Family Cloth?

[neversremedy8]

There's been a buzz the last twenty-four hours about "The Family Cloth" on natural family communities. I hadn't heard of it before, so I looked it up and found: Family Cloth: How Green Are You Willing to Go?

Read the article first, and then answer this:

[Poll #1354441]

I just read excerpts from the article, and Craig got really defensive. He said, "I think first we should stop using paper towels every time a little water gets spilled. We could use rags." I pointed out that I hadn't actually suggested we try the family cloth, and he calmed down a bit. Notice that the article mentions that men tend to be more resistant to the idea. *smirks* I think we need to remind our men that their penises should be dabbed or wiped after urinating, too. I certainly don't want to put that in my mouth after a day of urination without proper cleaning.

Comments

[rubberduckgrrl.livejournal.com]

And for that evil time of the month, it is completely out of the question. Ick.

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

It didn't used to be...

http://www.mum.org/beltclass.htm

[rubberduckgrrl.livejournal.com]

Actually, that part I wouldn't mind.... but I would not want to wipe with a cloth during that time. (Don't ask me to explain, trust me - you don't want to know the inner workings of my brain.)

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* to each their own

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Yay sanitary belts! Ok, I've only used one once thanks to a clinic I went to, but I have to imagine these would still be very useful for the women who make their own pads out of old washcloths and fabric for re-use.

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

I read an article to that effect years ago, when the recycling bug jumped from everyone's parents in the 60s to a more mainstream acceptance in the 90s.

Saddly, I was a 14 year old boy at the time and just looking at the article for the pictures drawings of the topless women.

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the blood (over the last year or so, I've started bad hemorrhaging when on my moon and have gone through towels instead of pads, so I'm grateful for cloth because paper would be completely useless, and I don't use disposable pads if I can help it). But I wouldn't consider it for the um, err, secondary forms of waste processing. That's where I get squicked.

Although ... I didn't mind changing diapers, there's something about adult feces that I find utterly repulsive.

And don't get me started on mucus. There's a reason I only use paper tissues and not linen.

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

The article also says: The family cloth is completely environmentally friendly.

Except, that's a total load of shit. (pun!) It takes acres and acres of land to produce cotton. Pesticides are used on the cotton crops and tons of fuel is burned in the harvesting and transportation process. Not to mention the chemicals used to turn all that plant fiber in to fluffy white cotton cloth. Often, cotton cloth found in the U.S. was made by laborers in other countries who are living on subsistence wages and in factories who laugh at environmental standards.

Sure, you don't throw the cloth away, but you do wash them, which uses electricity and water, and adds phosphorous and ammonia to the water table by way of detergents.

If they are going to list all the ways that wood pulp is bad for the environment, they need to give equal time to cotton.

The only thing truly environmentally friendly is taking a dump in the woods and wiping with leaves.

I wonder how many eco-folks would go for that.

[gira.livejournal.com]

Not to mention that a lot of toilet papers these days are using recycled paper, so it isn't quite as heinous as it used to be.

The only way I can think a "family paper" might work would be to have a bleach bucket w/ lid by the toilet to put the used cloths in. Only I can't be reliably trusted to do laundry frequently enough to keep it a sanitary endeavor.

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the problem I had with cloth diapers. No one was willing to keep up with the diaper pail, so the smell got to be quite prickley after a week. Now, imagine the adult sized version of this.

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Ha! Yes, adults are *far* stinkier than babies. Just ... ew. I can deal with diaper pails. I cannot deal with adult pails. At least the urine cloths sound less offensive, but still ...

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

All the more reason to be aware of where our products (including our tp) originates. There are companies that strive for better, more ecologically sound practices and we should support them.

And yeah, bucket? Never going to get touched by anyone in my house.

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

This is why we should all be buying organic cotton grown and processed in the U.S., right?

And washing our clothes in washbins and drying them on lines in the sun and putting the water into the grey water filtration system that eventually tends to the needs of our plants and ...

Gods, I simply don't have the energy. Because, in my house, if it's going to get done, it's likely me who has to do it. Unless it involves getting on the roof or cleaning the living room. Those are the jobs devoted solely to my partner.

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Also, if you haven't already seen it, look for "Shit Begone" a toilet paper company that uses 80% recycled materials and is looking to make them 100% if they can find the paper plant to do it. I haven't convinced Craig to order from them yet, but at present we're using a tp that includes 20% post-consumer materials. I do hope they mean recycled paper when they say that.

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

I love "Shit Begone" I got a case of the stuff when I first heard about it. The name alone was the selling point.

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

If I ever feel compelled to reduce my TP consumption that significantly, I'll get a Japanese toilet seat.

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Murr? More info please! :)

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

Japan started developing high-tech toilet seat bidets back in the 80s. With the modern version, the lid opens as you approach, and the seat is warmed when you sit. Once you are done, you manipulate the remote control, and a wand comes out. The wand first cleans itself, and then washes you with warm water at the temperature you have set. Once it is done washing you, the wand cleans itself again and retracts. Then you are dried with warm filtered air. You can see some examples here.

Why use something so primitive as rags, when you can pamper yourself and save paper?

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Ha! Fabulous. My step-mother (who is Japanese) told me how the public toilets each have a white noise machine between them so no one need feel embarrassed for making noises while they go. Gods, I wish we had those here, I'm a nervous one in the public toilet.

[resplendentposy.livejournal.com]

The name "family" cloth is kind of a turnoff... *snicker* I was much relieved to read that everyone, in fact, has their own. I do actually think that cloth would be much more comfy. But not sure I like the idea of a bucket of dirty rags sitting there that would then have to be cleaned.

And I recently saw a clip for an upcoming episode of Dirty Jobs... "Diaper cleaner." Um... ick.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

the techniques that involve actual washing with water, rather than using cloths or whatever, always struck me as the most sanitary and civilized.

that said, in the backwoods, i just got familiar with the local appropriate flora, since i hate carrying/burying paper.

(wrt snot, i am yr total opposite -- i cannot bear disposable tissue; they just seem to turn directly into additonal snot. i use recycled silk for handkerchiefs, which i then just chuck in the laundry.)

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

I don't like having wet rags on my skin. As it is, I use lotion tissue because my skin blisters when I use other things. I guess I've only experienced linen hankerchiefs, which I find to be only more aggrevating when the fibers rub off on my nose or the cloth collects dust/fur/hair which then gets redeposited onto me. When I have a cold or the flu, silk seems rather expensive given how many tissues are needed in a given hour.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

*nods* i haven't tried linen, and don't think i would, b/c my nose gets chapped from cotton as well. (it may be a climate difference too -- here it's usually very cold and very dry during rhinovirus season, and my skin's picky about that.)

it's quite astounding how many handkerchiefs can be made from an old silk sheet, though. i have a thing for silk anyway, and a drawer full of proto-handkerchiefs from old clothes and sheets. i don't think i've ever run out, though that may be partly that somebody else does the laundry around here ;) it can't be just any silk (the fiber in the sweater that i'm working on in this icon is rewoven recycled saris, and wouldn't do at all!) but there's plenty of the sort i like in my personal fiber ecology :)

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Nice use of the word "ecology," my BIO A teacher would be very proud. ;)

I didn't know you knitted; how do you like working with the recycled sari fabric? I'm looking to buy some after I've finished with a few other projects and can justify having more skeins of yarn around.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

i *love* to knit, though i'm currently off it -- i have a bit of a tendency to tendonitis, and while i was doing fine with current levels of typing and horse-massage, the thing i'm working to add back right now is guitar-playing. maybe more knitting after that.

i like the recycled-sari yarn lots and lots. you have to be willing to give it a little mental slack, as the yarn is uneven and has sometimes got loops that like to catch on your needles. but i found that if i could just relax and let those things go, i get beautiful (if not "perfect") results :)

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Ooh, lovely. I have to patient before I get to try it, but I'm looking forward to using it. I'm not one to need perfection in my knitting; I find that what I make with small imperfections gives it more character. Of course, I'm still working in rectangle--scarves, potholders, etc.--perhaps I can move on to something more difficult like a hat or something when I feel more confident. There's a bag pattern I want to try.

I have problems with my hands as well, and funny enough, have started relearning the guitar so I can work with Craig on his lessons. :)

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

it occurs to me to wonder if the term "family cloth" might be intended to imply, "please still keep disposable tp around for your visitors".... :)

[neversremedy.livejournal.com]

Ha! Good point.