People Are Switching To Reusable Fabric Toilet Paper To Save The Planet And I’m Not Sure How To Feel

Saving the planet is definitely a concern for me and should be for everyone, and I try to be as mindful as possible about single-use plastic, recycling, and use as many earth-friendly products, etc. However, there’s one thing I’m not sure I can get behind, and that’s reusable toilet paper. The idea of wiping myself with soft cotton or felt and then having to constantly wash the pieces kinda grosses me out even though I know it’s ultimately a very good thing for the environment.

  1. It doesn’t just save the planet, it also saves money. Toilet paper can be expensive, depending on what kind/how much of it you use, so reusable toilet paper means shelling out less cash since you can just keep washing the reusable stuff endlessly. In other words, it’s a win/win situation in theory.
  2. How does reusable toilet paper even work? It’s actually pretty simple. Most of it is made of fleece, so the sheets basically stick together on their own and you just pull one off as you need it, then toss it in the laundry bin (preferably a separate one from your regular dirty clothes) when you’ve used it/it needs to be washed.
  3. To be fair, there are some pretty beautiful designs out there. Because reusable toilet paper is made of fabric, there’s no limit to the pretty designs/patterns it’s available in. For instance, Etsy shop Juniper Bee Studio has some really lovely options to choose from (and they’re just one of many).
  4. Is it really hygienic? That depends on who you ask. USA Today spoke with University of Arizona director and public health researcher Kelly Reynolds in 2018 and she said it’s a “risky practice” because there’s always a “potential for cross-contamination” from your bathroom to your laundry room. That’s not very sanitary! You also have to make sure you use bleach to properly sanitize the clothes because without it, your hands and your laundry will be covered in E.coli which could cause serious illness.
  5. It’s worth thinking about, just make sure you do your research. There’s a lot you need to know to ensure you’re utilizing reusable toilet paper properly, but you know what they say – where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Jennifer Still is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. The managing editor of Bolde, she has bylines in Vanity Fair, Business Insider, The New York Times, Glamour, Bon Appetit, and many more. You can follow her on Twitter @jenniferlstill
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