Weird Thread- TP Usage and Frugality

[Katrina-Sisu]

I for one vote for the shower curtain, it's washable yet gives me that soft, clean feeling ;D lol Just kidding.

I realized that tp takes a big chunk of money! We're a roll-a-day type of family (just the two of us) even with wet wipes and counting tp sheets lol. We can blame my health problems for the tp usage lol..and that's probably way too much info there :-X lol.

We get the cheapo tp and it's good, I don't notice a difference really. Buy it in bulk at sales too but a BIG package lasts about half a month.

I've read where people use bidets to save on tp but that doesn't work. Let's say I have my reasons ;) lol.

For fun, how do you save money on tp? Any secrets of the trade?

Kat

[annabella1]

As far as I am concerned whatever is available is just fine. But my family is picky. I used to get whatever was cheap on sale. But I have found out that if you get Scott tissue it lasts longer, my family use a lot less, it doesn't fall apart and leave a residue. I don't care as much for the new "softer" variety, but you can still get the standard extra large rolls.

[bookwormom]

TP-lol
I thought first you were talking about textured protein, the stuff made from soybeans.
when i was a kid we cut up news paper into suitable sized pieces. It still works, I tried it a few weeks ago when I ran out.
what's the old saw about using corncobs, was there ever anything to that? I heard you used a dark cob first and then a light one to check if you did a good job.

[nancy1340]

Book, Yes we used corn cobs after the Sears, Penny's and Monkey Wards ran out. One was about all you wanted to use...........trust me. ;)

[snuffy]

Here's something that many may overlook. I'll bet every one of us has something that will work in a shtf situation right in their own home they can use.
It's your phone book white pages. If yours is like mine, it's large and the white pages are thin and flimsy as well.
Back in the ol' days, we used the Sears book with some success and phone books are free and plentiful and store well if kept dry. I have several from past years tucked away. No corn cobs for this camper. lol

Snuffy

[Katrina-Sisu]

Thanks for the replies!

The phonebook is a good idea! MIL has all sorts of leftover papers stored throughout the house so we're set in the Apocylpse LOL :D.

I read don't use glossy magazine pages from somewhere online. They said there's a smear-factor ??? lol!

Kat

[swampyankee]

What about those perfume adds in magazines? Will they clean and freshen at the same time? lol

[Katrina-Sisu]

What about those perfume adds in magazines? Will they clean and freshen at the same time? lol

;D ;D LOL!

Kat

[gratitude]

How about 'family cloth'? Where you use washable cloth to wipe. Super soft and thorough, also strong, no breakthrough factor :)

Corncobs. One word. "Ouch." At least that's what I imagine; never tried.

Phonebook's a good idea! Saves having to truck it to a recycle place!

[flatwater]

Actually corn cobs work just fine but you have to use two brown ones and one white one. You use the brown one first , then use the white one to see if you need the other brown one ;D
flatwater

[RangerRick]

We buy it by the case at Sams. It's cheap and what the hell it just goes down the toilet anyway. Got 3 cases stored up in the attic to have and to hold and yes I do have 15 or 20 yellow pages out in the tack room for emergencies. Just don't think I could do the Islam left hand of fellowship thing.

;D

Rick

[Southern_Gent]

Going back to ancient times, the Romans used a moistened sponge on the end of a stick for wiping. They would clean these and re-use them until the sponge wore out.

[leera]

I just buy Scott,or at work we have store brand version....it's cheap and we go through about 1 roll a week...sometimes 2.........but then again we're only home a few hours in the morning,and at night to sleep.

[granolaeeter]

I don't know if it is true or not but my septic tank guy says only use 'Scott' and never use Charmin in the septic tank. So that is what we do.

[leera]

For septic tank users,you need to stick to brands that break down easily,otherwise it clogs up your system and gets really expensive to fix.

Better to prevent it than have to pay to fix it..........

[jen_in_southtexas]

We buy it by the case at Sams. *It's cheap and what the hell it just goes down the toilet anyway. *Got 3 cases stored up in the attic to have and to hold and yes I do have 15 or 20 yellow pages out in the tack room for emergencies. *Just don't think I could do the Islam left hand of fellowship thing.

;D

Rick

What is the Islam left hand of fellowship thing?

-j

[WileyCoyote]

They um use their right hands (bare) to wipe their butts. That's why you never 'shake hands' with a Muslim.

[tufhelp]

The “dirty hand” is the left hand, a never ending source of frustration for me when I worked in Saudi Arabia. You see, I’m left handed and in my job I was frequently required to attend gatherings which of course served food. Usually it was served Arabian style, not on a table but on the floor with everyone seated around the spread. Giant platters of food dispersed all around and everyone just dug in with their hands – their right hands. Until I finally forced myself to eat with my right hand I always had platters all to myself… Habit would direct my infidel left hand right into the food and then other guests wouldn’t go near that platter for the rest of the meal! ;D

[homesteaderbelle]

We use soft flannel wipes. They do a fine job.
At first mention of this I was disgusted and I was not going to try this. Well, we ran out of TP and I was forced to use the cloth, I am glad we ran out of TP or I would have never tried it. Now I hate to use TP.

You never know till you try it.
Belle

[56farmerjohn]

One of the funniest threads , I've read in a loooong time.... laffed until I couldn't see straight.. keep it comin' kids

[anna]

We use Aldis brand which is not always the same but it works. As far as the family not being happy with what you buy, tell them when they buy they get to choose until then you don't want to hear about it.

I have a couple yards of flannel in my stash which could quickly become the substitute TP should the need ever occur. Not something I care to contemplate but who knows what the future holds. I certainly would not go hungry to afford TP and if food prices keep going up I might have to make that choice.

[half-pint]

check out "crunchychicken.com" tp challenge!

[PK.]

You know, I'm all for saving money and being self-sufficient and all that.

But.

I'll spring for the extra four bucks a week for the good stuff. Sponges? Rags? Phone books? Nuh-uh.

[pergammano]

My septic field man....says NO t.p. at all! Wood stove starter! :o

[flatwater]

You could do it like the arabs do but then you couldn't use your left hand for anything.
Flatwater

[dreams_in_color]

[quote author=pergammano link=board=fin-frugal-living;num=1191020694;start=20#23 date=03/20/08 at 05:57:13]My septic field man....says NO t.p. at all! *Wood stove starter! :o[/quotes

So what did the septic tank man suggest you use? We also use scott because it says spetic tank safe.


Susan

[nancy1340]

DIC, you throw the used TP in a trash can.

Many people still do the same thing where there is a shortage of water.

It's called "If it's yellow, let it mellow.
If it's brown, flush it down".

;)

[idris]

Being of the ' wipe it with the left hand' school, I should point out that stones [three] were used to do the dirty work. That said, TP is for wiping dry, after the washing stage, tho wet TP is recommended for that. Otherwise, I like to hang it with the paper away from the wall [ pattern showing, if any]: it is easier to get hold of, and doesn't get creepy- crawlies from off the wall.; and wash them mitts afterwards, too!

http://off-with-their-heads.blogspot.com/2007/08/advice-for-boys-of-all-ages-keep-it.html

[reyecat]

I just started using cloth butt wipes yesterday and I'm already a convert.

Why is that gross? we use it on babies and toddlers who have been sitting in their mess, we use cloth diapers so what's the difference between that and wiping your own butt with cloth that you then wash?

To clear up any misconceptions:

You do not share your cloth with the rest of your family.

You do not rinse and reuse the same cloth until laundry day. You do use a new clean cloth every time you wipe.

Pros:
So soft.
save money on TP
use as much as you want
never have a toilet clog again

How to:

cut a bunch of cloths to the size you would like.

Stack them in an inconspicuous place near the toilet (pretty basket with lid, cute old cracked crock with lid, etc.)

Do your thing.

grab a wipe and wipe. (some may add an extra step here with a spray bottle with essential oils and water that you spray on your wipe or on your bum but I don't, didn't do it with TP and don't plan to do it now.)

Chuck into a covered vessel with water, 1 Tbsp Washing soda and a few drops of something that kills germs like Tea tree oil or Grapefruit seed oil. Or alternatively you could put in 1/2 - 1 cup of vinegar in the water.

Launder with the rest of your cleaning rags, menstrual rags, diapers, etc. I will dump the whole works in the washing machine, soaking water and all and run a spin cycle , then soak with H2O2 for a while and then add soap and stuff, run the wash cycle with vinegar in the rinse and hang to dry in the sun. just like cloth diapers.



Cloth notes - if you like a smaller cloth I suggest layering or folding to the size you want. so cut a 4x8 cloth and fold in half, wipe or you can sew them into the size you want. I can't be bothered to sew something just to wipe my hiney. I cut mine into strips about the size of four pieces of toilet paper. fold, wipe, fold again, wipe, just like tp. I like T-shirt material or flannel. You can buy new but I don't like spending money on poo rags. So I used some of my shirts that I was saving for rags. Use dark colors.

[rae-dean]

when we were kids and camping in the woods...we would use leaves.theres lots of them around and it is cheap. ;D

[Katrina-Sisu]

If you have IBS like me, you'd have a whole load of cloth wipes just from your bathroom visits lol.

I'd probably go through the whole fabric section at Walmart in a week lol.

We found that 3 ply tp lasts for longer since we need less. 8 rolls lasted this family of 4 for a week! That's amazing since all of us have intestinal problems.

[reyecat]

Katrina-Sisu: * I have IBS and there's a family of 4 here. *My hubby has always pooed 4-10 times a day, mine comes and goes, plus I have diverticulitis and vericose veins on my uterus that causes me to have to pee all the time. *We really are still prefering the cloth wipes. *It's been over a month now and I will never go back. *with the intestinal problems etc. *i find the cloth soooo much easier on the bum. *We do use a whole bunch of butt rags here..... I cut enough so I can go for 3-4 days without washing. *Old flannel jammies, Old T-shirts etc. *I have to do *some * laundry every 3-4 days anyway. *These wipes are small when folded, they don't take up a ton of space. *Much less butt itch with the cloth wipes.... and when it gets a little raw I just put some burts bees baby bum cream on the wipe (just like I did with TP) and then wipe..... *That does happen sometimes... especially with all the pooing that goes on around here.

Sandycane: *So glad to hear it! *You are realizing freedom from having to run to the store for TP! *Isn't it great? *I use an old cat litter bucket with the flip lid... KWIM? *the one where it's made for pouring the cat litter out? *That way no one knows what's in there... they just think it's for the cat .... *

http://dndpetsupplies.com/storemaker/images/C173_=_Maxx_Scoop_Litter.JPG

[reyecat]

I wouldn't store food in those buckets..... Unfortunately, they are not food grade as far as i know. but they are made by the same company who makes all the food grade plastic buckets, ROPAK.... so..... y'know....
to get the deoderizer smell out I would let it sit with a solution of water and baking soda for 24 hours, or vinegar and water.... seems to un-smell pretty much anything.