Reusable Toilet Paper? What do you think?

Hi friends,

So, I mentioned doing laundry during a disaster or after one of the apocalypses in my stories a few weeks ago.

Here’s another “unmentionable” topic I don’t see addressed very often — inspired by the “Great Toilet Paper Shortage” of the early months of Covid-19. 🙂

What do people do for toilet paper in a disaster once their initial supply is gone?

Maybe some of you hard-core campers can chime in on what you use? Or do you just make sure to pack in enough of the soft stuff to last until you get home?

After a little research, it turns out that even the idea that toilet paper is a necessity might be flawed.

Did you know that in many countries, they don’t even use the stuff? They prefer to spray water and clean up with a hand instead – generally the left hand. Many consider cleaning with just paper to be unhygienic compared to a real cleansing with water.

I have to admit, it made me reconsider my preconceptions on the topic.

So, I have two ideas for a post-disaster world with no toilet paper in sight:

Water:

• Simple and commonly available. You’d need to practice the process, the squatting position and getting over any hang-ups, but it definitely won’t be the hardest thing you’ll face in a disaster situation. (Just google “how to use a squatting toilet” to get an idea of the technique)
• Tip: Add a “peri bottle” or two to your supplies. These inexpensive bottles allow you to spray water upwards to clean with. Often used by women to gently cleanse the area after giving birth.

Reusable cloths:

• Use a pair of pinking shears to cut soft cloth into sections about the size of a standard baby wipe. Ideas: an old t-shirt, bath towel, flannel bed sheet, etc.
• You would need a bag to store the used ones in and schedule a regular cleaning . . . maybe that water method isn’t sounding so bad?
• Tip: Purchase a pack of “cloth baby wipes” online, put them in your go-bag, and you’re all good. 🙂

So, what would you rather use in the apocalypse? Water or cloth? Or something else entirely?

I figure I’d like to have a plan for this instead of being stuck with no idea when the kids are looking to me for answers. LOL.

Good luck preparing – all the best,

— Misty 🙂

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Misty’s Writing Update:

We’re about a third of the way through Storm book #3 and have just finished up with the edits that came back on Book 1.

It’s funny, but I still don’t plan for all the non-writing tasks like I should. As you get through more books, you need to do a bunch of extra stuff for the earlier ones.

A glimpse into a bit of the behind-the-scenes work of being an author:

• Chat with the editor about fixes that need to be done on a book.
• Do write-ups for book covers and then engage in back-and-forth discussions until everyone is happy.
• Learn how to do marketing and ads on Facebook and Amazon.
• Fix mistakes found by readers and re-upload your books.
• Find other authors to exchange book mentions with (the images up ^ there)
• Write your newsletter to some amazing readers.
• etc., etc.

It takes a lot more work to put a series together than I knew when I first started writing.

Good thing creating the stories and the awesome readers like you are part of it all!!

Happy reading this week,

— Misty 🙂