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How Toxic Is Your Toilet Paper? Investigation of Brands

Mamavation » Blog » Brands | Mamavation » How Toxic Is Your Toilet Paper? Investigation of Brands
How Toxic Is Your Toilet Paper? Investigation of Brands

August 1, 2022 //  by Leah Segedie

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What are you wiping your bottom with? When it comes to toilet paper brands, most people focus on quality & comfort. If you are into green & non-toxic living, you’d likely select a recycled brand to be more sustainable. But did you know that your toilet paper could be treated with harsh chemicals regardless if it’s “sustainable” or not? You’ve trusted Mamavation to cover topics like the safest teas, safest disposable plates, and safest cookware, Now join us as we delve into the places others dare not go–toilet paper.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and was fact-checked by Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Harks, Registered Nurse. 

toilet paper rolls with a plant growing

Table of Contents

  • Toilet Paper Is Incredibly Problematic to The Environment. It Disrupts The Largest Carbon Sink We Have In The World–The Canadian Boreal Forest.
  • Are There Toxins in Your Toilet Paper? Pay Attention Especially If You Are Female. 
  • Toxic Additives Don’t Belong In Toilet Paper
  • The Bleaching Process of Toilet Paper Is a Bummer! 
  • The Trouble With Recycled Paper & Suprise Contaminants–BPA Hiding In Your Receipts Contaminates The Recycled Toilet Paper. 
  • Mamavation Finds Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Some Popular Toilet Paper
  • Mamavation’s Toilet Paper Investigation
  • Not Our Favorite Brands for Your Booty
    • Additional Brands Tested for PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
  • Better Brands for Your Booty
    • Additional Brands Tested for PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
  • Best Brands for Your Booty
  • Alternatives to Toilet Paper–The “Family Cloth”
  • Have You Ever Used a Bidet? It’s Pleasant & Gets You Very Clean.
  • Additional Mamavation Investigations To Help Your Family

Toilet Paper Is Incredibly Problematic to The Environment. It Disrupts The Largest Carbon Sink We Have In The World–The Canadian Boreal Forest.

Americans use close to 8 million tons of toilet paper per year according to Consumer Reports. Paper production like toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, tissue paper, coffee filters, & writing paper are incredibly toxic to the environment, leaves a huge carbon footprint, and deplete forests all over the world. In fact, this industry is the 3rd largest polluter.

The National Resources Defense Council reports:

“The pulp and paper industry may contribute to more global and local environmental problems than any other industry in the world. Paper manufacturers reach deep into species-rich forests for virgin timber, razing trees, polluting waterways and destroying precious wildlife habitat. Pulp and paper mills that use virgin timber are major generators of hazardous air pollutants, including dioxins and other cancer-causing chemicals. And the industry is the third largest industrial emitter of global warming pollution.”

One of the most important regions in the world for capturing carbon is the Boreal Forest in Canada in North America. Your toilet paper and toilet roll likely started there like a tree in the largest carbon sink in the world. Cutting down on toilet paper made from wood pulp and looking for alternatives like bamboo & sugarcane helps this effort. Watch how your choice of toilet paper helps fight climate change.

According to a report by the National Resources Defense Fund, “industrial logging claims more than a million acres of boreal forest every year, equivalent to seven National Hockey League rinks each minute, in part to meet demand for tissue products in the United States.” Long story short, if you want to become part of this solution, looking for alternatives would be the way to go. They are only logging the Boreal forest because we demand toilet paper made from wood pulp. Start demanding toilet paper made from bamboo & sugarcane instead. Not only is it a good thing to do for the planet, but also for your health, which we will get to now.

Close-up Of A Person's Hand Using Toilet Paper

Are There Toxins in Your Toilet Paper? Pay Attention Especially If You Are Female. 

Thousands of chemicals are used to process commercial paper products like baby wipes & toilet paper. And as a woman, what I put inside me to wipe can have an impact on my health because I’m very vascular down there. One of the worst chemicals used in the processing of toilet paper is chlorine. So it’s important to be cognizant of what chemicals touch our most porous area because toxic substances can easily enter our skin and get into our bloodstream. Selecting toilet paper that does the least amount of harm to both our bodies and the environment is wise.

Toilet paper has also been suspected of chronic irritation of the vulva. In a 2010 study, they found that toilet paper may be the blame for chronic irritation of the vulva because formaldehyde was found present to improve the strength of the toilet paper. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.

3 key areas where toilet paper can cause you harm:

  1. Toxic additives
  2. Bleaching with chlorine
  3. Recycled paper and surprise contaminants–bisphenols (BPA & BPS)

Toilet paper against wood flooring

Toxic Additives Don’t Belong In Toilet Paper

Toilet paper with scents or lotions and flushable wipes likely contain problematic ingredients that enter as ingredients or as part of the manufacturing process.

  • PEGs: This was a problem with flushable wipes. Many of them contained a variety of PEG compounds.  Ethoxylated ingredients (like PEGs) on their own are of low concern to humans, however, the process of ethoxylation can leave behind trace amounts of carcinogens: ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.
  • Undisclosed fragrances: Because there’s no way to know what components are in the fragrance, we have no way to know if the ingredients are harmful or can cause an allergic reaction. Synthetic musks and phthalates typically hide in hidden “fragrance” that is undisclosed. Phthalates are potent endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to obesity, hyperactivity in children and degraded sperm quality.
  • Paraffin wax: This is made from petroleum by-products and can be absorbed into the skin. It may also be contaminated with carcinogens.

Woman using toilet in morning

The Bleaching Process of Toilet Paper Is a Bummer! 

Bleaching is the process by which toilet paper is whitened. Most companies do this process because unbleached products are typically harsher to the touch. Bleaching often involves the use of chlorine, which can produce dioxins. Dioxins are extremely toxic, with risks including reproductive and developmental problems, damaging the immune system, acting as endocrine disruptors, and can be a carcinogen.

The best course of action is to go with the least amount of chlorine as possible, so chlorine dioxide is better. Avoiding dyes & inks is also important. After interviewing some brands we discovered that it’s not possible to avoid chlorine derivatives all the time when it comes to alternative fibers. It’s just not available yet. For fibers like bamboo pulp, manufacturers are all doing chlorine dioxide instead of the harsher elemental chlorine. Sugarcane fibers have the ability to be bleached without the use of chlorine derivatives. As this becomes a more popular selection, I’m sure there will be more options. We’ve recognized this difficulty when making our selections.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AFPA) recognizes these ways of bleaching:

  • Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF): While they don’t use the harsh element chlorine, they do use a chlorine derivative like chlorine dioxide. This process is far less toxic than using elemental bleach to process.
  • Process Chlorine Free (PCF): This process is typically used by recycled paper products that have not been re-bleached with chlorine-based compounds.
  • Totally Chlorine Free (TCF): No chlorine or chlorine compounds were used to bleach the pulp. Unfortunately, TCF is primarily done in China, which uses poor and unsafe standards.
  • Unbleached: Means it’s untreated and typically very rough to the touch.

Toilet paper on pink background

The Trouble With Recycled Paper & Suprise Contaminants–BPA Hiding In Your Receipts Contaminates The Recycled Toilet Paper. 

While recycled paper is, of course, the best option for the planet, there is one dirty little secret it is hiding–bisphenols like BPA and BPS. Bisphenols like BPA have been discovered as a hideaway inside recycled toilet paper. This is because thermal receipt paper, which is contaminated with bisphenols BPA & BPS, ends up finding its way into recycled paper products like toilet paper. Bisphenols like BPA are endocrine disruptors and studies have linked them to reproductive problems, early puberty, low sperm count, and breast cancer.

Man with roll of toilet paper

Mamavation Finds Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Some Popular Toilet Paper

Mamavation sent 17 different toilet paper products off to an EPA-certified laboratory to look for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” The products consisted of conventional toilet paper, FSC certified toilet paper, bamboo toilet paper, and bamboo & sugarcane blended toilet paper. We did not purchase any products specifically for septic tanks or septic systems, but some of these products are considered septic safe.

Here are the main findings from Mamavation’s Toilet Paper PFAS Consumer Study:

  • 24% of toilet paper tested at Mamavation’s EPA-certified lab had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals”, while 76% of toilet paper tested did not. In other words, 4 out of 17 products contained indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.”
  • According to our lab, levels of organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS, were found between 10 parts per million (ppm) to 35 parts per million (ppm).
  • 50% of the products with detectable levels of organic fluorine were bamboo products. In other words, 2 out of 4 detectable products were made from bamboo, one was made from conventional wood pulp, and one was made from recycled paper.

When PFAS is detected in personal care products, such as toilet paper, in the amounts we are seeing they are unlikely added on purpose but are more likely present due to manufacturing or packaging contamination of some kind in the supply chain. 

Mamavation’s lab used marker testing to identify the potential presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in toilet paper products. Organic fluorine is a marker for PFAS because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine.  The specific lab method used by Mamavation tested for total fluorine was the Determination of Total Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. If total fluorine was observed at a detection level of 10ppm, the lab did the Determination of free Fluoride Ion in the toilet paper by Ion-Selective Electrode and then subtracted that from the Total Fluorine to determine the amount of organic fluorine. This marker testing is likely to show the presence of PFAS, but other possibilities are things like fluorinated pesticide residue and fluorinated pharmaceuticals.

Scott Belcher, Ph.D. & Associate Professor with the Center for Environmental & Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University says “fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Teflon®, are extremely common forms of PFAS that could be contributing to the organic fluorine found in food products. Methods used for detecting individual PFAS, such as PFOA or GenX, cannot directly identify PTFE. However, the analysis of total organic fluorine does account for all PFAS contaminants in food, including PTFE. Therefore, this serves as a good ‘spot-check’ of consumer products.”

woman sitting on toilet

Mamavation’s Toilet Paper Investigation

Mamavation scoured the internet for the most popular conventional and alternative toilet papers. We also enlisted help finding brands from our Facebook group & interviewed some experts to create standards and categorize brands.

Here’s our rankings based on materials & processing used. We’ve also included raw data from lab-tested products below.

Not Our Favorite Brands for Your Booty

These products contain additives or are bleached with chlorine. Chlorine bleaching exposes us to dioxins and furans which build up inside our bodies. Some of these brands could also be using formaldehyde. Most of these brands are made from virgin wood fibers, so they do not contain trace amounts of bisphenols but they are also not sustainable. These brands are cutting down the Boreal Forest in Canada, which is the largest carbon sink in the world.

  • Aria Toilet Paper: No recycled products; ECF or PCF but no further details.
  • Cashmere Envirocare Toilet Paper: No recycled products: ECF or PCF but no further details.
  • Charmin Ultra Products: Undisclosed conditioners and processed with ECF. Charmin Ultra Gentle also contains paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product.
  • Charmin Flushable Wipes: PEG and undisclosed fragrance.
  • Cottonelle Flushable Wipes: PEG and undisclosed fragrance.
  • Purek Envirocare Toilet Paper: No recycled products; ECF or PCF but no further details.
  • Scott Flushable Wipes: PEG and undisclosed fragrance.
  • Wegman’s Toilet Paper: No recycled content. ECF or PCF but no further details.
  • White Cloud Toilet Paper: No recycled content. ECF or PCF but no further details.

Additional Brands Tested for PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

According to lab tests, these products contain organic fluorine, which is a marker for PFAS “forever chemicals.” We do not recommend you purchase from this category.

  • Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper — 13 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
  • Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue — 35 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
  • Tushy Bamboo Toilet Paper — 10 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
  • Who Gives a Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper — 11 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine

woman on the toilet with panties

Better Brands for Your Booty

These brands are light years better, but there are some issues. This is where it gets murky. These brands contained recycled paper, bamboo or sugarcane. Using chlorine dioxide is preferable to elemental chlorine, so we recognize that. These products are either 1) recycled so we assume it could contain trace amounts of bisphenols like BPA/BPS, 2) are made with bamboo using elemental chlorine free (ECF) processing or 3) are made from unbleached trees or bleached with hydrogen peroxide.

  • Bambootiful: 100% bamboo toilet paper likely using ECF bleaching process
  • BimBamBoo Toilet Paper: 100% bamboo paper bleached using ECF
  • Best Value: Recycled paper but uses PCF.
  • Brandless: Use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine to bleach.
  • Dream Bright 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper: Uses 100% bamboo likely bleached with ECF
  • Kirkland Signature (Costco Brand): Uses PCF in recycling and ECF for pulp, most likely with chlorine dioxide. 0 to 50% recycled, depending on where purchased.
  • Marcal: All recycled pulp but avoid receipts as much as possible.
  • Noo Trees 100% EcoLuxe Bamboo Toilet Paper: Uses 100% bamboo likely processed with ECF
  • Quilted Northern EcoComfortTM: Uses virgin pulp but plants 3 trees for every one used, so this would be an example that was alluded to in the video above. Bleaches using ECF.
  • Silk & Soft No Trees Bamboo Toilet Paper: Bamboo toilet paper likely bleached via ECF
  • White Cloud Green Earth Toilet Paper: 100% recycled content possibly containing trace amounts of bisphenols like BPA/BPS
  • WholeRoll Organic Bamboo Toilet Paper: Uses 100% bamboo likely bleached with ECF
  • 365 Everyday Value 100% Recycled Bath Tissue: Uses recycled paper which is likely contaminated with trace amounts of bisphenols like BPA or BPS

Additional Brands Tested for PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

These products did not contain detectable organic fluorine but are not made of sustainable materials. These brands are very likely consuming materials from the Boreal Forest in Canada or a similar forest which is contributing to deforestation and adding more carbon to the atmosphere. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is preferred over Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification for fibers.

  • Angel Soft 230+ Sheets Double Roll Toilet Paper (made with Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified fiber)– non-detect organic fluorine
  • Cottonelle Mega Ultra Comfort Care — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Scott 1000 Sheets Per Roll Toilet Paper (made with FSC Certified fiber)– non-detect organic fluorine
  • Signature Select (Albertsons) Mega Ultra Premium Bath Tissue — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Soft & Strong Premium Comfort Toilet Paper  (made with FSC certified fiber) — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Value Corner (Safeway) Bathroom Tissue — non-detect organic fluorine

Close-up Of A Person's Hand Using Toilet Paper

Best Brands for Your Booty

These products did not contain detectable organic fluorine according to our lab and are also made of more sustainable materials like 100% recycled wood pulp, bamboo, and cane sugar. Because sometimes recycled papers can contain trace amounts of bisphenol S (BPS) or bisphenol A (BPA), we prefer you choose from the bamboo or cane sugar versions. Processing is either chlorine-free or elemental chlorine free and fragrance-free.

  • Caboo Tree-Free Bamboo Bath Tissue — non-detect organic fluorine (Use discount code “EHN25” for 25% off your purchase price at Caboo Products!)
  • ECOS Treeless Bamboo & Sugarcane Bathroom Tissue — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Nature Z Way Bamboo Bath Tissue — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Open Nature 100% Recycled Paper Bathroom Tissue — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Public Goods Toilet Paper (Bamboo & Cane Sugar) — non-detect organic fluorine
  • Seedling by Grove Tree-Free Toilet Paper (made with FSC certified bamboo)– non-detect organic fluorine
  • Sprouts 100% Recycled Toilet Paper — non-detect organic fluorine

blue family cloths

Alternatives to Toilet Paper–The “Family Cloth”

There are alternatives to toilet paper. Some more eco-minded families have ditched the toilet paper altogether for rags instead. An entire cottage industry on Etsy has sprouted up touting the sustainability of using “family cloths” instead of toilet paper. These are basically cloth rags you use, then store safely, rewash and keep using. You don’t really need to purchase special ones. Cutting up old clothes and towels will suffice just fine. Go browse Etsy if you want to see the creativity.

If you are going the reusable route, I also recommend our laundry detergent investigation so you know which laundry detergents are the least problematic to your health and the health of our environment. But be aware of the contamination. Make sure to store used “family cloths” in a bucket next to the toilet in a solution of vinegar, water & essential oils. That way, it stops the spread of most of the bacteria. The utmost precaution must be made when transferring the “family cloths” out of the bucket lest not contaminate any other part of your home. Simply dump the bucket into the laundry machine and make sure the setting is very hot.

But these rags would suffice if you wanted to purchase them on Amazon:

  • Colors of the Rainbow Reusable Baby Wipes
  • Christmas themed 12 pack of family cloths
  • 60 simple cotton washcloths

bidet in front of yellow tile

Have You Ever Used a Bidet? It’s Pleasant & Gets You Very Clean.

If you’ve ever traveled in Europe, the Middle East, or Asia, you may have crossed by a bidet. The bidet uses warm water to perform a similar function to toilet paper, but cleaner. Some bidets are stand-alone washbasins that are located close to the toilet, while other bidets can be hooked up to a regular toilet.

Here are some bidets to check out to cut down on toilet paper use:

    • Hello Tushy Classic Bidet (This is the one I have! Use discount code “NUMBERTWO2” for 20% off purchases.)
    • Lux Self-Cleaning Bidet
    • Lux NEO Bidet 185 Plus
    • CRX Smart Toilet Bidet 
    • SmartBidet Electronic Bidet Seat
    • BioBidet Bliss Elongated Toilet Seat
    • SmartBidet Electric Bidet Seat
    • Brondell Swash Elongated Bidet
    • Brondell Advanced Bidet
    • BLAUX Electric Portable Bidet
    • Sanamity Toilet with Bidet & Dryer

The average American uses over 50 lbs. of paper pulp and close to $250 every year on toilet paper. We hope you have some good options to chose from for a safer wipe!

Baby putting toilet paper down the bowl

Additional Mamavation Investigations To Help Your Family

Mamavation has been working hard to discover where to find PFAS “forever chemicals” inside food & other products we purchase and bring inside our homes. This is why we have decided to commission our own consumer studies on indications of PFAS in different consumer categories and share that information with you.

  • Pasta & Tomato Sauces
  • Nut Butters (Peanut butter, etc.)
  • Cooking Oils (olive oil, almond oil, canola oil, etc)
  • Activewear (Yoga Pants)
  • Sports Bras
  • Green Beauty Makeup
  • Toilet Paper
  • Period Underwear
  • Ketchup
  • Parchment Paper
  • Bamboo Flooring
  • Baby Strollers

We also have other non-toxic investigations on products for your children or the rest of your family. Here are some that we thought you may like.

  • Best Yoga mats 
  • Best Organic Mattresses
  • Best Air purifiers
  • Best Cookware
  • Best Plant-Based Milks
  • Best Water Filters for PFAS Filtration
  • Best Collagen
  • Best Electrolyte Replacement Drinks, Sports Drinks, & Coconut Water
  • Best Infrared Saunas
  • Best Bubble Bath

Click here for a complete list of product investigations.

Recent Product Investigations

  • Banana Boat Sunscreen Recalled Due to Toxic Benzene
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  • How Toxic Is Your Toilet Paper? Investigation of Brands
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica wiliam

    July 17, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    Thank guys. This article is so great with me and helps me a lot. Hope you write more.

    Reply
    • Jessica wiliam

      July 29, 2022 at 3:09 am

      Is toilet paper bleached? Yes, its white color is achieved through bleaching that involves chlorine. The said substance produces dioxin, which is deemed harmful. Since there are toilet paper types that don’t go through bleaching, it’s just right to explore bleached vs unbleached toilet paper.

      Reply
  2. Frank

    July 12, 2022 at 6:25 am

    Everything you eat, drink, and breathe is poisoned. There is no escape from the EVIL ONES who hate us and want us DEAD, but diseased first so that they can make big bux from treating us before they let us die. Even your Corona masks have Titanium Dioxide impregnated in the fibers. Think what that does to your lungs over the long haul. The ANTI-HUMANS own all the big corporations in America, all the banks, all the grocery stores and food producers. Their hate for us is beyond your wildest imagination. They, just like the Terminator, “have no pity, no remorse, and will not stop, EVER, until you are dead.” Think it’s funny ? Keep laughing, cause soon the Bolshevik bastards will be at your front door.

    Reply
  3. Beth

    November 21, 2021 at 10:17 am

    My Mother was recently diagnosed with rectal cancer. The Oncologist told us there has been an increase in cases of rectal cancer recently in our area. The only common denominator I can think of would be toilet paper. There was no cancer anywhere else. She has had loose stools most of her life so she uses a lot of TP. She has been using Dollar General brand strong and soft that is supposed to be similar to Charming. Time to change brands!

    Reply
    • Jen

      December 3, 2021 at 10:44 am

      Is your mother vaxxed? Lots of people in remission relapsing with accelerated tumor growth.

      Reply
  4. Ruby

    October 31, 2021 at 12:54 am

    Painful down there… toilet paper might be the culprit. My husband bought the Kirkland toilet paper and it says “unscented” but does seem to have a smell to it. Everytime I use Kirkland toilet paper my vulva begins to burn and it is painful. The toilet paper also seems to have a ton of particles left in the air… just rip a piece under a light and see. That being said, I had no idea I was having so much irritation caused by toilet paper… until The Holy Spirit revealed to me I needed to look into what my tp was made out of.. came across this article and it backed up my beliefs.. I’m going to try a few mentioned here and see if it helps my burning sensations. Btw I went to my OBGYN they thought I had an STD gave me a but shot, put me on strong antibiotics, those antibiotics gave me a UTI, went to another OBGYN that gave me even higher antibiotics and then days later said I had no STD’S, No UTI… so what then was causing my frequent urination, barely going at all, if I could even get anything out? burning sensation and general nausea… a reaction to my toilet paper. Clearly… that had to be the only thing. Switching to see if I see improvement. If not then I am headed to the ER. God Bless you ladies in your journey.

    Reply
    • Ann

      November 28, 2021 at 8:05 am

      Retired OB RN here. If this is NOT an infection and if this happens again Ruby buy a water spritz bottle (maybe a glass spray bottle would work) and just use warm water – similar cleaning to a bidet or sitz bath. Just lightly blot dry with a soft cotton cloth. Don’t add anything to your poor irritated skin. Once skin is broken down it hard to repair and heal if you keep adding an irritant. Maybe at home (or out 🙂 ) wear a dress and no undies to allow lots of air circulation. No poly, nylon, microfiber…undergarments or even bed sheets. Good luck.

      Reply
  5. Jay

    June 2, 2021 at 6:53 am

    Personally, I don’t care about the environment (I do care about the environment, but not why I am looking at toilet paper) at this moment. Something is wrong and I’ve noted it for awhile. I have asked doctors a few times if it is possible to become allergic to toilet paper, none really even address the issue.
    I feel irritated down below a Lot. I’ve looked around with google here and there and didn’t really find much. But yesterday I went hard into google and I found a medical site that talks about vulvitis and that it is often mistaken for yeast infections. That they don’t know why yeast medication works on the problem, but the majority of the time if a yeast culture is taken, it shows negative so it isn’t a yeast infection.
    I’m pretty more aware of my body than most, and I can tell it isn’t a yeast but the constant itchy, burny, irritated feel is similar. I just can tell it is not coming from within but it is starting at the outer layers instead.
    Vulvitis is often an allergic reaction to the toilet paper. For whatever reason. Whatever is in it is a problem. I have noticed my favorite brand causes a way bigger problem. So I even switched to a different brand for the front.
    A few years back I noticed I was having swelling down below in both the front and the back areas (vulvar and anal) and I started to equate it with pads. Honestly, at first I thought I had some form of odd cancer I hurt so bad in the back. Blood work said I was fine.
    I had a procedure done so buh bye periods and no more pads and after a month, no more issues.

    I think whatever they are doing to make things either soft or extra white is what is causing me my issues. Why do we equate white with good or clean?
    Why do we allow these products to have so many chemicals that it cannot be good for anyone?
    And I wonder if men used toilet paper several times a day and ended up with lots of problems, if there’d be a big demand for change?

    Not sure what product I am going to go with. I think I am sticking with my normal for the back end, but looking to go as chemical free as I can for the front.
    Wish my ancient house would handle a bidet gadget, seems like the perfect option.

    At this point, wondering if the hairdryer would be my best option?
    Hope that made someone smile.

    Reply
    • Lorri Doyle

      July 18, 2021 at 7:34 am

      I am sensitive/allergic to many things including chemicals, foods, medications, and things in our environment. It’s been over 10 years since I developed sensitivity to most feminine pads, so in the last year when toilet paper started to cause problems I wasn’t surprised. I already knew some brands were not for me and perfumed TP is bad idea for anyone. But to read that some TP contains Formaldehyde, a known allergy for me, shows how important it is for everyone to know what’s in the products we use and the food we eat). TP can also contain plastic, and other things that you’d never expect.
      Sustainable and/or recycled toilet paper is likely contaminated and we can’t know what it’s made from or the chemicals already present. So I’ve been using Bamboo TP and have tried several brands as some fall apart as soon they get wet, leaving pieces on skin. I haven’t seen Bamboo TP in the stores and have been ordering on line, it costs a little more but for relief from chemicals and products made from trees it’s worth it. My many allergies were developed during the 30+ years that my Gluten Sensitivity went undiagnosed, I was told I had Colitis in 1980 and that I’d have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) for the rest of my life. My symptoms continued until I went Gluten-Free in 2012. I wish you the best Jay and hope Bamboo TP will help you.

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      March 13, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      CLEVER !!!!!!!!!!

      Reply
  6. Samantha

    May 25, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    Why is hemp toilet paper not available? it can easily be grown in the US, does not require pesticides, and is rapid growing.

    Reply
  7. Pat Alexander

    May 19, 2021 at 2:09 pm

    So frustrated; ready to start using the back yard like the dog does, using grass and the hose. Or not; seems like EVERY THING is bad for the planet, and worse for me.

    Reply
  8. Annie

    February 26, 2021 at 11:47 am

    What about Naturolly? They’re made with bamboo and are unbleached. Would love to see your suggestion.

    Reply
  9. Mandy

    February 23, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    What about Cheeky Panda?

    Reply
  10. Nancy Batista

    December 4, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    If toilet paper is so toxic why don’t they label it as such?

    Reply
    • Leah Segedie

      December 9, 2020 at 1:18 pm

      That’s a good question. I’d have to look closer at paper products to give you a better answer on the technicalities of when they would have to disclose. Ironically, there are other things that you eat all the time that are just as bad if not worse…anytime you eat fast food you could be consuming food packaging with PFAS, and that’s worse than bisphenols, so the laws don’t always make sense in terms of safety.

      Reply
  11. Chelsea

    May 1, 2020 at 7:59 pm

    What about Caboo?

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      May 1, 2020 at 8:00 pm

      Oops, sorry, just saw it was on the list.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        October 3, 2020 at 2:55 pm

        Hi,
        Would be interested in your view of unbleached recycled seventh generation.

        Thx,
        Melissa

        Reply
    • Leah Segedie

      May 5, 2020 at 12:28 pm

      That’s a good brand.

      Reply
  12. Bmommy

    April 18, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    something you didn’t directly address is the glues using in 2-ply TP. Most people (maybe you too) are not aware that 2 ply TP is glued together. I have allergies to MI / MCI & one of the things that contain those ingredients is glues. I have a reaction to some TP so to be safe I stick with 1 ply. It’s very difficult to contact these companies to find out their ingredients, as they a proprietary & they need to consult with chemist. Also mfg can make changes without notice so not easy to keep up. I used to use Charmin no problem until it was.

    Reply
  13. Jackie

    April 14, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    I love bidets, but the only problem with them is that then you have toxic, chlorinated water cleaning your butt.

    Reply
    • Pat Alexander

      May 19, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      …as opposed to the fact that you wash every OTHER part of you with the same water. And my drink it too.

      Reply
      • Kevin McDonald

        September 23, 2021 at 6:33 pm

        Using a house wide water purifying system that treats chlorinated water at the entry point to the house, removing it as well as other toxicants, is the only way a bidet is going to be clear of the chlorine.

        Reply
  14. Jackie

    April 14, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    I contacted Who Gives A Crap and this is what they said:

    “We just pulp the clean fibres at super high temperatures, ensuring that Who Gives A Crap stays biodegradable, safe in septic tanks and as strong as it is silky soft!”

    I think they may have mixed up “pulp” and “clean” – I think they probably meant to say “We just clean the pulp fibres” etc. Does this make sense to you?

    Reply
  15. Irina

    March 15, 2020 at 8:23 am

    Leah, on the Grove website, it says that Seedling by Grove toilet paper is made of 100% bamboo. Do they have a different paper with sugarcane? I can’t find it. Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Dewi

    March 12, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    Will you please review Open Nature and Natural Value as well?

    Reply
    • Irina

      March 15, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      Have you contacted them about the materials they are made of? Leah is super busy. We need to do our part too. Just saying. 🙂

      Reply
  17. Hannah

    February 26, 2020 at 6:59 am

    Any info on Trader Joes tp? We buy the recycled one

    Reply
  18. Hanna Schmitz

    August 15, 2019 at 1:18 am

    Why in the hell are women wiping piss from their twat instead of spreading their labias open so that they don’t piss on themselves???
    Natural men(who have not been genitally mutilated) have to pull back their skin to pee strait as well. No wonder women get so many infections. They’re literally shoving germs up in them so that they get yeast and urinary tract infections. Drying piss isn’t cleaning piss up. Learn how to pee damn it. Don’t be lazy and not spread your lips open and then try to wipe your puss like an ass. If you learn how to pee right you don’t need any ass wipe. A woman’s urethra is half of the size of a mans so the stream should be strait and thin.

    Reply
    • danwat1234

      September 2, 2019 at 10:30 pm

      She’s right you know – Morgan Freeman.gif

      Reply
    • Lauren

      April 8, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      Please try to communicate less like an angry righteous authoritarian… people will still understand you when you come from a place of compassionate teaching. The world has enough anger and judgemental hatred. You may have a valid point but the majority of us like to learn from a place that empowers dignity and respect.

      Reply
    • Ann

      November 28, 2021 at 8:21 am

      This is actually incorrect and so judgmental The female urethra is about the same size but a little narrower. THey are also warried in their placement. Some are just below the clitorus and some actually in the meatus or labia minora. The stream of urine cannot be straight no matter what you do. If you happen to have a deeply located urethra it may not even be available if you spread your labia… You should not touch your urethra unless you have washed your hands well before you do so. Urination is happens in a simple and clean way from all bodies. Urine is sterile. If your observations were correct all women would have very serious bladder infections from the time they were born! MOST women do not have bladder issues until they are sexually active!

      Reply
  19. Queen

    July 2, 2019 at 2:29 am

    Question: you wrote “These products contain additives or are bleached with chlorine. Chlorine bleaching exposes us to dioxins and furans which build up inside our bodies.“
    Does bleaching expose us through the chemicals being released into the atmosphere at time of production or every time we wipe due to direct contact? My friend chews toilet paper (I know 🤢-a habit she’s had for YEARS) & I want to know what she’s actually putting into her body.

    Reply
  20. Cem

    June 5, 2019 at 5:30 am

    Very Eye opening. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  21. Mallory | Mom of W.A.R.

    May 8, 2019 at 5:46 pm

    I had no idea!! This really is an eye opening post. I never considered having to worry about toilet paper other than personal preference. Thank you for doing the leg work!

    Reply
  22. jp

    April 17, 2019 at 8:45 am

    Likely? Really? Sounds like a guess. I appreciate your work but the definition of ‘likely’ is “probably, promising”. My question would be what the heck did they use if it’s only likely? 🙂

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      April 18, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      Could you give me more context to your question, please.

      Reply
      • TLI

        May 7, 2019 at 9:14 pm

        The “better” descriptions, for example, frequently say things such as “*likely* use ECF” which does make it sound kinda like a guess? And, what else might it possibly be?

        Reply
    • Rishel

      September 14, 2019 at 8:07 am

      It sounds like someone didn’t get their entire story before it went to press.

      Reply
  23. Shadowcat2006

    April 16, 2019 at 7:40 pm

    The children’s father said and I quote “you don’t need to change the toilet paper!” In order to make our family the best they can be… yes I do!!!! I’m gonna see about the Grove one and see if we like it

    Reply
    • Leah Segedie

      April 17, 2019 at 6:23 am

      TP is sacred to men. My husband finally saw the light after he watched that video on the Boreal Forest.

      Reply
  24. You Da Bomb!

    April 16, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    Wow, thanks for covering this so thoroughly!!!!

    Reply
    • Leah Segedie

      April 17, 2019 at 6:23 am

      My pleasure

      Reply
    • Joe domestic

      April 9, 2020 at 5:08 pm

      I only recommend the bad toilet paper

      Reply
  25. Amy

    April 16, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    What about Scott’s?

    Reply
    • Leah Segedie

      April 17, 2019 at 6:23 am

      Added them!

      Reply

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