Toilet Paper Alternatives

Toilet Paper Alternatives Introduction

Toilet paper alternatives… did you ever think this would be a real legitimate need? Me neither, honestly. I know I’ve prepared for it, but that’s always been a thing in the back of my mind. Not something I would expect to see actually happening. Being a prepper and a homemaker, I’m always looking at plan b, and even c, and being more sustainable overall. But a toilet paper shortage was certainly not high on my list of emergencies happening.

But stores across many countries are seeing empty shelves and it seems almost impossible to find toilet paper. Any paper or cleaning products, really. It has certainly been interesting to see what is in high demand during the Coronavirus. 

Hopefully you had a stash of toilet paper stocked up before the virus started, and this wasn’t a huge deal for you. I’m so glad that I did! But this certainly got me thinking about toilet paper alternatives and the options that are out there. The good news is that there are alternatives to toilet paper that can be used, and definitely considered if this shortage continues. 

Here are some toilet paper alternatives!

Toilet Paper Alternatives

Baby Wipes

Baby wipes are an excellent alternative to toilet paper. I keep a fairly good size stock of these at home just in case. They are also perfect to take camping or any other time a shower isn’t an option. 

Baby wipes generally do not irritate the skin, but be sure to check the ingredient list just to be sure. My booty would not be the place I want irritated skin! Wipes are more expensive than toilet paper, but certainly a good alternative for toilet paper, in my opinion. 

Be careful about the package size though. Once opened, they need to be used. If you’re just going to use them for a few days or have a small family, pick a smaller package. Once the wipes are open and exposed to air, they mold since they are wet. Mold is gross and not something anyone wants near their booty. If a larger package will be used fairly quickly in your home, buy that. Bigger is generally cheaper, but keep the mold aspect in mind when picking package size. 

With baby wipes, also be very careful about flushing. Many products say they are flushable, but as many people with experience will tell you, it is a lie. Wipes don’t break down enough to make it through the pipes and septic system. I would recommend investing in a sturdy trash can with a lid and removable plastic liners for easy disposal. 

Bidet

A bidet is basically a sink for your booty and nether parts. The history of bidets is certainly an interesting one! Especially from a cultural aspect. I won’t go into that here, but feel free to search bidet on the internet and read up on it. 

A bidet can be a stand-alone piece of furniture in a bathroom, just like the toilet. Or there are attachments to buy to add to the toilet. I have seen preppers create a bidet out of a garden sprayer too by taking the tank and filling it with water and then spraying themselves down there after using the bathroom. 

With a bidet, it does require a bit of flexibility as well as getting accustomed to using it as a replacement for toilet paper. If you are going this route, I recommend keeping a towel just for this purpose handy because you will get wet. This alternative could get a little messy if you aren’t careful. 

Sanitary Pads

From a convenience standpoint, these are a great alternative. Because most women already have sanitary pads in the bathroom. Trying to find them shouldn’t be difficult. 

Sanitary pads are also soft and absorbent. When you think about the job they do, soft and absorbent are definitely requirements. But they are much thicker than traditional toilet paper. 

The big drawback with sanitary pads is cost. They aren’t cheap, and certainly not something to use frivolously, especially if using as an alternative to toilet paper. As with most things on this list, do not flush sanitary pads! I think that should be obvious, but I’m sure many plumbers have experienced this problem. 

There are reusable sanitary pads, so if someone is comfortable washing and reusing them, this could be a very viable option. I haven’t tried reusable ones myself, so I have no opinion on it. 

Cloth Diapers

This option makes perfect sense to me because what are cloth diapers for? Well, containing waste messes. They are thick though, so wiping may take some practice to become comfortable using in place of toilet paper. 

When washing cloth diapers, wash them on the sanitize setting with soap and bleach. If your washing machine does not have a sanitize setting, go for the hottest water possible and a heavy load. An extra rinse cycle would not hurt either. 

Cloth diapers also have multiple uses around the house such as dust rags or cleaning rags. I bought some just for the purpose of cleaning around the house due to the thickness and being sturdy and reusable. I also leave a couple in my vehicle to clean the windows and dash. 

Napkins and Tissue

Raise your hand if you have a stash of fast food napkins stashed in your vehicle? Me too! These aren’t the most fabulous option to replace toilet paper because they aren’t nearly as soft. But they do get the job done when needed. It may be time to bring some into the house just in case. 

Tissue is very thin and delicate, but very soft. But that delicacy takes away from durability. Cost wise, this is probably not a good choice for anything long-term, but it will get the job done in a pinch. If you are considering this to be a viable option, make sure the tissues are fragrance-free though. 

Once again, do not flush these. Dispose of them in a trash can, preferably one with a lid and disposable liner. 

Towels and Washcloths

Most of us have a couple of towels that have seen far better days and are on the last leg. Cutting them up into washcloth size squares could be an excellent option to replace toilet paper. One of the cheapest as well because it is recycling something we already have. Plus towels and washcloths do just fine on the sanitize setting of washers and dryers. 

Because of being super absorbent, these need to be washed thoroughly. My recommendation would be having one specifically for every member of the household since germs and bacteria can be transferred from one person to another, if the towels and washcloths are not sanitized and cleaned properly. 

If possible, give each household member a different color towel or washcloth, that way the spread of potential germs is decreased. 

Toilet Paper Alternatives Notes 

Do not flush any disposable alternatives that I have listed here. That spells disaster and can cost you a lot more money. Plus with so many people being at home all the time, I’d be willing to bet that plumbers are already up to their eyeballs in work. That can slow down everything and create a bigger problem. Save yourself the time, money, and headache. 

A trash can for disposable and non-disposable toilet paper alternatives is important. Do not pick anything without a lid or without a disposable liner inside. Do not mix the two either. If using both options, have two trash cans for them as well. 

Toilet Paper Alternatives Discussion

Do you have any suggestions on alternatives to toilet paper? If so, let me know in the comments!