Do You Bunch or Fold?

Written by greenandcleanmom on Dec - 31 | Comments | Related : Green Budget, Green Health, Green Solutions and Tips

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I bunch and my husband folds. You know, when you wipe your bottom after you go to the bathroom, what do you do with the toilet paper? I’m too busy to sit and fold the toilet paper but he says it’s wasteful and being a “green mom”, shouldn’t I take the time to conserve the toilet paper? At first my response was, no! Just to spite him but in all actuality, it’s yes. Even though I’m not really sure he’s correct that folding saves toilet paper. I think it’s just a wiping preference and the way you were taught not an Eco issue!

I have a point in writing this, I do. With the New Year here, tomorrow…I need a resolution that is obtainable. Something I can really do and succeed at. Measurable too! I need to see results so I know I’m being successful and making a difference. I’ve decided less toilet paper is my New Years Resolution. I can’t really go to the bathroom fewer times a day but I can try to use less tee pee and buy recycled toilet paper. If my husband is reading this, which I doubt he is, he is probably jumping up and down. He’s been begging me to do this for years! I’ve eliminated paper towel from our home so this is a logical next step.

I’ve also considered a Biffy personal rinse and when I started researching and I found an excellent post about this same topic over at Lighter Foot Step (guess I’m not the only one thinking about using less toilet paper). I realized that a Biffy might not be the best option for saving resources because then you are using more water. Geesh, what’s a girl to do when she just wants a clean bottom and a healthier planet?

The Seventh Generation website tells me that if every family replaces one twelve pack of “conventional” toilet tissue with one twelve pack of recycled toilet tissue, 1.3 billon gallons of water can be saved. That’s more than a drop in the bucket. That means using fewer squares to wipe. Research is telling me that this is inconclusive on whether it is going to make a big difference in helping the environment but I think it will and here is my logic:

If I buy in bulk there will be less packaging and I will save money.
Using less will mean I won’t have to drive to the store and buy as much and that’s good for the environment and my pocket book.
Making Eco-friendly choices on toilet paper from the NRDC will help to support efforts for recycling content for toilet tissue and companies not using bleaching methods. The NRDC rates all toilet paper and includes if mercury is avoided.
Water will be conserved (if the Seventh Generation site is correct) and that’s Eco-friendly!
I also think fewer trees will be cut down if more consumers buy toilet tissue made from recycled content. That’s just my thinking and an older MSNBC article points to this as well but it is debated. The Kleenex® and Cottonelle® website point out that the tissue is from the waste of trees already cut down for other uses. You can even see the life cycle of the tissue product. So it’s up for debate.

Every litte bit counts, even toilet tissue. That’s my resolution this year, what’s yours?

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Andrea

Hi Alyssa,

I subscribe to your feed. I caught your blog about free toilet paper, and yes I am very excited. However, I am allergic to the perfumes or latex based glue used on the spools of most bath tissue,so I am very lucky to be able to use any kind of regular bath tissue. I can't tolerate any part of Scott, Charmin and Cottonell paper goods. Right now my favorite is Quilted Northern, because they use no perfumes and not as much glue on the spool as the other non-organic manufacturers, therefore their safer for me, and their 2-ply 9 big roll package is the most economical. I have the same problem with adhesive sanitary pads, so I am strictly an unscented tampon woman. My last use of the White Cloud brand, pre-dates my allergy issues, so I be very interested in trying it again.

However, to answer your question. I both fold and bunch. In order to save paper and because of my allergies, I unspool the entire roll. The first two thirds of the spool I am not allergic to, but the last third to the end of the spool can be very irritating if I don't take precautions. Therefore, I actually start out with two wads of paper (one two thirds and one one third). I start at the very end of the spool where the glue's molecule are most saturated. I began by tearing away only three swatches at time until I have a nice pile, which I set a side and then I began to tear away the same amount from the safe wad, then I must separate the 2-ply of the unsafe swatches and trifold each of them into a neat pile. I start this process all over again with the safe wad only after I separate the 2-ply I combine them with the unsafe swatches by folding the safe paper over the unsafe making a big enough fold that is both absorbent and safe to use against my skin. The rest of the safe wad I break down into three swatches, as well but I don't fold them, I just pull the 2-ply apart and bunch them back together and their just as absorbent as using four or five swatches that have not been pulled apart . Yes, its tedious, but such is the life of most thrifty, yet chemically sensitive people. My bath tissue last me twice as long as it use to and if most moms and dads would teach their families the three swatch 2-ply tear away and re-bunch rule, I am sure that their bath tissue would last much longer, as well. Hey, if you need more, use more. But, you should always start out with just three little swatches.

Alyssa, I also read (sometime ago) that your attempting to read the entire holy bible in 90 days. Well, my hat's off to you. I have just completed my fifth reading of the Old Testament. I began re-reading it back in July of 2009. I will began my sixth re-reading of the New Testament today. I first read the New Testament in three days (I was 19 years old I am now 50), but that was never to be repeated. Each time I re-read it it seems to take longer and longer. It's all that prophesy, you know? I just have to keep researching everything again and again. Still, the Jewish people re-read the Torah every year and I once ran across a Rabbi's website that claimed that if you followed along with him it could be read in just 18 days. Okay, but what all that prophesy? Anyway, the Lord loves those who set their focus on him, so you say in his word and he will stay in your heart.

Kathleen

Thanks for this post! I never would have known all of this stuff about toilet paper, and since I try to be as eco-friendly as possible, I'm going to use your tips.

My resolution is to be more crafty, and to stop using paper towels entirely.

<abbr>Kathleens last blog post..New Year, New You Giveaway</abbr>

Green & Clean Mom

I'm laughing reading through these comments. How many bunch or fold. It's funny! Thanks for admitting to what you do.

@misty making flannel wipes, what good idea. Money saver too, if you don't mind washing. I'm not there yet!

@Andrea I think you should buy the recycled stuff again, you'll be surprised. I am, it works fine.

You will all be happy to know, I'm off to a good start on my wiping! LOL!

misty

i am a buncher, dh is a folder. my girls use homemade flannel wipes and i am in the process of making the change as well. dh isn't there on that yet. anyway, i have noticed a big difference with the girls using cloth wipes full time and me part time. i actually have the sewing machine sitting here to make more today:) besides being green, it's so much more comfy:)

Andrea

What about the article you blogged about a few months ago about BPA in recycled toilet paper? I guess it all depends on what you buy and what you believe, but would that influence you decision at all?

Personally, I bought recycled t.p. one time about three years ago. I've never bought it again because I felt the quality was below that of cheap dollar store paper. I just use as few sheets of "regular" t.p. as I can.

Vickie Couturier

I admit I had never given the toliet paper debate much thought until now,I am a folder,I dont know what my husband does cause ive not been in there when he has needed it,an im not gonna ask,lol,but I see where there can be waste,i myself try not too,but I know the grandchildren do,cause I have been in with them an have to tell them not so much,the only thing I can say is we are going to do better,thanks

Sara

I have drastically reduced the amount of tp we use in our house. I blogged about it:
http://bestsariah.blogspot.com/2008/10/no-more-...
You might find that interesting!

<abbr>Saras last blog post..ABC Gingerbread House</abbr>

Andrea

If you are serious about saving money AND water, want a toilet that really works and is affordable, I would highly recommend a Caroma Dual Flush toilet. Caroma toilets offer a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. Caroma, an Australian company set the standard by giving the world its first successful two button dual flush system in the nineteen eighties and has since perfected the technology. Also, with a full 3.5″ trapway, these toilets virtually never clog. All of Caroma’s toilets are on the list of WaterSense labeled HET’s http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm and also qualify for several toilet rebate programs available in the US. Please visit my blog http://pottygirl.wordpress.com/ to learn more or go to http://www.caromausa.com to learn where you can find Caroma toilets locally. Visit http://www.ecotransitions.com/howto.asp to see how we flush potatoes with 0.8 gallons of water, meant for liquids only. Best regards, Andrea Paulinelli

Heather C

My husband and I just discussed this after reading your article. He folds and I bunch like you said. I tried folding, and I really did use less! Thanks for your sometimes off the wall articles!

Carla

We automatically buy 7th Gen TP, but I bunch. Like you, I don't have time to fold (or dont think I do) and folding actually causes me to have to use more. Bunching created more volume.

When its yellow, we like it mellow so that saves water at least.

<abbr>Carlas last blog post..Homemade Reusable Grocery Store Bags</abbr>

Lena

The last time we needed to buy toilet tissue I debated on whether or not to purchase the recycled paper brand but my concern was with “softness” and irritation, especially for my daughter and I, so I bought the brand we always buy.

Joanna

I bunch and my husband folds too. I think I'm starting out much smaller on my 2009 objectives (I refuse to call them resolutions!) - I'm focusing on organizing and decluttering first and foremost! Hopefully soon I'll be far enough along to be worried about toilet paper!

<abbr>Joannas last blog post..Giggle Fits</abbr>