When Toilet Paper Runs Out...

Substitution for Every-Day Items:

You store 48 super-size packages of toilet paper, but you've been confined to your home due to [fill-in-the-blank] for a long time and you're down to your last package. What do you do?

Warning: This is not a post to read if you have a queasy stomach or while you're eating!

  1. You could make your own toilet paper by making your own paper (will post a how-to within a month or so)
  2. You could use other things like:
    -Kitchen towel (ick)
    -Old newspaper (crumple to get soft)
    -Phone books (ditto)
    -Mail-order catalog (ditto)
    -Bank notes or other laying-around paper, leaves (ditto)
  3. Other Methods:
    -a bidet + towel to dry off
    -an upturned shower head + a towel to dry off
    -a wet sponge (that's how the Romans did it)
    -your hand - which is how people in the third world do it - that's why you see them eating with their opposite hand!

As for water use, a drought is always a concern and must be dealt with prudently. Discuss with your family members what to do should you run out of toilet paper. Start working on an alternate plan now.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

:) I've had friends from third world countries who did not use toilet paper. They think we North Americans are incredibly dirty for only wiping ourselves with paper. They keep a small cup beside the toilet and rinse themselves with water, while wiping with their hand. They then dry with a towel. Since their homeland is desert-dry and hot, I think that system must be sustainable even in a drought. (Not that I know much about drought living. Canada has three things in abundance - rocks and trees and water!)

Mr. Doom and I have been talking about going to Family Cloth, which is an option I don't think you mentioned.

Vee said...

We American people tend to forget that toilet paper is a relatively new invention. Wiping with a hand? Ew, gross (is what we all tend to think).

Thank you for your comment. No, I didn't mention family cloth, but that's something for folks to explore!

Have a good new year!