Tissues, Napkins or Paper Towels: They're soft and they have the same type of texture that toilet paper does. Alternatively, you might use paper towels or napkins, which are absorbent but probably a bit rougher.
There are alternatives to toilet paper such as Kleenex, flushable wipes and even baby wipes (although I don't recommend flushing them!) You could easily purchase a surplus of cheap washcloths. It's easy to wet a washcloth with warm water and use it to wipe yourself. Washcloths can always be washed and bleached!
Toilet Showers
Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and other countries will use a small shower for rinsing off after you do your business. Most of these cultures believe that you can get your bum cleaner with water than you can with toilet paper which is why they chose that option.
Rags or towels
Often referred to as the “Family Cloth,” you can use cut up towels, old t-shirts, or other types of cloth. Simply keep a sealed hamper next to the toilet to throw soiled cloths into.
Bidets, recycled paper, bamboo, sugarcane and other alternative pulp sources offer more environmentally friendly options.
Native Americans used twigs, dry grass, small stones, and even oyster or clam shells.
Some developing countries such as India, China, and Africa do not use toilet paper as commonly as developed countries. Instead, they use alternatives such as bidets, wiping with water, or cloths.
Options included rocks, leaves, grass, moss, animal fur, corn cobs, coconut husks, sticks, sand, and sea shells. Water and snow were also used to wash and clean. The material used depended on various factors, such as socioeconomic status, weather conditions, social customs, and location.
Only flush the 3 P's: pee, poo, and paper (toilet paper). Toilet paper is specifically designed to break down in the water. Although paper towels, napkins, and facial tissue appear to be the same material, but they do not disintegrate in water like toilet paper.
If you prefer to use wet wipes as toilet paper and don't experience any irritation, make sure they're free of alcohol and allergens like MCI and MI. Otherwise, consider using alternatives, like a bidet and/or toilet paper moistened with warm water, according to our experts.
In many parts of the world, especially where toilet paper or the necessary plumbing for disposal may be unavailable or unaffordable, toilet paper is not used. Also, in many parts of the world people consider using water a much cleaner and more sanitary practice than using paper.
Tissues, Napkins or Paper Towels:
They're soft and they have the same type of texture that toilet paper does. Alternatively, you might use paper towels or napkins, which are absorbent but probably a bit rougher. Just be careful.
What is the best non irritating toilet paper? For those with sensitive skin, bamboo toilet paper is the top pick. It's hypoallergenic, free from harsh chemicals, fragrances, and dyes, reducing the risk of irritation or allergic reactions.
Bamboo toilet paper is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic, offering softness, strength, and fewer chemicals compared to traditional toilet paper. While it may seem more expensive upfront, its durability means you use less. Downsides include brand variability in softness and limited in-store availability.
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. Some wipe before washing, some wash before wiping, some wash only, and some wipe only—each according to their preference.
Outside the U.S., bidets are standard.
Bidets are not just preferred over toilet paper in many parts of the world, but they're also necessary where paper products are limited. Expect to use one if you use a public toilet in Italy, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, or Venezuela.
Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. In these countries, they also use water for cleansing during toilet use, although the “restroom” is not so much a toilet as a “hole” in the floor.
Toilet paper is common in the U.S. and much of the Western world, but about 70% of people don't use it at all. Instead, bidet showers (“bum guns”) are becoming increasingly common. Historically, humans have used a variety of things for wiping — from corn cobs to rocks.
Native Americans honored the time of menstruation with the 'red tent' ritual. Women would live in a separate lodge while menstruating. During this time, a woman was considered to be more creative and in tune with the spirit world.
While Europeans do use toilet paper, WCs may not always be well stocked. If you're averse to the occasional drip-dry, carry pocket-size tissue packs (easy to buy in Europe) for WCs sans TP.
Not that you should ever blindly follow the crowd, but a whopping 70% of the population prefers the “over” position. Because the toilet paper is already closer towards you, it makes it easier to grab from a seated position. Facing the paper away from the wall generally makes it easier to tear.
Washing with water is a much more effective and long-lasting way of cleaning, and removes more germs and bacteria than paper. Using water is a much more gentle and soothing way of cleaning after using the toilet and the feeling of freshness and cleanliness is incomparable to when using paper.