I’m just curious to know why toilet paper is so used. In the USA we don’t have bidet or anything like that, but at home we always kept a watering can on hand, filling it before going to the bathroom. When I traveled to the Middle East, I noted that there were hoses in the bathroom stalls. This amazed me.
Because I grew up in a family that taught the use of water instead of toilet paper, I couldn’t use a public bathroom for a long time. In grade school, I would hold it in all day just so I could use the watering can at home. I’d actually wet my pants a few times, avoiding going to the bathroom.
I’ve gotten into the habit of wetting the hand towels to take into the bathroom with me when I’m in public. If I don’t do that and just use toilet paper, I feel disgusting afterwards.
Toilet paper isn’t great for the environment, either. My recent concern with this has prompted me to try and quit using toilet paper again. The house I live in has three bathrooms, and I mostly use one, so I keep a mug in there. However when necessity requires me to use another, I’m always very upset because I don’t keep anything in there.
I think I should get over my bashfulness and take a cup with me into the bathroom. The inconvenience with this is that of course has to carry it around with me. At work, I can keep it at my desk—but that would gross me out. I’d love to keep it in the bathroom but I don’t know where I’d store it. As for when I go out in public, what can I do?
I do use toilet paper for drying and making extra certain I’m clean after pouring water all over, but it’s in a much more limited way than what people normally do.
I’d like to know what people think, and if anyone agrees with this idea and thinks that watering cans/hoses/etc should be made available in public restrooms. It just seems to me that it’s more environmentally conscious, cleaner, and probably even better for your body. Toilet paper doesn’t wash so it might not get rid of anything but moisture.
