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What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

nautil.us

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Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#201

Post by poo-grease »

frosted-flakes wrote: post #171
crankylinuxuser wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They wash their hands. What's so gross about them going extra lengths to cleanse themselves? Its not like they're going to then ignore their very hands, considering for many, its a religious law to be clean. It seems like bidet fear but 10x. For no good reason.

Have you ever got poop on your hands? That smell does not go away with just soap and water.

You need to use shampoo. Shampoo does the trick because it's a mild degreaser for hair, and also cuts through poop stink for the same reason: degreasing.

The reason poop stank is so persistent is because human feces passes large quantities of oils and fats, which are the really messy aspect of poop. The stench is embedded in the non-evaporative oils and grease, and comingles with the oils from the sebacious glands of your skin. To cut through that stink, you need to chemically strip the oils that retain the aromatic grossness.

Dish soap works too, but it really isn't designed to be skin friendly or have cosmetic appeal. Dish soap is stronger, and you don't need as much, which makes sense. Dish soap is intended to destroy food baked onto pots and pans, which is tougher than what your gastric juices do to food.

Shampoo isn't as strong as dish soap, but the right kind will destroy any odor, and it's easier on your skin than dish soap.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#202

Post by jamieadams »

tasty_freeze wrote: post #133

I have read the glowing endorsements of bidets on reddit and HN for a long time. I've researched after-market bidets that would be suitable for my bathroom. I've bookmarked a few that seem suitable and have good reviews. But there is one thing which stops me. I'm not sure of the exact details. Even in this thread, I don't know the brass tacks of using one. Do I turn on the sprayer and that is that? Or do I mechanical…

I replaced the lid of my toilet seat to one that has a bidet installed in it. It was easy to plumb into the existing cold water connection and cost around £30. It is the best thing I have ever bought.

In answer to your question: I find that the bidet gets rid of all of the poop the vast majority of the time. I just pat myself down with a small amount of toilet paper to dry myself off. If I see poop on the paper I give myself another rinse.

I can't handle dry wiping now. I save my poops for home.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#203

Post by xkcd-sucks »

nextos wrote: post #151
gcb0 wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The legend goes that bidets where associated with whorehouses in literature from europe (as most literature not focusing on body fluids would not have reasons to mention bidets), so that when apartments started to be retrofitted for plumbing (initially for a kitchen!) in the USA, the extremely puritanical society left the bidets out.

Bidets are quite common in France and Spain, but I haven't seen many anywhere else in EU. A really practical solution to simulate a real bidet is to buy bidet cleansing foam and/or a portable bidet. You spray the cleansing foam into regular toilet paper, and it does improve performance a lot . Afterwards, just use the portable bidet.

Dude you can spit into the toilet paper for free and that works pretty well too

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#204

Post by jdashg »

tasty_freeze wrote: post #133

I have read the glowing endorsements of bidets on reddit and HN for a long time. I've researched after-market bidets that would be suitable for my bathroom. I've bookmarked a few that seem suitable and have good reviews. But there is one thing which stops me. I'm not sure of the exact details. Even in this thread, I don't know the brass tacks of using one. Do I turn on the sprayer and that is that? Or do I mechanical…

You're stuck in perfectionist paralysis. Just get one and figure out what works for you, trial and error.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#205

Post by rootusrootus »

flanbiscuit wrote: post #163
rootusrootus wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are lots of instructions just a Google click away. But for a short answer: 1. Just water, the pressure is more than sufficient. Hell, it's too much sometimes. 2. You can get models that air dry, but even the good ones aren't too quick, so it's pretty common to use a few squares of TP to dry. 3. Depends on you. If you habitually sit off-center you might actually get a wet cheek. Otherwise it's eerily spot-on. 4.…

By "Neo" do you mean the "Luxe Bidet Neo"? The one where you attach it to an existing toilet?

Yep, that's the one. They have several models. Looking through my order history, I got the Luxe Bidet Neo 185. Looks like I got it four years ago. I kinda still intend to get a Toto some day (or maybe a Brondell), but it's not a high priority to go spend $600 on, I'm pretty satisfied with the cheap model.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#206

Post by jdashg »

phonypc wrote: post #159
throwmex wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Indian, I too had this WTF moment. It makes me wonder why paper is still used in the western world. Makes one wonder if there is a TP lobby out there ? We used to make jokes what if a TP user have diarrhea, how many trees will that be ? If a bird shits on your hand will you use paper or water to clean it ? Its just that simple to comprehend. Just use water damn it. Cheap, hygienic, no left overs and green too !

> If a bird shits on your hand will you use paper or water to clean it ? If I didn't also have soap, I'd use paper over water. Water might leave you visibly cleaner, but you'll spread microscopic poop particles and microbes over a much larger area.

I wouldn't say paper spread things around less. Paper and water is the way to go (absent soap), and that's what bidets are.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#207

Post by sneak »

rootusrootus wrote: post #205
flanbiscuit wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By "Neo" do you mean the "Luxe Bidet Neo"? The one where you attach it to an existing toilet?

Yep, that's the one. They have several models. Looking through my order history, I got the Luxe Bidet Neo 185. Looks like I got it four years ago. I kinda still intend to get a Toto some day (or maybe a Brondell), but it's not a high priority to go spend $600 on, I'm pretty satisfied with the cheap model.

Having been to Japan since fully acclimating to my sub-$50 one, it turns out I actually prefer the tap-cold water. Most of the higher end ones heat the water and seem to use a lower water pressure (even on high).

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#208

Post by phonypc »

jdashg wrote: post #206
phonypc wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If a bird shits on your hand will you use paper or water to clean it ? If I didn't also have soap, I'd use paper over water. Water might leave you visibly cleaner, but you'll spread microscopic poop particles and microbes over a much larger area.

I wouldn't say paper spread things around less. Paper and water is the way to go (absent soap), and that's what bidets are.

I would. You can use paper on a very small area. Water gets everywhere, often unnoticed.

In the vein of recommendations against washing poultry (it increases your risk for food poisoning), I'd put money on bidets being less sanitary.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#209

Post by nobodyandproud »

thatoneuser wrote: post #166
nobodyandproud wrote: post #86

Americans don't have a high ground here. The first time I used a modern bidet was eye-opening. It eliminates the funk. It's environmentally friendly. It's easier on the bum, if you have hemmaroids (I don't, but this is the report from friends and family that do suffer). And it just feels refreshing. The toilet paper is only needed to sanity check cleanliness and dry out. The American squeamishness over the bidet is i…

OK I've seen the bidet crowd grow for years. Never used one but how does it actually remove all the filth? If I got shit on my arm or something I wouldn't be satisfied squirting some water on it - I'd scrub scrub scrub. I just can't see how it does as good a job. Any input? Also - how do you prevent the bidet from becoming a fecal squirtgun? It sits inside the toilet no? Aren't you in effect washing off with everyone…

1. One can adjust the strength and width of the stream. It often starts out gentle anyway, to wash off the loose crud.

2. The area that needs cleaning is within a valley formed by your butt cheeks. So there's really no splatter.

3. Bidets are for the home. It's not an impossible problem to solve, but I wouldn't use a public one. I do know that the squirt gun is washed before and after use automatically, but really. When you poop, how do you avoid the inevitable water splash as the poop dives in?

In any case there are manual portables that one can carry in a pocket or purse, however. I don't bother but the option exists.

Re: What Ancient Romans Used Instead of Toilet Paper

#210

Post by YUMad »

beatgammit wrote: post #199
throwayEngineer wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bidets are cold water? And you need a "rag"?

You can get heated bidets if that's your thing (just mix the hot and cold water pipes), and a rag is to help you dry off afterward. When I lived in the Philippines and used a bucket and my hand (and yes, alcohol afterward to disinfect), I didn't bother with a rag because it was so hot and I'd dry off quickly anyway. However, in fancier places with bidets, a rag to dry off after is completely normal. And it's just as…

Advanced bidet models also include heated air drying.
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