DIY Toilet Cloths: Using Soft Sturdy Fabric as Reuseable Toilet Wipes

DIY toilet cloths are a great way to save money and ensure that you do not run out of toilet paper. Many people forget that they will need toilet paper or some other way to wipe in an emergency situation and only figure this out after the emergency occurs. 

Having a supply of toilet paper in your emergency kit is a great idea. However, you will also want a supply of toilet cloths for when the toilet paper runs out. A toilet cloth is a small square of fabric that you can use to wipe after using the restroom. Instead of throwing the cloth away after one use like a piece of toilet paper, all you need to do is wash and dry it so you can use it again.

Advantages

Aside from the fact that you may end up with no other option in an emergency situation, there are also a number of other advantages to using cloth toilet paper. They are more affordable and better for the environment. They are also softer than regular toilet paper and much more comfortable. Since they are sturdier than regular toilet paper, it is also much easier to get and stay clean.

Disadvantages

The major disadvantage with cloth toilet paper is that in a very long term use situation, they will wear out. Eventually, the cloth will wear down or start to rip but it does take a while. Some people believe that toilet cloths are unsanitary or smell bad, but as long as you clean them frequently they should be fine.

Materials for DIY Toilet Cloths

When preparing for an emergency, you have several fabrics to choose from each with very different advantages and disadvantages. The most popular fabrics for toilet cloths are fleece and terry cloth, both of which are very soft and comfortable while still remaining sturdy enough to use for wiping.

Fleece is the softer fabric and is much more comfortable.

Terry cloth, while less soft is a bit more absorbent and sturdier.

It is up to you whether you prefer something softer and more comfortable or a little less comfortable but more substantial that will last a little bit longer. 

When choosing a color for your DIY toilet cloths, you may want to look for darker colors like black, dark blue or dark green. These colors will help hide stains and look better over time. If you are preparing an emergency kit for your entire family or any other group of people, you may want to have a variety of colors available. This way, you can tell which cloth belongs to which person and are not constantly worried about accidentally using the wrong toilet cloth. 

Care

If you wash your DIY toilet cloths by hand instead of using the washer and dryer, it will make them last much longer. Drying your toilet cloths on a clothesline may also help sanitize them better as the sun’s rays will heat them to a very high temperature, killing more germs. If you use bleach your cloths will eventually begin to fall apart.

How to Find Cloths

You can find cloth squares in a number of places. For example, you can cut up old clothing into squares or find rags on Freecycle or at Goodwill. Whatever you do, make sure you wash and sanitize them thoroughly before your first use to make sure that any germs from the previous owners are gone. 

If you would feel more comfortable buying new, you can find fabric that would work in any linen or craft store. You may want to get more cloths than you need in case your main cloth gets destroyed or is otherwise unusable. If you knit or crochet, you can also make your own toilet cloths. 

Then again, plain old cloth diapers can be cut in half to make perfect reuseable toilet cloths.

When used right, DIY toilet cloths are a frugal and sanitary way to make sure you can always keep yourself clean. They are easy to use, compact, and more effective than toilet paper. Cloth toilet wipes make an excellent addition to your emergency preparedness kit.

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