Best Leaves to Use as a Toilet Paper Substitute

If the current run on toilet paper lasts into the Spring, folks who live in the country (or near a park!) can turn to leaves in a pinch. Just make sure you don’t pick the poisonous ones.

Over the weekend, my buddy and I helped an elderly neighbor assemble a greenhouse frame. As we discussed the local toilet paper shortage, my buddy mentioned he owns a bidet, so he’s good; my elderly neighbor, who’s from West Virginia, has spent most of his life outdoors, grew up poor, and grew up using leaves as toilet paper, so he says he’ll be fine.

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Question is, which leaves? I looked it up when I got home, and you generally want to look for leaves that are:

1. Large (gotta keep those hands clean)

2. Tough (won’t tear)

3. Preferably with some fuzz on them (makes for a better wiping experience)

If you’re good at visual identification, here are photos of some recommended “brands” you should look out for:

Big Leaf Aster

Found in: Eastern, central U.S.

Image by RockerBOO

Big Leaf Magnolia

Found in: Southeastern U.S., eastern Mexico

Image by (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) – CC BY-SA 2.5

Big Leaf Maple

Found in: Western North America

Image by Angilbas at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Pixeltoo using CommonsHelper., Public Domain

Corn Lily

Found in: Western U.S.

Image by Tom Hilton

Mullein

Found in: All of U.S.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Wooly Lamb’s Ear

Found in: Most of U.S.

Image by Ivy Dawned

Leaves to avoid:

– Anything waxy (smears rather than absorbs)

– Leaves grouped in threes (might be poisonous)

– Leaves growing in alternating, as opposed to mirroring, positions on the branch (might be poisonous)

Happy wiping!

Sources:

Climb Tall Peaks, Hip Camp, Newbie Prepper


Source: core77

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