Family Cloth

QOTD: How "green" are you willing to go?

The thought of not using toilet paper has never occurred to me except for when I'm in the woods and use a leaf instead. Avid outdoor-people will totally understand that and not think of me as weird while non-true-campers will probably scratch their heads trying to remember if they've ever shook my bare head. At home though? Never! I like toilet paper!

And then today, I randomly came across the topic of "Family Cloth" on a website. At first, I didn't know what it was, but I was quickly able to use my reasoning abilities to figure it out after the page referenced using it as a replacement for toilet paper. Oh, my! At first, my thoughts were displaced as I processed what this meant. What about hygiene? Would I want to be using something that I knew someone else already had? Or even that I had?

I continued to read, finding out more about this strange (to me) phenomenon that seems to be gaining popularity among the frugal population. Apparently, most people who use Family Cloth only use it after urination and keep toilet paper on hand for anything else. Even families who use cloth exclusively will keep a roll or two of toilet paper in their cupboard in case of visitors ("oh, just pick your favorite piece out of our pile and throw it in the basket when you're done! My personal favorite is the soft pink flannel with bunnies print!"). Probably a good thing. The used cloths are put into one of those trash cans with the foot-pedal lid, lined with a reusable bag (like the wet bag that we use for our diaper pail, I'm thinking), and then tossed into the diaper or towel laundry every few days. Okay, some people apparently put the used cloths into other things, but I like the idea of discrete and covered, so we're running with the can idea.

Hygienic? Well, I can't really see a problem with it if it's just urine, especially if you're using hemp or bamboo fabric (anti-microbial, etc.). I do use cloth diapers after all, and that is certainly not a hygiene problem. Frugal? Definitely in the long run. Softer than cheap toilet paper? I'm positive! So...am I willing to take the plunge (okay, bad pun)?

I strive for simplicity, I care about the Earth, and I need to save money. I'm the only female in my house who would be using it, so maybe it wouldn't be so weird? Maybe it would be! I don't know if I'm ready to be so green as to have re-usable toilet paper yet, but it's worth a thought. Here's the deal, if someone will send me a bunch of Family Cloth to review, I will try it out. I will not give away the used cloths though, so don't even ask.

Have you ever heard of this before? What do you think---weird, or a good idea?

I found a good example of prices, fabrics, etc. for Family Cloth here.