How to Make and Use Reusable Cloth Toilet Paper

I know what you're thinking, "reusable toilet paper sounds disgusting, I'll pass". That is the exact same sentiment I had, until I looked into it a little more. For some reason, I imagined my husband and I using the same dirty wipe over and over again for days at a time... which is not at all the reality of the situation.

Cloth wipes not only reduce the amount of resources needed to make toilet paper, they also save a ton of money since they can be washed and reused for years. This week, we started using cloth wipes in addition to a bidet, to reduce the ick factor.

Let me just add that you do you not have to invest a ton of time in reusable toilet paper. You could easily cut some cloth strips and try it out before you make anything nicer.

How to Use Cloth Toilet Paper

Cloth toilet paper is pretty straight forward. All you have to do is keep a basket or roll of cloth strips next to your toilet and wipe normally. Instead of flushing, you'll put the cloth into a wet bag or lidded bucket/trash can until wash day. Dry with high heat or line dry in the sun.

How to Make Cloth Toilet Paper

What You'll Need:

  • Flannel Fabric - It doesn't have to be flannel, but I like a soft, natural fiber on my bum. I used a pair of torn pajama pants.
  • Scissors
  • Serger, sewing machine, or pinking sheers to finish edges. If you've been thinking about getting a serger, this is the perfect project to learn with.
  1. fold pair of red flannel pajama pants

    1. Grab a pair of worn out pajama pants. These were too ripped to donate, but perfect for this projeect.

  2. pang leg cut to size of cardboard toilet paper roll

    2. Use cardboard toilet paper roll to measure the width of your strips.

  3. pajama pant leg cut into four strips

    3. Cut the legs into strips.

  4. flannel strips with seams cut away

    4. Trim the seams away.

  5. 8 flannel rectangles

    5. I only did part one pant leg for this tutorial and ended up with eight wipes.

  6. hand serging fabric edges

    6. Finish off the edges with a serger or zig zag stich on the sewing machine. You can also use pinking sheers if that's all you've got.

  7. flannel strips lined up and overlapping

    7. Lay your finished strips down in a row so that they overlap about halfway.

  8. flannel strips being rolled onto cardboard toilet paper roll

    8. Roll the strips onto your toilet paper roll, starting with end of the top most strip.

  9. roll of cloth toilet paper in front of toilet

    9. The flannel should have no problem sticking to itself so your cloth strips can be used just like normal toilet paper.