How I cut my toilet paper use by 90%

Recently I had an epiphany.  In preparation for sending hundreds of small items around the country, I started saving my toilet paper tubes to use as packing material.  I was really astounded at how fast they added up!  It is so easy to think the little things don't matter when we can just toss it in the bin and hope it gets recycled.
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About two weeks later, I decided I had to take action because it seemed just a little too arrogant of me to profess to love trees and yet flush them down the toilet with such um, regularity. 

So I began researching how to replace my toilet paper with cloth wipes.  The internet is full of people telling you how to and how not to do it correctly.  Having used cloth menstrual pads for nearly two decades, I knew that the task was not as easy as the internet made it out to be.  And to make things worse, this new lifestyle level up got a great big thumbs down from my husband.  What's a tree hugger to do?

Compromise!  Since I was already having reservations about the cleaning process, it was decided that we would keep toilet paper around for poo and I would use the cloth wipes just for urine.  Because in the words of Anne Marie Bonneau, a Zero Waste Chef,  “We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” 

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Ever the designer, I worked up a pattern that is the size of 1.5 squares of toilet paper.  Enough to cover the palm of your hand.  I tried first with a 1-ply rectangle of cotton flannel but quickly decided that 2-ply is definitely better.  Of course the edges need to be surged because floss belongs between your teeth, not your crack.  And then there needed to be a place to keep the little buggers until wash day.  

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So here it is, a complete system!  So simple and elegant.  Toss the soiled wipes into the laundry bag where they wait until wash day.  When used for urine only, they can stay in the bag for days with out foul smells.  When you are ready to wash, simply close the bag up tight using the cord lock.  (This prevents your Fuzzy Wizzettes from hooking up with a stray sock while you are not looking.)  Toss the entire bag into the wash on whatever temperature you prefer.  Safe to tumble dry too.  Use a non chlorine bleach when needed.  The number of wipes you will want to purchase will depend on how often you do laundry.  Since we don't do much laundry in my house, I find I need quite a lot.  These sets come with 20.

Fuzzy Wizzettes come in a variety of colors.  Check them out in my Etsy shop.  Sign up for my email list and receive a 10% off coupon!  

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