To reduce waste, lots of people look for re-usable toilet paper alternatives. The most common is probably cloth (commonly called 'The Family Cloth'). If you'd like to experiment with The Family Cloth, people recommend using a soft material like flannel or cotton (though you could use towels or washcloths).
Toilet Paper Alternatives
Bidets are a type of plumbing fixture that is used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. They are commonly used in countries such as Italy, Spain, and Japan. In addition to bidets, some people in developing countries wipe with water or cloths instead of using toilet paper.
They prefer practical alternatives that align with their sustainable values, upholding their principles. In many Amish homes, rags are a common toilet paper alternative. These rags are typically old clothes that have been worn out.
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!)
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.
What toilet paper do gynecologists recommend? Most clinical guidance points to white, unscented, unbleached paper, with hypoallergenic or bamboo options favored for sensitive skin.
Muslims use water after using the toilet because *Islam emphasizes cleanliness* and purity. Using water ensures *better hygiene* and is part of *ritual purification (ṭahārah)* required for prayer. It's not that tissue is forbidden—many use both—but water is seen as more thorough and cleaner.
Condoms are considered a modern and artificial form of birth control. The Amish reject modern and artificial things by nature. Therefore, the use of condoms by Amish men is strictly forbidden and condemned in most, if not all, Amish communities.
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.
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.
Plumbers often advise against using Charmin toilet paper because it is known for being particularly thick and plush, which can lead to clogs in plumbing systems.
In the West, we've decided that wiping with toilet paper is an appropriate way to clean after pooing. It's not. In most of Asia, they use water to clean after defecating. It could be a portable bidet like the one in the picture above, or a permanent one, or even a hosepipe-style thing by the side of the toilet.
The Groom of the Stool was responsible for managing the king's personal hygiene, including wiping his rear after using the royal close stool (a portable toilet). But the role went far beyond that.
If mobility issues or pain prevent you from bending or reaching, there are products that can help. You can buy toilet paper aids with long handles that hold toilet paper on the end or tong-style products that grip the toilet paper between the prongs. Some even come in small carrying cases so you can use them on the go.
Amish women don't shave any of their body hair.
So basically just like everyone else they try to breastfeed and they often do breast feed the babies but sometimes the babies don't latch or the mother doesn't have enough breast milk for the baby. In that case they do buy formula at the store.
The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)
According to Islamic Sharia, it is permissible for a husband and wife to bathe together. This permissibility is evidenced by many Hadiths, one of which is narrated by 'Aishah (RA), the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). She mentions that she and the Prophet (S) used to bathe from a single vessel.
The Seven Great Sins in Islam are listed as follows:
Ritual purity is different from hygienic practices, although Islam also emphasizes good hygiene. Muslims take care to wash often, including using water after going to the bathroom.
But here's the straight-talking truth: bamboo toilet paper does not block drains. It's totally plumbing safe and plays nice with your pipes, whether you're on a mains sewage system or a trusty septic tank. So you can flush with confidence, not crossed fingers.
However, if all test results are negative and no cause can be determined, the patient should be advised to use unbleached toilet paper or minimally processed toilet paper to see if her symptoms abate.
In general, gynecologists do not recommend the use of feminine hygiene products.
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.