Natural alternatives to toilet paper range from plant-based materials found in the wild to sustainable commercial options.
Bidet or Water-Based Solutions:
Now you can buy versions that attach easily to the toilet you already have. They use a spray of water to clean your bum. Alternatively, you can use a squeeze bottle, a spray bottle or plastic cup to rinse yourself off.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
The most advanced washlets can mix the water jet with soap for an improved cleaning process. The washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users opt to use both wash and paper in combination—although use of paper may be omitted for cleaning of the vulva.
Muslims use water instead of, or in addition to, toilet paper to clean themselves after using the restroom. This practice, called Istinja, is rooted in Islamic hygiene and purity laws.
Muslims do not avoid toilet paper, but they rely on water (such as a bidet, a health faucet, or a lota) as the primary method of purification. This practice, called istinja, is rooted in Islamic teachings that mandate washing with water to achieve the highest standards of physical and spiritual cleanliness.
Yes, it is completely permissible and highly encouraged for a husband and wife to shower together in Islam. There are no restrictions on spouses seeing or touching each other's naked bodies, and doing so is considered an act of love and affection.
Yes, an estimated 70% of the world does not use dry toilet paper to wipe. Instead, many cultures across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe prioritize washing with water.
The Japanese do shave their faces, arms, legs, and pubic areas. Those with hairy pubic areas are considered sexy. However, as the Western culture has influenced the country, this practice has become more accepted in Japan. A Japanese woman who is hairless is not considered sexy – she is like a neutered man.
The "5-minute rule" in Japan refers to a strict cultural practice of punctuality where you are expected to arrive at least five minutes before a scheduled meeting or appointment. Arriving "exactly on time" is often viewed as late, while being too early can also be seen as an imposition.
Leaves and Grass: This was the most common solution globally. Large, soft leaves from plants like mullein (often called "cowboy toilet paper") were especially prized.
Amish wedding nights prioritize community, tradition, and practicality over the modern idea of a private honeymoon. On their wedding night, the bride and groom typically return to the bride’s parents' home, where the newlyweds must wake up early the next morning to help clean the house after the large celebration.
While individuals are born with LGBTQ identities within Amish communities, they cannot actively remain Amish while living openly. The culture does not allow for queer inclusion, and strict adherence to traditional gender roles means open LGBTQ members are typically excommunicated and shunned.
What toilet paper do gynecologists recommend? Most clinical guidance points to white, unscented, unbleached paper, with hypoallergenic or bamboo options favored for sensitive skin.
Around 70% of the world doesn't rely on toilet paper in the way we do, turning to water before tissue.
The best alternatives to toilet paper range from reusable cloths and bidets to household paper products and natural foliage. Crucially, never flush anything other than actual toilet paper and human waste, as items like paper towels and baby wipes will severely damage your plumbing.
Julia Roberts' unshaven armpits at the 1999 Notting Hill premiere shocked the public, but she has since clarified it wasn't a deliberate feminist statement. Rather, it was a simple oversight; she hadn't calculated her sleeve length with the act of waving, resulting in her being her natural self.
Islam places great emphasis on maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, and shaving one's pubic hair is recommended for both men and women. As there is no `awrah between husband and wife in Islam, it is permissible for a husband to shave his wife's pubic hair, or vice versa, as long as both parties are comfortable with it.
Yes, you can go braless in Japan, as there are no laws against it. However, it is culturally uncommon. Japanese fashion and social etiquette strongly prioritize modesty, so going without a bra in public—especially if your nipples or breast shape are highly visible—may attract unwanted stares and be considered impolite.
Yes, modern kings wipe their own bottoms. Today's royals manage their own personal hygiene like everyone else.
The "poop rule" usually refers to a viral home-organization and decluttering hack, though it can also describe medical guidelines for digestive health.
Eating any food while on the toilet is forbidden. After defecating, the anus must be washed with water using the left hand, or an odd number of smooth stones or pebbles called jamrah or hijaarah (Sahih Al-Bukhari 161, Book 4, Hadith 27). Many jurists agree that toilet paper suffices in place of these stones.
In Islam, the permissibility of the "69" position (oral sex) between a husband and wife is a subject of debate among modern and classical scholars. The act itself does not fall under absolute, agreed-upon prohibitions like anal sex, but it is approached with varying degrees of caution.
New York has the highest raw number of Muslims in the US, home to an estimated 724,475 Muslim residents. California follows closely with over 500,000.
In Islam, there is broad agreement among scholars that kissing, touching, and enjoying any part of your wife's body is permissible. While there is no explicit prohibition, scholars hold differing opinions on oral contact with private parts; some consider it permissible, while others advise against it due to concerns about hygiene and modesty.