Selfsufficientish.com

Hi MF. I have only recently starting using wee wipes but the amount of washing is negligible - honestly. I use wipes about half the size of a tissue and they go in with the sheets and I bet the washing machine doesn't even notice. I have no disinfectant in my house at all, they just go in with the normal washing balls or ecover washing powder. I also believe that urine is sterile (and useful). I cant see how you could give yourself an infection by wiping your drips with a piece of clean cloth any more than toilet roll. I agree that when dealing with waste solids there are rules to adhere to but would suggest that with both solids and liquids if you aint got the disease in the first place you cant perpetuate it. I've been composting some of our humanure for some time now and with basic hygiene in place, we're both fit as fiddles. I believe our fear of our own waste comes from mismanagement and overcrowding, however I certainly respect your choice. w.

I've just giggled myself silly imagining what my flatmate will think if (when!) I start using wee-wipes - He's of the terribly-middle-class private schooled variety, loves rugby, and tells me off for using slang (intit!). He thinks of me as a hippie and tries to pretend I'm like him.

Anyway, I plan to crochet/knit my own wee-wipes from some scrap yarn and leave them next to the loo (we still have some recycled toilet paper left for guests and no. 2s).

I think a bottle of water and normal toilet paper (that way I'm using less paper, at least) will do for cleaning up "the time of the month" as nicely as it will poos, right?

Guests can make up their own minds, I'll "stock" both paper and wipes and I am so glad that the washing machine is in a cupboard next to the loo!

Brij wrote: (we still have some recycled toilet paper left for guest

Good Luck Brij. But I think that recycling the toilet paper is going a bit far W.

Maybe that's why no-one comes to visit any more?

Well I've giggled through much of this thread

Since we now live in a house which only has an upstairs loo (2 stairgates to negotiate too!) & I have a rubbish bladder (size of a walnut my OH reckons!), I recently commandeered a spare bucket downstairs & used it for an urgent wee in the not-quite-an-outhouse-not-quite-a-porch thing we have at the side of the house. I emptied straight onto our compost heaps & used a spare muslin which was nearby for a wee wipe. The muslin was then slung into the nappy bucket.

Why I didn't think "this is a really good way to save loo paper & water when I wee about 12 times a day" at the time I don't know, but having read this thread I am going to cut up some of my son's spare muslins (I swear they breed in this house!) and become an eco wee-er!

Thank you ISH-ers

Ratty

seriously ... if you use water to thoroughly rinse first before you wipe, you will find you only need to pat dry with perhaps a flannel and then you only really need change it once a day (the flannel). i have mentioned it before but using a plastic plant watering jug does the trick perfectly, because of the aim-able 'spout'. Far more hygienic than just wiping and cuts down on washing several 'use once' wipes .

I was reading a thread the other day about mooncups (which I have since changed to) and this topic came up there as well (courtesy of Clara - thanks) so I mentioned it to Jybson (OH).

Initially, he looked slightly bewildered at the idea of using anything other than tissue paper for all oblutions, although he didn't outwardly scoff.

It's a good start! Perhaps we'll give it a go...

What a great thread this has been for me. The whole household has been converted. I've sewn a layer of towel to a layer of fleece and they are great for every kind of ..... thing .

This is definately saving us a whole heap of money too.