Some are avoiding the toilet paper troubles entirely and have found another solution, a more European solution. The bidet is believed to have originated in France in the early 1700s, which is also where it found its name. Bidet means “horse” in French, or more specifically a “cob,” which is a strong, short-legged horse.

That’s right, we’re talking about bidets, those toilets — or toilet attachments — that rinse your bottom with water.

There is always good, ol’ water to the rescue. They’re cleaner and more environmentally friendly than toilet paper, too. Washing yourself with a bidet can help with cleanliness, which may lead to fewer instances of rashes, hemorrhoids, urinary tract infections, and other medical issues. And if you’re worried about using toilet water to clean your back end, you shouldn’t be. It’s tap water. Just like the water from your sink.

In most instances, you don’t even need to replace your throne, simply attach the bidet to your existing seat and you’re good to go.

The RealWash Bidet, $70 (pictured), is a non-electric set which includes a toilet seat with a cover and a two-nozzle water spray facility. It fits most toilet bowls, with soft closing of seat and cover. It comes with all accessories and a simple self installation manual.

More bidet options:

Get: Panasonic DL-AB10 Bidet Toilet Seat, $173.85

The non-electric EzyClean Bidet incorporates the (Ag+) Crystal AntiBacterial technology – first introduced in Japan which is effective against escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus. The nozzle has a self­-cleaning function to ensure cleanliness and hygiene and there are 2 spray functions – Feminine Use with 5 nozzle holes and Family Use with a single nozzle hole.

Get: Luxe Bidet Neo 320, $130.08

The non-electric Neo 320 is a hot and cold water bidet featuring a feminine nozzle designed to aim lower and spray softer. The dual nozzle bidet is equipped with a one touch pressure and temperature control lever for ease of use. While using the bidet, the nozzle drops below the guard gate and retracts for storage when not in use. The Neo 320 features an innovative self-cleaning nozzle that rinses the nozzles with fresh water. The bidet comes with everything needed for installation.

Get: BioBidet Bliss BB2000, $1,143.34

The electric Biobidet Bliss comes with a 3 in 1 stainless steel nozzle which offers posterior, feminine, and vortex washes and a comfort-adjustable heated seat and slow closing lid. It is also eco friendly with an energy-saving mode, which reduces use of electricity. The oscillating wide clean and pulsating message technology with bubble infusion and hybrid heating technology which offers continuous warm water will enhance your entire experience.

Get: HOMLEX Portable Travel Bidet, $52

This travel bidet in the form of a 450ml soft squeeze bottle is small in size and easy to carry. You can use it at home or anywhere. It has a detachable angled nozzle for easy cleaning. The 450ml capacity is large enough for you to take a refreshing wash at one time. It is useful for pregnant women, patients or elderly, baby diapers changing, hemorrhoids patients etc. Spray at 60 degrees from the nozzle for maximum cleaning efficiency.

Flushing a wet wipe down a toilet isn’t a good idea as it could cause damage to both your and your city’s plumbing fixtures. Traditional wet wipes are made from coarse fabrics that do not break down in water, which can potentially cause expensive damage to your septic system.

Get flushable wet wipes that easily break apart after flushing, reducing the chance for blockages in waste management systems. They supposedly clean better than dry toilet tissue, too. Cottonelle GentlePlus Flushable Wet Wipes are made from fibres that are 100 per cent biodegradable and Solimo Flushable Adult Toilet Wipes are made from 100 per cent plant-based materials. 

Flushable wet wipes such as the Kleenex Ultra Soft Moist Toilet Tissue are supposedly safe to flush too.

Another alternative is bamboo wet wipes such as the Cloversoft Bamboo 99% Pure Water Baby Wipes or Cloversoft Bamboo Unbleached Wipes that are biodegradable and free from harmful chemicals. Bamboo baby wipes are biodegradable because bamboo as a material is able to decompose rapidly.

These Washable Cotton Terry Cloth Baby Wipes, £7.50 ($12.60 for 10 pieces) from Cheeky Wipes are brilliant for poo and perfect for cleaning mucky babies (if you can use it on babies, you can use it on yourself too!) They are made from Oeko-tex certified material and dyes, so they are safe for anyone. Just machine wash with your normal wash, up to 60 degrees, to clean.

They also sell a Washable Cloth Natural Bamboo Velour Baby Wipes, £8.95 ($15 for 10 pieces) version which are anti-bacterial and are super absorbent and soft for any bum.

If you do not want to invest a few hundreds in a bidet, the water jet next to your toilet bowl is much less complicated. You can adjust the pressure and let water gently run from top to bottom of your behind and wash the pieces of poo down the toilet. 

Water runs from “top to bottom” at a 10–20 degree angle and gently washes stuff away rather than shooting at your butt at a 90 degree angle. Instead of relying on complicated electronics, you adjust the water pressure with a mechanical valve.

One option is this Showy Pure Brass Chrome Streamlined Rinser Set, $34.24 or you can also purchase a water spray jet from hardware stores in your neighbourhood. 

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Kitchen towels are the next best thing to toilet paper that you can find in your house. Since you are just using them to clean your bum, you may just want to get a cheaper option like the Budget Kitchen Towels, $3.05 (six rolls per pack) and do the job. 

But we have to give a heads up that these may feel a bit rough for your delicate bum so you may want to pay a bit more for a premium option such as the FairPrice Premium Kitchen Towel Rolls, $4.15 (six rolls per pack).

Bamboo dry baby wipes are great for babies (if they are great for babies, they are great for you) and the environment such as Careboree 100% Bamboo Dry Baby Wipes, $35.11 and Eco Beginnings 100% Bamboo Dry Baby Wipes, $24.84 (for 80 pieces). They are made from natural 100 per cent bamboo fibres, unbleached, non-toxic, biodegradable, eco-friendly and friendly to our skins.

They are smoother, stronger and more absorbent than cotton, rayon and any other materials. They are clean and hygienic and would not breed bacteria. You can use it either dry or wet – add some essential oil or water, it becomes a wet wipe.

Finally, we can give those old tops and rags one last use before we toss them out. To make them into a toilet paper alternative, cut squares or strips and you can reuse them by washing or you can just toss them if you have enough to get you through. Wetting the wipes with water first before you wipe as usual after your big business.

Here’s a video we found on how to make them. Sewing cloth wipes is very easy. You just use squares of flannel. You can use “two ply” or two layers and serge/sew them together. If you can’t sew, wash cloths do the same job!

The 3-Gear shower head, $13.40 works similar to a bidet if your shower head is not stuck to the wall. You can also check out Grohe for quality showerheads with more pressure options, although they are slightly pricier. Grab the head and move it towards your bum and let the water stream flow down your cheeks. 

Some online users suggest squatting in the shower: so more water can get in.

We should be cleaning your bum in the shower even after using toilet paper – so this is a no-brainer.

Everyone should have one of these in your bathroom but you can also purchase it from hardware stores in your neighbourhood. 

They are specifically designed to be absorbent and ideal for cleaning up liquids, oil, spills and grease. They are strong and durable such as these Scott Disposable Cloth-like Wipes, $6.25 (63 pieces), and they still work optimally when they’re wet, so they’ll be up to any task that you throw their way.

They supposedly do the job better than regular kitchen paper towels and they are disposable for better hygiene than cloth, if you are not into reusing cloth after wiping your hiney. 

With these possible toilet paper alternatives to the rescue, you wouldn’t have to worry as much. Since we are already living in anxiety and fear with the situation right now, it helps to be well-prepared to face the days ahead until the situation alleviates.

As the last resort… cotton pads.

They work perfectly for application and removal of makeup, nail polish, eyeliner and base while leaving no residue. They would work well for removal of poop residue as well.  

These Bellacotton Large Cotton Square Pads 3.5″ x 4″, $8.30 (50 pieces) fit perfectly in your hand to cleanse your skin (or bum) more easily. They are also soft and absorbent and effective for cleansing. They are 100 per cent biodegradable and hypoallergenic – good for your skin and bum.

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Text: Sheila Chiang