Yes, you might think I am over sharing here but come the zombie apocalypse this information could come in handy. Plus there is a whole world out there who don’t use toilet paper, some of them because they think it is a dirty habit.
I love my husband dearly. We travel together we work together and we share everything. Well almost everything. There is a line I really don’t want to cross. That line is grubby tissues in the bathroom bin. And when I say grubby I mean night soil, poop, fecal matter what ever you want to call it.
Notice, toilet roll, bin…
The plumbing in many parts of China lack strength. While the bathrooms in most hotels are adequate and clean, you cannot put your used toilet paper down the loo. Instead it has to go in a bucket by the side. An open bucket with no lid. Bad at the best of times but when the toilets are squats you are closer to the bucket than you would ever want to be.
So we have bathroom rules. Wash before wiping. Use water and not loo roll to remove any …. erm.. residue. You can then use a (small no waste) piece of paper to dry off.
To this end I have repurposed a plastic bottle as the Acme Portable Bum Washer.
Instructions
- Fill the bottle with water
- Squirt letting the water trickle over the affected area,
- Clean with your hand
- Dry
Ooo and don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards, with soap – though I am guessing I didn’t I need to tell you that.
The Acme Portable Bum Washer can be used in anywhere, massively reduces your consumption of tissues and feels far more pleasant that scratchy loo roll
But don’t just take my word for it, here’s a rather more in-depth write-up titled “how to wipe your arse with your left hand” – say it how it is buddy, and this quick overview of toilets and wiping habits the world over.
See other plastic free wiping options here.
This post is my contribution to Zero Waste Week (#ZerowasteWeek) the brainchild of Rae Straus (also featured in our P-f U.K. directory). Each day, for 7 days, we will feature a tip to help you eat, drink and – ermmm – excrete in the most sustainable and rubbish free- way, backpacking kind of way. Each post will appear up on our advent calender of trash free tips. See them there.