually buy a large pack of whatever is cheapest on the shelf, but I find I we go through it awfully quickly. Does anyone have a specific brand that they use and recommend? I'm thinking it might be worth the extra money to buy a quality tissue if it is going to last longer. Any suggestions? __________________ Meet me at FRUGAL PARENTING "A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart" (Jonathan Swift)

01-06-2008, 02:34 PM	#7
Isis Uptown Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 14 Reputation: (10)	I'm not grossed out, either, though I'm sticking with paper. I'm willing to spend a little more to get the Scott 1000 rolls. We buy the biggest pack we can find, and usually have some left from the previous pack when we add a new stack to our stash. My mother uses a store brand of toilet paper, in the small rolls, and when I was staying with her post-Katrina, I ended up buying Scott toilet paper for the bathroom I used; it's strong enough that you use less of it than the flimsy cheap product anyway. __________________ Rosencrantz: I've frequently not been on boats. Guildenstern: No, no... What you've been is not on boats. Tom Stoppard

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01-06-2008, 10:15 AM	#2
Miss Rosie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 101 Reputation: (27)	Heh. Okay, this might freak some people out, but I'll post it anyway. Buy a few packages of cheap washcloths and cut them in quarters to make little towels. Then, to an empty dishsoap bottle, add 1/2 tsp cider vinegar and two drops of very gentle, unscented baby shampoo. One drop of straight decyl polyglucose would probably work, but as I'm nowhere near out of baby shampoo, I haven't had a chance to try that yet. Wash oneself thoroughly after using the toilet, and pat dry. I got the idea from my former step-father, who was from the Middle East. He'd been raised to wash after using the bathroom, not wipe, and to him, toilet paper was ineffective and a bit disgusting. Once I gave it some thought, I realized that he had a point. After a bit of trial and error, this is the method I like best. I have not attempted to convert my kid, but for myself, I now prefer this over toilet paper, especially cheap toilet paper, which tends to be scratchy and sometimes dissolves during use. The washcloths are a one-time buy, and the vinegar and baby shampoo are used so sparingly that they seem to last forever.

01-06-2008, 11:20 AM	#3
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 420 Reputation: (26)	Ok, the DIY toilet paper idea has totally grossed me out for the day. We buy the target brand paper that is in the blue package. We buy the big bulk packs. We found the same issue, some of the cheaper brands seemed to have less product and you go through them faster than better brands. The target blue label seems to be the best combination of cost vs. actual usable product. They also put it on sale about every three months. Target also sometimes spits out coupons with your receipt for another dollar off of their brand of toilet paper.

01-06-2008, 01:51 PM	#4
Miss Rosie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 101 Reputation: (27)	I thought this would hit someone's squeam factor! I'll add that I was a cloth diaper user who washed her own, and I used washcloths and a similar, homemade solution to clean the baby instead of pre-packaged wipes. Between that and the Middle Eastern stepfather, it wasn't a huge leap for me. I wash my undercarriage in the shower every day. I don't consider this any worse. Also, simply rinsing off when you pee requires no actual touching of anything you'd prefer not to touch. Plain water will work, or you can go whole hog with the baby soap and vinegar.

01-06-2008, 02:24 PM	#5
Jess Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 82 Reputation: (20)	The washcloth idea is interesting. I'm not sure I would employ it, but it certainly leaves some food for thought. Also, that's a very "green" sort of option by using something reusable. Huh. I usually buy whatever I can get on sale with a coupon - usually Charmin or Cottonelle (if there's a sale). If not, I buy Target blue brand.

01-06-2008, 02:36 PM	#8
beren Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 53 Reputation: (17)	This doesn't sound frugal, but after Rosie's story, I want to do both. Maybe one pass with the paper and then do the wipe with the cloth.

01-06-2008, 05:00 PM	#10
Miss Rosie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 101 Reputation: (27)	One more thing... This recipe of mine is very customizable. I use vinegar to tweak the ph and discourage yeast infections, but someone with dry skin might add aloe gel or pure vegetable glycerin. A woman with an active yeast infection might consider garlic extract, acidophilus powder, or maybe even yogurt whey. I'm not sure how any of this would agree with the soap, but they're all ideas on how to make this more than just an alternate system of keeping clean.