Family cloth

Definitely not. Even though you wash it, that seems incredibly unsanitary. Even though it's probably the 'green' thing to do, nope. Because you would have to TOUCH these cloths to wash them. And do you wash them every single time after you use them or let them build up until there is enough for one load of laundry, in which case if you did...It would start stinking like a SEWER in your home. I would rather just cut down on toilet paper, like using ONE sheet every time I went to the bathroom.... That's just me though...

No way! If you think about it, how are you really saving money? Toilet paper is not very expensive.. you can get decent TP for like 50 cents a roll or less, I pay $5 for a 12 pack and I get fairly decent stuff, not top of the line but not the cheapest either. But if you get this reusable stuff, first of all you have to pay the initial cost of the fabric. Then you have to pay for the water and electricity to wash it, not to mention the washing liquid.. and cheap washing liquid around here is like $3 a bottle but doesn't really get the smells out. I prefer the stuff that's around $10 a bottle. Then you need to pay for the electricity to dry it unless you're willing to line dry them. And you can only use each cloth once. I think in the long run the reusables probably cost more than buying TP, and it's definitely more of a hassle. I can understand reusable diapers because they are expensive, so over all the reusables are cheaper and help the environment, but most TP is biodegradable anyway, isn't it?

I'm a cheapskate but I'm not that cheap! I don't think I would ever consider using cloth unless there was no TP available. I've used leaves before when camping but I didn't have to wash them! I have used cloth for my liquid waste when I have not had a cent to spare, leaving the TP for the solids, but I would not consider using cloth for everything unless circumstances were such that there was no other way.

grr. This is my second attemtpt at posting this as mylot is being glitchy again, which makes for an irritated SCG this early in the morning before work. I'll break it down into just little points that I had wanted to make. 1. Good Idea IF it's economical. 2. Better Idea if used just for number one. 3. Water / Vinegar (hot) mix to soak in and wash later. Yeah I think that those were my points broken down.

Well, as interesting as that blog post was, I have to say I will not be using any kind of family cloth anytime soon. I will stick with my toilet paper. There is an alternative to toilet paper though, some people use old newspapers when they run out of toilet paper. At least it's paper. I have never done that, but I would rather do that is I was in a bind without toilet paper. I like things that can be disposed of and not held onto.

hi, i think im going to agree with it, yes i know some people do that its briliant to be able to do it and really great idea but i can not do it, im lazy to do it and i like the nice decorated things to be used not the old cloths and these things but you can say its useful idea and good also to some limitations, why not if you run out of money to do it, its after all your cloths and they are sure clean and no disgusting things in that, so i can not say im against it or with it, its up to you

Why not? Urine is sterile, so it's cleaner than a lot of other things we wash. Not "number two" as you mentioned, from adults, because I think that could be dangerous. I've washed diapers by hand and survived, so I'm sure I'd survive washing wipes by hand that had urine on them. I think we live so far from nature that we are afraid of ourselves. The down to earth fact of it is that our bodies are not horribly nasty things. Some would be shocked at what they do with human urine.

I suppose it beats using newspaper or old catalogs, but it's not for me. In fact, I'd like disposable undies... ones that are meant to be tossed after a wearing or two, not the "regular" ones that just don't last very long at all. Either the elastic shreds or stretches, or the material is so thin one often ends up putting their thumbs through it when pulling them up.

I use recycled toilet paper. I figure toilet paper is biodegradable. Not considering reuseable whipes. We dry out clothes on the line a lot. I read that clothes not dried in a dryer don't reach a temp that will kill disease, ditto for handwashed because not hot enough. Maybe that is just stuff written by washer and drier companies, who knows. I have used newspaper when we were out of toilet paper (the print here is soyben based) and I've used leaves when we were in the woods. When we were on a cruise, we were told to only use biodegradable marine paper. One of the stops, we saw a septic tank truck unloading stuff from the ship, so that was interesting because I thougth they might be dumping it all in the ocean. Washing diapers for a baby or maybe two is hard enough, but for whipes for an entire family. Esp. when people get diarrhea.

This would not be something that I would be willing to do with number 2 and it would also not be something that I would expect guests to my house to do. However, it is something that I would be willing to consider for the four of us that live in the house. The reason that I would consider it is because of the fact that it would save a lot of money in toilet paper in the long run. In addition to that, it would also be something that would help the environment.

This would not be something that I would be willing to do with number 2 and it would also not be something that I would expect guests to my house to do. However, it is something that I would be willing to consider for the four of us that live in the house. The reason that I would consider it is because of the fact that it would save a lot of money in toilet paper in the long run. In addition to that, it would also be something that would help the environment.

well in my personal opinion I think it is unhygienic to use and reuse clothing specially if you used it to wipe poo. I can't imagine washing that! Well yeah it will save toilet paper, but then washing it wouldn't save water and detergent. Just my thought?

We have used the family cloth for babies but only for babies.Before When I was still young, my mum also used the used fabric on me.But now since a lot women think it will be more convenient to use the tissue paper and diaper then throw away.Actually it is good for babies because it is much more comfortable than tissue paper and diaper. In future, I also will use family cloth for my baby but so far it will be impossible to use in whole family unless it is used for washing hands or something else.

no thank you, someone suggested us to use wash clothes for our baby even though we use washing machine we still don't want to do it. The idea might be good it's safe toilet paper and money but considering the germ from grown up like us??? I don't think so, if anything water is better choice than wash clothes.

Hello GreenMoo0. Interesting discussion. Some time ago some one ask what we thought was the greatest invention was for mankind. At the time I thought it was the wheel now I have decided it is toilet paper. The wealthy Chinese had the paper available to them in the fourteenth century. Every one else used leaves, grass, hay, stone, sand, moss, water, snow, maize, ferns, may apple plant husks, fruit skins, or seashells. Personally I can't see using hay, stones or corn cobs as they would be really rough. I do know that the early American natives used cat tail fuzz and milk weed seeds for babies buntings. I would rather use those over catalogs or corn cobs. I'm sure that in the nineteenth century many pioneer families had family clothes. When they did laundry they boiled it in a wash kettle over a fire in the yard. Those clothes would be sanitized by the boiling. They would be as sanitary as an operating room. I had also washed my first son' nappies or as we in the U.S. call them diapers by hand. I had to heat the water on the stov4 first. My poor step mother did a lot of camping and one time she accidentally use poison ivy to wipe with. She suffered for some time. Toilet paper is cheap enough that I would not use any kind of clothes. Some one mentioned the monthly. My grandmother talked about using rags for that and washed them out daily. She would make sure they were hung so that any one passing by or visiting would not see them. We never talked about them using family clothes though as long as she was alive and living in the country they had an outdoor loo. But it always had toilet paper in it.

NO WAY IN HELL!!!! -Toilet paper is not that expensive. -It disolves in the sewers so does not clog up the environment. -It starts out clean and fresh with each new piece. -I don't have to wash it. -I live in an apartment so I do not have my own washing machine.

I think I'll stick with toilet paper....I once washed diapers and that was enough. I can afford toilet paper so that's what I"ll use...it would be one of the last things I stopped using even if money got tight.

I don't think I would be comfortable with it. Anyhow, we don't actually use toilet papers instead we use the good old soap and water. I think soap and water is still best and beats any other way to wash the bottoms with. At first, I thought you were referring to the family cloth which women in the olden days would use to wipe after urinating, they'd actually wash those instantly thus isn't a big deal because it wouldn't be staying too long before they're washing. Further, it's just excess pee thus is quite okay compared to poo. I think it's unsanitary to use that for the poop because you don't take out everything just by washing. There's bacteria that couldn't be taken off just by mere washing. Further, I don't think we should compare the poo of adults to those of kids. Remember that kids only drink milk and light food, compare that to someone who's eating junk food, fats, and other stuff. I just wouldn't want to be the one to use it after someone else have (even if he/she is family). Have a great MyLot experience ahead!

The idea makes me shudder! I think that we can take recycling only so far. Why not manufacture dock leaves into toilet tissue and place that in the Johanna (super hot composter). We've got two and they are fantastic taking virtually all our recyclables including meat and fish products. I remember a friend once writing in a loo the words just above the toilet roll holder "Now use other side"! Yuk.

For me, I would consider using washable, reusable nappies. It can be washed anyway; dirt and bacteria will be washed out. Recyclables are helpful for moms at home for it saves money. Even if I’ll be using washable and reusable nappies, I will still use toilet paper also for necessary things only that needs to be disposed.