The ONE thing that convinced me to consider reusable toilet paper

Before you say “ew” and close this tab on your browser, bear with me a minute and let me tell you what changed and made me consider using reusable toilet paper.

To some, I may be considered as a mindful consumer. When possible, I opt for natural, eco-friendly products. I often choose second-hand items. I use various reusable alternatives including cotton handkerchiefs, menstrual products, paper towels, reusable makeup pads and cloth napkins. I recycle, I compost and I try to avoid waste when I can. But NEVER have I ever considered using reusable toilet paper. NEVER.

For some, the discovery of pee wipes was a forced event during the Covid-19 pandemic as stocks ran out in local grocery stores. Lucky for us, I tend to hoard stuff that I hate going out to purchase—like toilet paper—so we already had enough in the pantry to last a few months.

So, what made me consider using reusable toilet paper? It’s the great comeback of bidets. Whaaaaat? Yes, let me explain.

Never without my bidet

Although I’ve done cloth diapers with two of my four kids—or perhaps because I’ve done so—I’ve been unwilling to deal with soiled sheets of toilet paper. If you use them like regular toilet paper, you MUST sanitize them between uses and you might get a smell in your bathroom. So THAT, for me, was never an option.

Having a bidet installed on your toilet, though, makes all the difference. Nowadays, there are a few brands that offer a “plug and play” bidet attachment that you can install on modern toilets (including one with warm water!).

What’s cool about this bidet attachment is that in itself, it helps you save money on toilet paper if you use the conventional kind (and save trees in the process!). Another added benefit is that it preserves your skin—I was not aware of this but wiping repeatedly can cause our skin to tear and build up (INSANE, huh?)… And plus, it’s really hygienic!

So back to reusable toilet paper: the reason I would only consider using it with a bidet attachment is that once you’ve used a bidet, the reusable wipes serve only to pat your skin dry. And patting my clean skin dry with super soft flannel sounds quite nice! 

Oh yeah? Tell me more about this reusable toilet paper!

Are you on the same page? Let me tell you more, then. Reusable toilet paper can be stored just like reusable paper towels: on a roll or folded and placed strategically in a small basket. Each sheet measures approximately 8 × 4 inches long and is made with soft cotton flannel, which is absorbent and pure bliss on your skin.

Rolling your reusable toilet paper

The flannel sheets stick to one another naturally, so rolling them is quite simple. I recommend starting with a leftover cardboard roll and wrapping them one by one until they form a pretty roll. 

Storing your reusable toilet paper folded

You can also fold each sheet and place them stacked in a small basket, close to your toilet. This will make them super easy to grab when you are ready to pat yourself dry.

Dealing with used wipes

At the beginning, you may struggle with remembering NOT to throw the flannel wipes in your toilet (a habit of many years is always hard to break!). I recommend having a set of small PUL bag to store the used sheets, which you can hang from the side of your toilet or on a hook close to the throne.

Washing reusable toilet paper

If you’ve only used the flannel wipes to pat yourself dry after cleaning your skin with a bidet, I would personally just throw the reusable toilet paper in the wash with the rest of your laundry (handkerchiefs, bath towels, rags, menstrual products and the likes included). If you are NOT using a bidet, I would recommend sanitizing the wipes thoroughly to avoid any issues with unwanted bacteria.

How many sheets of reusable toilet paper do you need?

If you use a bidet attachment, one sheet of reusable toilet paper per seating should be well enough. Most people go to the bathroom 5 to 7 times a day, so I’ll leave you to calculate what that means for you, depending on the size of your family and personal habits.

How do you use reusable toilet paper?

The way I would recommend using reusable toilet paper is first, to clean yourself thoroughly with a bidet attachment. If you can, opt for the bidet with warm water, which will most likely be more pleasant for you. 

Once your skin is clean, you can grab a flannel wipe and gently pat your skin dry. Then, place the sheet of reusable toilet paper in your small PUL bag. Once the bag is full, toss the soiled sheets in the laundry.

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So, what do you think? Would you consider using reusable toilet paper, too?

If so, take a look at our new sets on the shop!