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Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

theguardian.com

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Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#111

Post by geoka9 »

gensym wrote: post #17
LargoLasskhyfv wrote: post #3

That's unfortunate, considering the recent uprise in contaminated foods, which give you the shits. OTOH, upgrade to a TOTO, or other 'smart' toilet. Need less paper that way. https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/toilets/best-sma...

You don't even need to shell out for one of those (though I'm sure they're nice). Bidet attachments work really well. If you have a 3D printer, you can try using a bidet very easily: https://www.printables.com/model/739924-bidet-from-a-pet-bot... I use the 3D-printed one for travel (I'd gladly pay extra for hotels that have bidets) and outdoor use. Using a bidet is such an easy life upgrade for anyone relying on TP.

You don't even have to use this one in a pinch - just use a plain bottle.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#112

Post by gensym »

geoka9 wrote: post #111
gensym wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't even need to shell out for one of those (though I'm sure they're nice). Bidet attachments work really well. If you have a 3D printer, you can try using a bidet very easily: https://www.printables.com/model/739924-bidet-from-a-pet-bot... I use the 3D-printed one for travel (I'd gladly pay extra for hotels that have bidets) and outdoor use. Using a bidet is such an easy life upgrade for anyone relying on TP.

You don't even have to use this one in a pinch - just use a plain bottle.

Yeah, good point, I remember the first time I travelled to countries that default to water and wondering how to use the pitcher they had in public toilets, and I know some ultralight backpackers who just use a smartwater bottle with no attachment.

But for someone starting out, I do think having something to propel the water upwards helps a bit.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#113

Post by JauntTrooper »

Marsymars wrote: post #100
JauntTrooper wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US also has significant agriculture subsidies. Most developed countries do. In dairy, for example, if prices get "too low", the US directly buys excess supply to increase the price, makes direct payments to dairy farmers, and subsidizes feed (corn/soybeans) and farmers' insurance. Most historical trade agreements between the US and friendly nations tolerated minor interventions and subsidies on both sides. Trump…

> Trump is taking a completely different tact. His goal is not free trade or sustainable relationships. He recognizes the US is the stronger party in most of these negotiations, and wants to use that to extract concessions that explicitly favor the US, even if it strains and damages the economies of historical allies. I don't think that's even it. The end goal is humiliation of the other party. Trump would be pro-hum…

Sadly, I think you're right.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#114

Post by Izkata »

myrmidon wrote: post #18
ks2048 wrote: post #11

> The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world’s population. The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually. Wastefulness is a national pastime.

Those numbers sound insane to me. This is almost half a roll per day, for a single person? Can any average american or german person comment on how this actually works? Do you wipe like 15 times per visit, or is it just a very high amount (folded?) of sheets per wipe?

My guess is it's absurdly bimodal. A former roommate's girlfriend managed to use an entire roll every time she visited (which was only a few hours). Everyone else I've lived with takes like a week to get through one.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#115

Post by preg_match »

ks2048 wrote: post #11

> The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world’s population. The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually. Wastefulness is a national pastime.

If I had to guess, in order of importance:

- Americans don’t use bidets, largely. Simple water use cuts down on toilet paper significantly

- SAD (standard American diet) is awful for digestive quality. Little to no fiber = using the toilet will not be pretty

- healthcare costs. Americans with digestive issues probably just put up with it most of the time. Nobody is out here seeing a gastroenterologist because they poop more than average

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#116

Post by preg_match »

pfdietz wrote: post #66
hereme888 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say poor diet and obesity result in greater toilet paper use. But we can also expect American to use more than India, for stereotypical reasons.

High fiber is supposed to be a good diet, and leads to larger/looser bowel movements.

Yes, but as someone on a high fiber diet: much less toilet paper use. The single toilet paper swipe I employ is basically for show at this point. I still do it, of course, just in case.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#117

Post by pfdietz »

preg_match wrote: post #116
pfdietz wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

High fiber is supposed to be a good diet, and leads to larger/looser bowel movements.

Yes, but as someone on a high fiber diet: much less toilet paper use. The single toilet paper swipe I employ is basically for show at this point. I still do it, of course, just in case.

Well my anecdata goes in the opposite direction. Maybe it depends on the kind of fiber.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#118

Post by preg_match »

pfdietz wrote: post #117
preg_match wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but as someone on a high fiber diet: much less toilet paper use. The single toilet paper swipe I employ is basically for show at this point. I still do it, of course, just in case.

Well my anecdata goes in the opposite direction. Maybe it depends on the kind of fiber.

It depends on your digestive system and how you intake the fiber, too. There’s a very steep “learning curve” with fiber. If you intake too much too quick, you get the opposite of its benefits. Bloating, digestive distress, even pain. That’s why eating high fiber foods is said to make you go to the bathroom too much. They don’t… if you eat them consistently for a long time. Yes if you currently eat 2gs of fiber a day and then down a whole glass of cranberry juice, it will be unpleasant.

I slowly increased my fiber intake over the course of months. About +2g a day, raised every week.

Oh also, relatedly, fiber is not really a laxative. If you have issues with using the bathroom too much, fiber will help with that.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#119

Post by mplanchard »

myrmidon wrote: post #18
ks2048 wrote: post #11

> The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world’s population. The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually. Wastefulness is a national pastime.

Those numbers sound insane to me. This is almost half a roll per day, for a single person? Can any average american or german person comment on how this actually works? Do you wipe like 15 times per visit, or is it just a very high amount (folded?) of sheets per wipe?

Other folks talking about how rolls are measured, but I have family members who I can’t help but notice when they come to visit use an absurd amount of toilet paper. I think that, rather than using a square or two, they just pull off a bunch and wad it up.

Re: Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada

#120

Post by Fire-Dragon-DoL »

petcat wrote: post #25

Bidets need to become the norm. Canada's massive logging and mineral extraction industries have lead to significantly reduced tree-cover and (in some places) long term deforestation.

People say that but even in Italy where bidet is common, you do the first 1-2 passes with toilet paper, then proceed to use a bidet
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