Dear Reverend, My wife is a committed environmentalist, and she's always looking for ways to be more eco-friendly. Recently, she's been trying to convince me that we should switch from toilet paper to reusable cloth wipes. I love my wife, and I want to save the planet as much as anybody, but this idea really grosses me out. How do I gently draw the line? Phil McCracken (man, 48) Dear Phil McCracken, According to a study by the National Resources Defense Council, each person in the U.S. uses, on average, 141 rolls of toilet paper every year. Roughly 31 million trees are cut down to make a one-year supply of TP for the country. That fact alone carries a lot of environmental impact. When you consider the other things that go into the production of toilet paper — water and chemical usage, energy consumption, carbon emissions — it's no wonder environmentally conscious people seek alternatives. Reusable toilet cloth, often referred to as "family cloth," is exactly what the name implies. It can be homemade, found on Etsy, or bought from companies like Toilet UNPaper and Marley's Monsters. It's used as you would imagine, kept in a sealed hamper in the bathroom, then washed and used again. It's no wonder why some people are less than enthusiastic about the concept, but when done properly, it's no less sanitary than using cloth diapers. If you aren't ready to dump traditional toilet paper, there are other options. TP made from recycled paper is commonly available. You can also find it made from other sources, such as bamboo or sugarcane. Better yet, buy a bidet. There are many affordable models, and they're easily installed in your existing toilet. After you do your business, you push a button and your undercarriage gets a refreshing little shower. Bidets are very hygienic and greatly reduce the need for toilet paper. If you got a bidet, perhaps you would find the idea of cloth wipes more appealing. After a bum rinse, they would act more as a tush towel and not be doing so much heavy lifting, as it were. Less than 30 percent of the world's population uses toilet paper, so chucking the Charmin isn't as radical as it may seem. Not only would you be helping the planet, but you'd also be on a roll with making your wife happy. Good luck and God bless,… ...read more read less