To ask why would someone use washable toilet wipes?

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I was reading an article this morning about a women who has made the switch to use washable toilet wipes instead of toilet roll. I honestly had no idea this was a thing, but from googling it looks like there are companies which make and sell these wipes.

The women claimed they were more environmentally friendly which I just don't understand. Surely you recycle the loo roll tubes and the paper disintegrates. Using wipes that you have to wash would be worse for the environment wouldn't it?

I cannot see why anyone would use such wipes am I missing something? Or is it as I suspect a new-fangled look at me and how environmentally aware I am statement?

I don’t know what the environmental difference is between washing the wipes and the paper decomposing but presumably she’s looked into it and washing is better? Like with reusable nappies.

I have to say though, the environmental payoff would have to be HUGE to convince me to switch!

We use them instead of baby wipes as they do a much better job of cleaning up poo, and they are obviously more environmentally friendly.
I couldn't do them for adult poo though!

Oh course they are more environmentally friendly. Toilet roll still needs to be manufactured and transported. Plus the idea with the wipes is you put them in the wash with whatever your washing. You don't need a separate load for them. (That's why I couldn't do it!)

I suspect the environmental impact is more about the cutting down of trees than it is about what happens to the toilet roll after.... Agree I don't fancy it though, wouldn't want them hanging around for long, so you'd be washing them every day. And you wouldn't want to wash them with your other clothes....
We used to use washable cloths instead of wet wipes for my ds for cleaning hands and face and actually they were great, just stuck them in with the next wash.

Virtue signalling?

I think it appeals to those who are fanatical about cloth nappies. I knew of someone who called her washable bog roll “family cloth” (even the name is so wholesome it’s cringey). She’d have a pile of clean cloths by the toilet and a basket for the soiled ones 🤢

Personally, I think it’s too much work. And I doubt a man would task himself with washing cloths covered in pee and crap every day, so why would a woman choose that for herself? 🤔

Well there's a lot of energy that goes into the production of loo roll, even if the end product disintegrates. Cutting down the trees or processing the paper if using recycled, bleaching the paper, transporting to the shops, transporting home etc.

In the same way it's apparently much more environmentally friendly to use electric hand dryers instead of paper towels, even though they obviously use electricity to blow the hot air.

I quite fancy switching to one of those fancy Japanese style toilets eventually where they use water to clean you. They are supposed to be more hygienic too. But the ones I've seen are either expensive and/or look tricky to install so I haven't done this yet.

I would do it in a heartbeat (keep conventional loo roll for guests) but my husband won't. I can't understand why not - we already use washable nappies, including washable wipes so there's already a nappy pail in the bathroom with enough in for a specific nappy wash.
They are more environmentally friendly because of the manufacturing costs of loo roll plus transport, packaging etc but also a wet cloth does a better job of cleaning than dry paper!
But hubby won't switch. I just don't know why.

I'd be interested in knowing how many times that they would need to be reused to make them more environmentally friendly than toilet paper. You would also need to take into account the energy to wash and tumble dry them and the environmental impact of the washing detergent.

And I doubt a man would task himself with washing cloths covered in pee and crap every day, so why would a woman choose that for herself?

Actually my Dad uses a sponge, which has pissed off my Mum because he didn't make it clear enough to her that he was going to start doing this and she might not want to use that sponge for other things (not envy)

Plus the idea with the wipes is you put them in the wash with whatever your washing. You don't need a separate load for them.

I appreciate that's what you might be expected to do but realistically you would surely use a new one each time you went to the toilet and in a household of more that 1 adult that amount would soon add up. You would either need a huge amount of them or you would need to wash each day.

Afaik reusable nappies are only more environmentally friendly than disposable ones if washed on a cool temperature and line dried rather than tumble dried (although there are other benefits like not contributing to landfill).

I suppose it must be the same for washable cloths.

if washed on a cool temperature

I can't imagine washing a piece of cloth with pooh on it at 30 degrees. .

I would imagine if we all switched to these clothes the manufacturing cost would rise significantly to keep up with the demand so not sure that argument makes sense either.

They're not actually that big, and you can leave them to soak in tea tree oil so they don't get too smelly/ mouldy for a couple of days. Plus most households put a wash on most days. You need to use less than you think as they're very effective at doing the job.
Still couldn't do it though!

No! Just no! The thought of washing my own poo and urine of the re used stained wipes is bad enough but having to handle my partners shitty rags? No thank you!

I used cloth nappies and use re-usable menstrual products. But using washable wipes for adult toileting? Ugh. With several people in the house, that would be a full stinking additional load of washing a day. Unless each person washed his/her cloth in the sink religiously after each use. How is this environmentally friendly? Just the water and heating use is huge.

Pretty much all societies without toilet paper use some other form of disposable easily decomposing products to wipe their bums - old newspaper, leaves, moss, etc. Oh just water and their own hands. Anyone who bothers washing adult bum cloths really has too much time and money on their hands.

I thought they were meant to be used in combo with the asian jug routine. Wee I could cope with, so its jsut the poo - we all do alot less of that so maybe save the paper for the poo etc

Jesus, scaredofthecity, how effective does the "job" need to be? Surely pretty much everyone above the age of 7 knows how to wipe his/her bum effectively.

I thought they were meant to be used in combo with the asian jug routine

I'm not sure I dare ask but what on earth is the Asian jug routine... I feel like I have stepped into a parallel universe.

It’s more about how toilet roll is produced, it’s carbon footprint and the fact that 99.9% of toilet roll is wrapped in plastic. We used cloth nappies and baby wipes but personally I wouldn’t use family cloth. Instead I used bamboo toilet roll that’s wrapped in compostable paper rather than unrecyclable plastic

How about just use water to wash your bum like they do in other countries? Why use a cloth?
I don't use baby wipes at home, its cleaner and more environmentally friendly to wash baby's bum.

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Trying to imagine how I would present this one to visitors. Do I explain the system to them or let them go and play hunt the loo roll?

I used cloth nappies for both my DS, and the nappy washes were bad enough for all those years, let alone setting myself up to do it for life, for a family of four. Shitty buckets of arse rags, no thanks. DH does his fair share of laundry/housework but he is would definitely draw the line here.

I use Who Gives a Crap. It’s bamboo toilet paper with recyclable packaging.
Here is a link and you get £5 off. www.talkable.com/x/cuK5Iw

No thank you. I'm just going to stick with regular loo roll!

The who gives a crap stuff looks pretty cool, and not a bad price either. Think I would be more supportive of that than of a scented cloth shit rag.