However, as the tween boys in my neighborhood like to say, “You’ve got to keep it clean!” (My son and his friends like to talk about their bodily functions and bathroom habits all.the.time.) Nonetheless, they have a point. Hygiene is key!
For that reason, I came up with an alternative. I absolutely think that the convenience of flushable wipes can come with a price. While my homemade wipes are cheap to make, there is an unseen cost to consider. The effect of flushable wipes on our plumbing and sewage treatment infrastructure is widespread (and gross.)
I decided to switch to a toilet paper spray which is actually much easier to make! (I’m lazy.) The most time consuming part of making DIY wipes is cutting the paper towel roll in half. It seems like I’m over exaggerating but if you don’t have a sharp knife, good utility scissors, and a tolerance for pieces of paper towel fluff all over the place then you will likely agree with me.
Well when you skip the paper towels altogether, you don’t have to worry about any of that mess.
There are retail sprays that can be purchased, like Aquinelle, but making my own spray is so easy and so much cheaper.
DIY Toilet Paper Spray
Materials needed for the toilet paper wetting spray:
- Plastic or Glass Spray bottle. I opted for a plastic bottle. I don’t want to risk one of the kids dropping a glass bottle and this recipe does not use the essential oils degrade in plastic.
- 5 oz Distilled water, or purified water that has been brought to a rolling boil for at least three minutes.
- 1-2 TBL Gentle body wash. We use Cetaphil or Cerave since that is what my pediatrician advised us to use for my daughter’s sensitive skin. You can also use a baby wash if you have it on hand instead of the body wash.
- 1-2 TBL Witch Hazel
- 1 TBL Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 5 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
- 10-20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Directions for our DIY Toilet Paper Moistener
We use a plastic spray bottle with a trigger for our toilet paper spray. The smaller spray bottles found in beauty aisles are a great size for this use. It is easier for children to use. (The small travel spray bottles are perfect for on the go use but is much harder for children to use.)
I like to buy this type of spray bottle from Dollar Tree, Walmart, or in bulk online. I regularly disinfect my toilet spray bottle but it is also a good idea to replace it every once in a while. Bathrooms are germy.
First, fill your spray bottle approximately 2/3 full with distilled water.
Second, add the remaining ingredients. (See materials list above) for exact amounts.) Cap the bottle and shake it. Based on the body wash you use, you can add more water if it is too soapy or foamy.
This easy toilet paper moistening spray is a frugal and earth friendly alternative to flushable hygiene wipes.DIY Toilet Paper Spray: The Butt Wipes Alternative
Materials
Tools
Instructions
Simply moisten toilet paper with the sprayer nozzle on the mist setting. Wipe as normal.
I hang mine from the toilet paper holder. We use a toilet paper stand holder because the kids can’t reach the toilet paper holder on the far wall.
Make sure you give the kids instructions! I assumed that my tweens would just know what to do. Then one of them ask how they are supposed to spray their bottom with it if they are sitting on the toilet!
It took my husband a little longer to get used to the spray bottle than the kids. He thinks it’s a little weird but he is a big fan of saving money and not having to call the plumber about clogs so he is adjusting!
What do you think? Is the idea of a toilet paper spray strange to you?
Eden Fonvielle says
I am so excited to try this. I have been wanting to for so long now. I am not doubting your expertise, but is it perfectly safe to have essential oils in such a delicate area of the body?
Herchel Scruggs says
Technically, you can always skip the essential oils if you are concerned. 🙂
Hannah says
While this is useful for travelling or for emergencies, I do not understand why people don’t just install a handheld bidet in the toilet. Just wiping is disgusting! Maybe because I am South American, and here everyone has a bidet. If you got your hands dirty with poop you would wash them, not wipe them!
Herchel Scruggs says
You make a really good point lol.
Vicki says
Oops I meant to say toilet paper at the end of my comment
Vicki says
Thanks ,always looking for the best spray formula…..I have had bidets in all my homes for the past forty years….built ins… finally got
my husband to use one in his bathroom ,,,bought him an add on from Amazon they are cheap and work well so check them out. BTW. Always used a wash cloth back in the day like they do in Europe…..so much better to have the spray for toilet
Herchel Scruggs says
We’ve gotten one in one of the bathrooms but I haven’t gotten the entire family on board with using them lol.
Jhiga says
Hi
It may be because I’m using an iPad, but the amounts required for the ingredients are not showing up. (I even watched the little video).
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi I am so sorry I missed this comment! The amounts are under the “Materials” heading. I am not sure why they didn’t show up but I’m listing them here for you.
5 oz distilled water
1-2 table spoons of a gentle body wash (like cerave or cetaphil) or baby wash
1-2 table spoons of witch hazel
1 table spoon of fractionated coconut oil, baby oil, or sweet almond oil
5 drops tea tree oil
20 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
Joyce Higa-Rideau says
Hi
It may be because I’m using an iPad, but the amounts required for the ingredients are not showing up. (I even watched the little video).
Laurie Feeney says
“Flushable Wipes” are a nightmare to municipal sewage lines as well as your own pipes.
Years ago, there was a commercial product called “Aaah Toilet Paper Foam Moistener”.
Loved it ! Then it suddenly disappeared from store shelves. I researched if I could buy directly from the company. Ironically, it had been bought out by the company that makes Charmin. (Presumably because “Aaah” was cutting into their market share for potty wipes )
So, thank you for the homemade recipe for TP moistener.
Joyce says
I can’t remember where I read (on previously searched website) what the lavender essential oil is good for).
Herchel Scruggs says
Lavender helps soothe skin. But I use it because I love how it smells. The wipes can be made without lavender.
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi Joyce, the lavender essential oil has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure and help facilitate relexation. Anecdotally, I have witnessed the blood pressure effects firsthand. My husband has had a heart attack and we all make sure his blood pressure is under control. During episodes of stress and when we’ve seen his blood pressure shoot up, I’ve put lavender in the diffuser and watched his numbers go down. There are also studies showing that it soothes irritated skin and even repels insects and dust mites. But, I use it because I love the smell!
Rosalie says
Thank you for this great recipe. It is also helpful that some ingredients can be substituted, so I think that I will try it with a homemade soap gel that I make with a grated natural, unscented, soap. It works well when making other recipes that require a manufactured liquid soap.
Tea tree oil is a bit jarring on the senses, but I wouldn’t be without it in my “medicine chest”. I wonder if it would be ok to add the lemon oil directly to the bottle to improve the aroma?
Also, I remember a friend who, many, many, years ago used lavender water as a botty wash, the first time I had ever heard of anyone doing this, until now. Better than a bidet.
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi Rosalie, your homemade soap gel should work well. I use the lemon oil to “cut” the scent of the tea tree oil, not really to “scent” the spray. I put lavender essential oil and rosemary essential oil in my spray every once in a while. I leave it out when the males in my house start to complain lol.
Juli says
Wondering if this would “foam” in a foaming soap dispenser since it has some soap in it? I like the idea of a foam over a spray.
Herchel Scruggs says
I use a similar recipe (without the coconut oil) in my soap dispenser so it should work. If it doesn’t foam well, I would leave out the oil and increase the baby wash a smidge!
Beth says
Am I missing the amounts for the other ingredients? (After the 5 oz of water)
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi, the exacts amounts are listed in the materials/ingredients list. It’s a bulleted list a paragraph or so above the directions. At first, your question confused me but I think the video player positioning makes it difficult to find. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! – Herchel
Rebecca says
I have baby shampoo but not wash. Do you think I could use the shampoo? It’s probably the gentlest thing I have.
Herchel Scruggs says
Yes you can!
Herchel Scruggs says
Honestly, I’m not even sure how much of a difference there is between baby “shampoo” and baby “wash.” I’m willing to bet the formulas are pretty much the same! Newborns don’t always come with hair, right? So if a bald baby can have his or her hair washed with baby shampoo I’m sure it’s gentle enough for the rest of the baby!
Katie O'Brien says
Hi what is the purpose of the witch hazel in this recipe, and can it be left out?
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi there, it is an astringent and helps clean the skin but it can absolutely be left out.
Su says
This is brilliant!! Thanks so much. I’ve been wishing I could afford a bidet but that doesn’t travel too well in any case! ?
Lisa says
Would aloe Vera gel substitute for coconut oil?
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi Lisa, I haven’t tried substituting aloe vera but I don’t see why not. I wouldn’t put too much in because it might end up feeling “slimy.” I will make a batch and try it this evening and get back to you.
Update: It worked just fine. Nobody in my household mentioned the substitution. They also never noticed when I stopped using baby oil and replaced it with fractionated coconut oil. The oil/aloe vera is really there to improve the “user experience” lol. The water, gentle soap, and (arguably) the witch hazel are really what matters.
This may be a little blunt but my post pandemic outlook on the world has become purely utilitarian. When prime shipping deliveries went from a 1-2 day wait to 2-3 weeks (or unavailable at this time) and “running out to grab…” became let me gear up (and pray) to fight an invisible virus that could theoretically kill *all* the other members of my household due to their underlying conditions, the meaning of “what is necessary” changed for me profound and irreversible ways.
Just toilet paper is better than no toilet paper and toilet paper sprayed with water is better than dry toilet paper.
Hope this helps and wasn’t depressing lol.
Donna Meehan says
Thanks for the great idea. We have two bidets but *one* of us likes the Charmin wipes, too. I am going to try this, but I will eliminate the scented oils. I like personal hygiene products to have no scent. I can smell those Charmin wipes a mile away ! That is just too much info!!
Herchel Scruggs says
LOL I want a bidet but the family is still on the fence. I’ve also been trying to get my family used to the idea of washable toilet wipes (they are NOT on board.) The males in my household refuse to use toilet spray and insist I keep making the wipes. You don’t have to worry about toilet paper spray mildewing so the essential oils are completely optional. I use them in my wipes recipes because of the humidity here. If I don’t include tea tree oil then the wipes start smelling of mildew within a day or two. It takes a couple of weeks for mildew to set in when I use it. By then, there may be a wipe or two left. I use lemon essential oil when I use tea tree because I can’t stand the smell! The lemon oil seems to “cut” the scent of the tea tree.
Carin says
Great idea! We have two grandsons one tween and one five year old. After setting bathroom up with so called flushable wipes sill clogged our system live in a old farmhouse with cast iron plumbing cost Three thousand dollars because where the clog was located. Flushable is not a guarantee. Hard lesson to learn. As soon as I saw your idea I put it to use brilliant thank you
Cj says
What are the measurements for the “other ingredients”?
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi, all the amounts are listed in the ingredients section. Which “other ingredients” do you mean?
Em says
Is there a good substitute for fractionated coconut oil?
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi there, I used to use baby oil.
SherrryB says
I can’t get enough moisture without the TP having no strength and yes, it’s rough compared to wipes. Would adding glycerin help??
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi Sherry, it might? I use glycerin in my hand wipes but haven’t tried it with the toilet paper spray. It’s more dense than the water so may be good to try. We use kirkland or Charmin brand toilet paper which tends to be stronger than most brands so don’t have issues with the toilet paper breaking. Also, maybe a fine mist bottle to spread out the spray so it isn’t concentrated in one section (like the small travel spray bottle in the pictures) may work better for you. I don’t like the toilet paper over saturated or too soapy/slimey myself so I would go for adding water first.
Jeff LaLone says
How does this work away from home, on unknown toilet paper? My workplace has the awful commercial grade stuff that somehow takes a dozen wipes to clean but only one to chafe. Do you think this is worth a shot, or should I just make my own wipes?
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi Jeff, I have a small spray bottle (the travel mini spray bottle that you can find at drug stores) that works great. I think the bottle is easier for me to carry with me than wipes would be. Frankly, it can make any toilet paper more comfortable.
But, my husband and son prefer wipes to the spray. I like the spray because I get to determine how saturated I want the paper at each use. They like to just grab wipes.
Nan Murphy says
Thank you so much for this. Our plumber warned me about using flushable wipes and I have been searching. My only problem is that I seem to be allergic to tea tree oil. Any suggestions?
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi Nan, you can skip it!