Bidet vs. Toilet Paper

What's the most environmentally friendly way to clean up after using the toilet? The answer may surprise you.

According to Liz Langley's Alternet article "The Green, Clean Art of Keeping Our 'Rear Ends" Hygenic: What are We Afraid Of?" the most environmentally friendly method is the use of a bidet instead of toilet paper.

Doesn't that use a lot more water than toilet paper? Actually, no. As the article says, "Yes...a bidet uses treated water, an increasingly precious commodity. But it uses less than that utilized in the production of even recycled toilet paper -- and a fraction of the amount consumed by virgin pulp." Wow. Who would have known?

Some bidet units can be as cheap as $100, easy to find at your local hardware store, and simple to attach. On top of being better for the environment, bidets are also more hygienic and effective than using toilet paper.

Check out the Alternet article for more information.

Greening your bathroom

A great article today on Planet Green today. "How to Go Green: in the Bathroom" features lots of important tips and topics that you wouldn't want to overlook.

The article talks about:
-Low flow shower heads and faucet aerators
-Dual flush toilets
-Toilet paper (even rolling "over" or rolling "under" matters!)
-Cleaning supplies
-Showering and brushing your teeth
-Using vinegar and lemon as natural cleaning agents
-Shower curtains
-Soaps
-Towels and linens

In the later pages of the article, Planet Green recommends lots of links for further investigation into whatever topic(s) you are interested in.

You've probably heard of most of the tips. But I can almost guarantee that there will be one or two points in this article that will be new and useful to you.

Also, remember that the goal is to phase out your not-so-green habits and products as they need replacing (with a few health exceptions, of course). The article says, for example, that bamboo or organic cotton towels are the way to go. True. But the towels you own right now are infinitely greener because new things take so much energy and so many resources to produce and ship.

Paper Products

Remember your green quest when you're buying paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues, too! You want to look for products that are made from recycled materials, specifically those with very high levels of post-consumer content. Also, make sure it was made with chlorine-free processing.

We mostly use the Green Wise line from Publix. You can also choose 365 brand, which is found at Whole Foods and Wild Oats. We even got some recycled toilet paper from Walmart (don't ask me what I was doing there in the first place), which was a "green" White Cloud.

Other brands you can check out:
-April soft, Fiesta, Cascades, Pert, Marcal, Sofpac, Fluff Out, Hankies (all can be found at your local grocery stores)
-CVS brand toilet paper (at CVS pharmacies, naturally)
-Eart First, Earth Friendly Products, Green Forest, Natural Value, Seventh Generation, Green Forest (found at various natural markets, some at Paradise Health and Nutrition)