Reusable loo paper!

feesh

Can't believe people are so disgusted by this thread - for thousands of years the human race survived without bog roll, and now we've become so far removed from natural bodily processes that we are disgusted by this?!

Unbelievable. It's not unhygienic at all. Personally, I wouldn't do it as it's too much hassle for me, but I certainly wouldn't find it disgusting if one of my friends did it.

I suppose it's probably the blokes who are more squeamish about this - us women having periods are probably used to dealing with a lot more grossness than men could probably ever imagine.

Pssst

I think theres an awful lot to be said for bidets and yet they are not so widespread here in blighty. You can jet wash your bullet hole and be totally clean and green with no paper involved.

Oblivion

feesh wrote: »

I suppose it's probably the blokes who are more squeamish about this - us women having periods are probably used to dealing with a lot more grossness than men could probably ever imagine.

Yes, quite. I remember being somewhat traumatised as a young impressionable schoolboy after reading in the school library the quotation by Tertullian in A.D. 22, supposedly the founder of Western theology, who described Woman as "a temple built over a sewer".

I regarded all women with some suspicion, not to say a little disgust, for some time afterwards. Fortunately, I soon got over it

Dave.

feesh

Pssst wrote: »

I think theres an awful lot to be said for bidets and yet they are not so widespread here in blighty. You can jet wash your bullet hole and be totally clean and green with no paper involved.

I know....we're a funny race us Brits. I still find it bizarre that people on property shows seem to snigger when they find a bidet in the house they are viewing - for gawd's sake, can't we see that other cultures see OUR loo habits as disgusting and unclean!

In the Arab world (been there a lot recently!) you are expected to wash yourself down and the cubicle with the hose provided after a loo visit - they must be repulsed by using British loos where this does not happen.

'Tis all a question of culture and what you're used to. Other ways of doing things aren't always "wrong", usually just different, and it's good to be able to take a step back and realise when you are just reacting like you are because of the cultural norms that you have come to define as "normal".

Tozer

feesh wrote: »

Can't believe people are so disgusted by this thread - for thousands of years the human race survived without bog roll, and now we've become so far removed from natural bodily processes that we are disgusted by this?!

Unbelievable. It's not unhygienic at all. Personally, I wouldn't do it as it's too much hassle for me, but I certainly wouldn't find it disgusting if one of my friends did it.

I suppose it's probably the blokes who are more squeamish about this - us women having periods are probably used to dealing with a lot more grossness than men could probably ever imagine.

You are absolutely right - for thousands of years people did survive without bog roll. But guess what? Its now been invented and if you asked 100 people what they though, 99.99999 would say it is preferable to use than a ripped up piece of clothing that is washed (not even boil washed) and used again.

Have a look at http://www.toiletpaperworld.com/encyclopedia/navigation/funfacts.htm (unbelievable what websites exist - found it through Google, honest!) - no record of anyone EVER recycling toilet paper.





In terms of temperature, 60 C is far, far too low. A quick google search reveals that to destroy microbes using heat, it is suggested to do so under a pressurised system and to reach temperatures of at least 160 C. Indeed, 60C is a temperature at which bacteria still multiplies.

feesh

Some bacteria will survive 60 degrees, but most won't, as most enzymes are denatured at 40 degrees.

I think we worry a bit too much about bacteria in this day and age - a bit of exposure is good for you Too little is actually bad for you!

Anyway if you believe the soundbites that are often bandied around by the media, your desk at work allegedly has more bacteria on it (incl. faecal coliforms!) than an average toilet seat.

Personally I am a bit of a clean freak, although it's a habit I would like to break (because my Mum was too and I suffer from lots of allergies - I think there might be a link).

However, if the OP chooses to recycle her "loo roll", that is her choice, and fair play to her - I believe in people living their lives however they want, as long as they are not affecting others.

What she is doing is no more disgusting than using re-usable nappies, which is something I plan on doing when I have kids, or using a Mooncup, which is something I do already.

Pssst

Another thing...why do people feel so squeamish about Greece, Turkey or similar where you are expected to "put the paper in the bin" i.e only flush anything you have first eaten?

Surely it makes sense to not put the paper down the loo rather than spend fortunes removing it at a sewage works.

Tozer

Pssst wrote: »

Another thing...why do people feel so squeamish about Greece, Turkey or similar where you are expected to "put the paper in the bin" i.e only flush anything you have first eaten?

Surely it makes sense to not put the paper down the loo rather than spend fortunes removing it at a sewage works.

Isn't it obvious? You put it in the bin and it is destroyed, not reused.

feesh

Pssst wrote: »

Another thing...why do people feel so squeamish about Greece, Turkey or similar where you are expected to "put the paper in the bin" i.e only flush anything you have first eaten?

Surely it makes sense to not put the paper down the loo rather than spend fortunes removing it at a sewage works.

As I've said before, it's just cultural differences.

Things which some people are squeamish about are based on our cultural values, not because of right/wrong.

We do lots of things which people from other cultures think are gross, but some people have not been thinking about that when lambasting the OP!

helenhugs

Good on the OP. I have actually started doing this after reading a previous thread about reusable wipes. I do only use them for a wee though. but there's nothing wrong with using it for a poo if you are happy with the idea.
Of course I wouldn't expect visitors to come in & use my cloth wipes but then I don't even keep mine in the toilet they are kept in the cupboard out of sight, I just grab 1 as I go past & then they are rinsed & put in the washing machine, we do at least a load a day anyway so the small space a few wipes take up makes no difference.
Good for you OP & the saving of toilet roll for even just 1 person rally can make a difference so I hope all the negative comments haven't put you off.
hugs
Helen