Talking About Toilet Paper

What's all this obsession with toilet paper? It seems like people are hoarding it, or are desperate if they can't find any. In fact, people are trying to grow their own.

 

  
But seriously. Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin has some ideas.

Ladies, let’s talk about toilet paper

One of the ways I’m staying upbeat during the pandemic is by seeking out silver linings to this very large and menacing cloud.

So let’s talk about toilet paper. Three statements I believe to be true: 

• People are hoarding it. 
• Some of us who aren’t are running low on it. 
• There will be more soon, so we don’t have to worry about it. 

As someone who isn’t hoarding TP, I had a realization: I use too much of it! Women, in particular, generally use TP every time they pee. 

Is this necessary? Of course not. When I camp in the wilderness, I don’t use TP when I pee because every time I do, I either need to burn it or pack it out. But at home, I do use it, and I use too much. 

So ladies, two ideas for you: Either minimize your use – one or two squares is sufficient – or don’t use it at all when you pee. Instead, use the DIY bidet method: Keep a small cup of water by the toilet and pour it instead of wiping with TP. If you wish to dry, keep a cloth near the toilet for that purpose. You can reuse the cloth for days because it’s only wet, not dirty. 

Here’s the silver lining: This experience of scarcity has awakened me to my wastefulness. There’s no need for me to purchase and discard so much TP. Doing so is destructive of forests and puts a strain on our water treatment facilities. This pandemic will end, and we will have an abundance of TP long before it does. But that doesn’t mean we need to waste it.