tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post9096532434433998878..comments2024-03-28T01:51:22.367-03:00Comments on Not Buying Anything: Make It Last: Toilet Paper (Or How To Wipe With One Square Or Less)Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-28099064377783506112020-05-24T00:46:08.572-03:002020-05-24T00:46:08.572-03:00I use cloths made from old towels when I am helpin...I use cloths made from old towels when I am helping Linda. We both use warm water in a bottle to clean up after poop. However, after the water, we usually dry with a couple of squares of TP. There is no reason not to take up the practice you describe if one loves trees. And we do. Thank you for your contribution. That is thrifty indeed, and the forest, and everything that lives there, appreciates your efforts.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-54154619434999259292020-05-21T02:22:27.037-03:002020-05-21T02:22:27.037-03:00I decided to give up tp because the fuzz and stuff...I decided to give up tp because the fuzz and stuff like bleach from the tp made my lady parts unhappy. I used a stack of wash cloths on the back of the commode for tp. I used cloth diapers for three kids, so it was not gross to me. Actually, there was less poop on my washcloths than on a cloth diaper. I could rinse away poop before throwing it in the washer. I used hot water and vinegar and detergent and dried them in the sun. I save so much money and have less irritated lady parts when not using tp. I hate to hurt trees.Practical Parsimonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08419071209412207674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-26444034548510701112019-05-18T08:46:49.426-03:002019-05-18T08:46:49.426-03:00Cameo,
Thank you for pointing that out.
Wash you...Cameo,<br /><br />Thank you for pointing that out.<br /><br />Wash your hands, people!Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-17229155172058269462019-05-02T11:43:54.293-03:002019-05-02T11:43:54.293-03:00The point of soap is to physically remove dirt and...The point of soap is to physically remove dirt and germs, not to kill them.Cameohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12780405806453774909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-45822388601945724592018-04-23T08:56:12.472-03:002018-04-23T08:56:12.472-03:00Ben,
That is luxury in all the right places.Ben,<br /><br />That is luxury in all the right places.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-39043013786855927512018-04-23T08:54:15.938-03:002018-04-23T08:54:15.938-03:00"Hand washing with soap and water is importan..."Hand washing with soap and water is important during C. difficile outbreaks and is one of the best defences against further spread of the bacteria." <br /><br />- Public Health Agency of Canada <br /><br />No reason for panic here, although definitely a good heads up considering the repercussions of these nasty diseases.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-5856976754633436572018-04-23T08:52:17.423-03:002018-04-23T08:52:17.423-03:00Josh,
A better way? What do you suggest?
I sugg...Josh,<br /><br />A better way? What do you suggest? <br /><br />I suggest you keep your hands away from your mouth and mucous membranes as much as possible, whether you use water to clean up, or not. <br /><br />Always wash your hands with soap and hot water after a movement, and keep your bathroom as clean as possible. Change and wash towels often.<br /><br />"Hand washing with soap and water is important during C. difficile outbreaks and is one of the best defences against further spread of the bacteria." - Public Health Agency of Canada (nothing about washing with hydrochloric acid here)<br /><br />“Fecal transplants” appear to be the most effective method for helping patients with repeat C. difficile infections." - CDC<br /><br />That sounds pretty gross, too, but I guess it works.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-37617602224578440502018-04-23T08:38:08.678-03:002018-04-23T08:38:08.678-03:00Josh,
Why ever wash our hands with soap after usi...Josh,<br /><br />Why ever wash our hands with soap after using the bathroom, if it is so ineffective? Do surgeons scrub with hydrochloric acid before work? Your comment is an understandable over-reaction to this method, and is unlikely to deter anyone that uses it.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-13333185051693510662018-04-22T23:04:44.411-03:002018-04-22T23:04:44.411-03:00Have to share as a main comment too. Even hospital...Have to share as a main comment too. Even hospital grade lysol needs 10 minutes of air drying to kill it's 99.9%.<br /><br />Average consumer hand soap will not kill the sorts of germs leading into CDiff and ecoli to name a couple nasty diseases. Regardless of whether the bottle says "antibacterial." <br /><br />Please also consider that digestive and diarrheal diseases are one of the leading causes of death in India so perhaps rather than use our hands, we can find a better way if we see a problem with TP use.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12986781649607989041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-38598822144996664382018-04-22T22:59:58.549-03:002018-04-22T22:59:58.549-03:00Considering hospital grade Lysol takes 10 minutes ...Considering hospital grade Lysol takes 10 minutes of air drying to kill it's lauded 99.9% of germs, you aren't cleaning much unless you wash with hydrochloric acid. I shudder to think of the disease you unintentionally left behind and those who suffered as a result.<br /><br />I admit TP is wasteful, but digestive and diarrheal diseases are the 3rd leading cause of death in India, perhaps their example isnt the best to follow here?<br /><br />I'm sure you can use that fervor and energy to find a better way?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12986781649607989041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-56427828973216935332017-12-09T08:24:34.976-04:002017-12-09T08:24:34.976-04:00I got converted to using water in South America an...I got converted to using water in South America and Southern Europe. I've had a bum gun installed at home - as I'm in chilly London I got a thermostatic one that feeds from both hot and cold water pipes and produces a pleasantly warm jet of water. The whole idea of using paper seems ridiculous when you think about it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823518945450828613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-88930565217543856312016-07-28T05:13:11.812-03:002016-07-28T05:13:11.812-03:00If you've been to Turkey, you must have seen t...If you've been to Turkey, you must have seen that little spout inside the bowl. If you equip that with an adjustable tip, you have the most efficient and clean yet the cheapest solution in the entire world. I think that little invention might be the greatest thing Turkey contributed to the world in the last half century. I simply cannot believe how it is overlooked and not adopted by any nation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-51120986574599870392016-04-13T19:44:45.416-03:002016-04-13T19:44:45.416-03:00awsome
awsome<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-24161774375700551162015-01-16T23:28:52.196-04:002015-01-16T23:28:52.196-04:00Anna,
Good question about the finish. In India wh...Anna,<br /><br />Good question about the finish. In India where I first learned this method it was hot enough that you could just rinse and go on your way. Here in Canada sometimes I rinse and go, and sometimes use one square of paper to dry off. <br /><br />A person could also use a "butt towel" as you say. That would work just fine as long as you didn't mix it up with a face cloth or something.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-28594854060016593572015-01-12T18:08:02.861-04:002015-01-12T18:08:02.861-04:00Interesting, to say the least. I live in Poland (E...Interesting, to say the least. I live in Poland (Europe) and still remember the times when toilet paper was simply a luxury commodity. Using crumpled and cut newspaper was, therefore, something natural, though maybe not the most comfortable. Nowadays we have the full range of tp available - from the pink, plushy, multi-ply and scented (I always wandered - WHY scent something you're gonna flush down the stinky drain anyway) to the humble grey rolls made of recycled paper. My choice is always the latter. It really seems ridiculous to me to wipe my butt with something resembling a posh wallpaper rather than a hygienic aid.<br /><br />To the point though. I took a fancy to water-rinsing once, although I just used a jet of water from my shower handle and didn't do the wiping with my hand. Very handy to have a bath tub standing nearby - you just hang your butt over the brink and use the shower handle. But where I currently live water is more of a luxury than paper, and it still kinda bothers me - what's actually more eco-unfriendly: wasting paper or water? Then again... I certainly used more than half a litre of water when using my shower. Maybe your bottle is my answer.<br /><br />And one question which had not been satisfied through all the main text and the comments: what do you do AFTER rinsing your behind with water? Surely you don't just pull up your undies and go? Do you use some kind of butt towel (reusable?) to dry it off? Just curious :)<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />Anna.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-53355245215946966022014-10-30T17:53:24.887-03:002014-10-30T17:53:24.887-03:00Anon,
One word - soap.Anon,<br /><br />One word - soap.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-44216623517578560712014-10-30T16:39:37.746-03:002014-10-30T16:39:37.746-03:00You have got to be kidding me! How UNCLEAN to wip...You have got to be kidding me! How UNCLEAN to wipe fecal matter on your hand. India is no role model when it comes to hygiene they pee and crap in their own water systems such as lakes and the Ganges River which is suppose to be so holy! I would not want you touching anything especially in the grocery store where I shop! Ecoli not to mention other harmful bacteria and viruses are in fecal matter. I can't believe you are so cheap you would wipe your own butt with your hand! This is disgusting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-62692981555945871862013-07-05T21:36:11.909-03:002013-07-05T21:36:11.909-03:00Theo, I am familiar with the 'fantastic fold m...Theo, I am familiar with the 'fantastic fold method' and agree that it does indeed give the most wipe for the least amount of paper. <br /><br />Crumbling is craziness. But water is wonderful!Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-80461164957932814092013-07-03T17:02:46.344-03:002013-07-03T17:02:46.344-03:00I always use the method of folding the paper doubl...I always use the method of folding the paper double, wiping, then folding again (covering up the "mess") and repeating - until the paper is too small for my comfort or I'm done. This way I don't need to get several long strips of paper, and I'm sure it's less wasteful than, say, crumbling.Theonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-31324374676569556682013-06-25T23:05:43.200-03:002013-06-25T23:05:43.200-03:00After using water for a while, toilet paper doesn&...After using water for a while, toilet paper doesn't measure up. Paper is unsanitary, can be painful, is beached with harsh chemicals, and is often made with wood from old growth forests.<br /><br />When we traveled through Europe, countries like Portugal, Greece, and Turkey advised travellers to NOT flush toilet paper since their sewage systems could not handle it. All the toilets had what we called "vegetable washers" (because they were like the sprayers sometimes found on kitchen sinks).<br /><br />The bum gun looks to be a similar type of device. Some day I may take the plunge, but for now I simply use a 500ml narrow mouth water bottle that sits next to the toilet. My bathroom is so small that I can fill the bottle in the sink while sitting on the toilet.<br /><br />In India there was often a bucket of water beneath a tap on the wall in the bathroom next to the toilet. You used a plastic cup or scoop to draw water from the bucket, then use it to clean up. It was also quite handy.<br /><br />Welcome to NBA - we are glad you found us (and this post). Please do let us know how your experiment with water vs toilet paper goes.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-10773383449765926072013-06-23T05:36:44.407-03:002013-06-23T05:36:44.407-03:00Hey Gregg
Just come across your blog, sounds very...Hey Gregg<br /><br />Just come across your blog, sounds very interesting, especially this post as i've often thought about a replacement for toilet paper which i think is not clean enough, and often hurts. I just googled thebumgun and came across a website which sells them www.thebumgun.com, so I'm going to contact them and hopefully this is a solution. I'll let you know how i go. Thanks for the lead and the blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-72182420136205349162013-02-14T04:25:19.212-04:002013-02-14T04:25:19.212-04:00Hey Rod,
You are a brave man both for following t...Hey Rod,<br /><br />You are a brave man both for following this blog forever, and for asking a sensitive question about alternative toilet methods.<br /><br />I don't know much about the Bum Gun - I just use a small water bottle. The water method is kind of like wiping, but using water instead of paper. <br /><br />Pouring and wiping can be done from front or back if you are a guy, and should only be done from the front if you are a women. I use my right hand to pour water from behind and above while my left hand does the dirty work also from behind.<br /><br />In the beginning you just have to experiment and "play around", if you can call it that. You will catch on pretty quickly, and will no doubt enjoy the cleaner, fresher feeling over using paper.<br /><br />Good luck, if you try it, and let us know if you make the switch successfully. Thanks for the motivating feedback.<br />Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-6244827904292076002013-02-12T21:27:55.977-04:002013-02-12T21:27:55.977-04:00I been following your blog forever its amazing!! ...I been following your blog forever its amazing!! Im interested in this subject, but im confused on what you do and how you do it? It may be to gross to talk about lol, but I cant figure out what your doing, I found a few bum guns on ebay but they don't explain where they hook up to. Anyway, this blog has changed my life.<br /><br />RodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-27825204530569350572013-01-12T13:22:42.249-04:002013-01-12T13:22:42.249-04:00Our first experience with a water wash was around ...Our first experience with a water wash was around the Mediterranean, Portugal or Spain. Then, after spending a couple of months in India, we were permanent converts.<br /><br />Thanks for weighing in on the toilet tissue issue.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-25720818448832322252013-01-12T13:18:18.546-04:002013-01-12T13:18:18.546-04:00Helen, you are doing good work that will benefit t...Helen, you are doing good work that will benefit the environment, and NBA readers.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com