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.

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

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@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!

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.

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