If you are out of toilet paper, the most accessible immediate solutions are using nearby paper alternatives (like tissues, paper towels, or napkins), hopping in the shower for a quick rinse, or dampening a washcloth. Do not flush anything except toilet paper to avoid expensive plumbing clogs.
When you're out of toilet paper, the most obvious thing to reach for might be that box of tissues on the shelf. 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.
Notepaper, newspaper, a page from the printer, envelopes, coffee filters or even an old receipt that you found stuffed in your wallet. Paper products make for a handy substitute in a toilet paper crisis. Just remember DO NOT FLUSH THESE.
If you are stuck without toilet paper, assess your immediate surroundings for alternatives, or use water to clean up. Do not flush any substitute items.
To wipe without toilet paper, the most hygienic and effective method is to use water, followed by a quick pat-dry. Popularized globally, this can be done using a bidet, a squirt bottle, or simply by taking a quick shower.
Yes, roughly 70% of the global population does not use toilet paper as their primary method of bathroom hygiene. Instead, the majority of people worldwide rely on water-based cleaning methods, which are considered more hygienic, sustainable, and culturally appropriate.
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.
For a zero-waste or emergency substitute, the best options include using water (like a bidet or peri bottle), reusable cloth wipes, or household paper products like tissues and paper towels. For outdoor emergencies, soft vegetation such as mullein leaves can be used.
Most people wipe after using the toilet by reaching behind their back or between their legs to clean from front to back using dry toilet paper. This method is crucial to prevent the spread of bacteria from the anus to the urethra. While many sit to wipe, some stand up, and others utilize bidets, especially outside of North America.
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.
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.
Toilet paper alternatives – the washing options
Using a wet sponge on a stick – apparently the Romans used to do this (and they use to share them – soaking them in salt water between uses). Get in the shower – good option, but water intensive. The water pistol/ spray bottle method (I think this one is a winner!)
Around 70% of the world doesn't rely on toilet paper in the way we do, turning to water before tissue.
Endless wiping is usually caused by an inconsistent stool texture, incomplete bowel movements, or the shape of the lower digestive tract. You can dramatically reduce wiping by improving your stool consistency, upgrading your bathroom routine, and altering your dietary habits.
Running out of toilet paper in a busy household happens to the best of us, but there are ways to manage. The shower is a simple, hygienic solution, while tissues, napkins, or paper towels work when you're in a bind. Just don't forget — anything that isn't toilet paper goes in the bin, not the toilet. No exceptions!
Doctors say bidets can support comfort and hygiene, but only if used properly. Learning to use a bidet properly helps prevent irritation, infection, and overuse.
The "poop rule" usually refers to a viral home-organization and decluttering hack, though it can also describe medical guidelines for digestive health.
Muslims practice Istinja, the Islamic rule for washing private parts after defecation. Instead of dry wiping, the tradition requires washing with water to ensure absolute purity.
There is no single "correct" way to wipe; it comes down to personal preference, flexibility, and comfort. Both sitting and standing have their pros and cons, and both are widely practiced.
Europeans primarily use toilet paper, but they heavily supplement or enhance it with water for superior hygiene. In many countries, bidet fixtures, bidet showers, or wet wipes are utilized to clean up before drying with paper.
Here's how to use reusable toilet paper:
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.
Other ways of wiping before the invention of toilet paper
Early North American settlers used corn cobs. They were abundant, they were soft and they were easy to handle. Sailors used something called a 'tow rag'. A tow rag was a long piece of frayed rope that dangled in the water.
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.