How to Make Toilet Paper

If you want something done right, do it yourself. Sometimes, this includes making your own toilet paper. When you supply your own TP, you get exactly the kind you want. The stuff you buy in the store might have too much perfume, or may not be soft enough. No matter your preferences, this is your chance to stock your bathroom with the perfect tissue. Thankfully, you can do this with a minimum of ingredients and fuss. Here’s how to make your own toilet paper.

Things You'll Need

• Blender
• Cotton
• Wood
• Lotions
• Large screen

Instructions

How to Make Toilet Paper

1. Start by making the pulp for your toilet paper. This is the slurry that you will dry in sheets. Get some soft wood, such as pine. (For obvious reasons, using hardwoods is not the best idea.) Cut the pine with a band saw until you are left with very thin pieces and lots of sawdust.

2. Put the sawdust into a blender. (You might not want to use a new appliance to make your pulp.) Add some cotton fibers. It might be hard to cut cotton balls into small pieces, so use something looser. Try different fibers, such as polyester or even silk, if you’re feeling adventurous. Pour a few tablespoons of moisturizing hand lotion into the mix and finish it up with a little water, just enough to let all of the solids move around.

3. Blend the mixture into a slurry. Don’t worry about overdoing it; the puree setting is just fine. All of the fibers, pulp and lotion should be mixing together, the pieces getting progressively smaller. If the solids are clumping up, add more water.

4. Pour the slurry over a screen. The water will fall right through, leaving a sheet of toilet paper. You can go as thick or as thin as you like, and you can use a round or rectangular screen; the point is that it’s up to you.

5. Put the screen on a cloth or paper towel, then place a heavy, flat object on top of your sheet of toilet paper. This will get the majority of the water out. Transfer this semi-dry sheet to another flat surface and repeat until you have made as much toilet paper as you’ll need. Stack your sheets after they’ve dried completely.

6. Experiment until you have found the right recipe and procedure to give you the desired results. Try adding more lotions or less water. If you prefer fragrant toilet paper, add a perfume of your choice.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• This site provides information about the way commercially produced toilet paper is made.
• Read this site for a wide range of information about toilet paper and its history.