Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

The DU Lounge

In reply to the discussion: I'm out of toilet paper. [View all]

Marthe48

(23,612 posts)
10. Old fashioned
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 12:03 PM
Friday

1. My mother-in-law raised most of her kids in a house with no indoor plumbing. They kept a stack of Sears catalogues in the outhouse and would tear pages out. One of her relatives kindly pointed out that even if they had to use an outhouse, they could buy t.p. for it.

I went to Canada the year I turned 14. I was with my uncle and grandmother. We parked the car at a boat launch, where a trustee would take us across the lake to the house. As posh as it was, there was an outhouse to use. I went in and noticed a metal box attached to the wall, maybe said for emergency use on the front. I opened it up and there were 3 dried corn cobs, white, red, white. I shut the box, and came out, very curious. I asked my uncle and grandmother. My grandmother looked shocked and my uncle snickered. He explained that you used the white cob first, then the red, and finally the other white to be sure. I kind of wonder how my city uncle knew. lol

Finally, an old joke. A lady was hosting a tea party. She had everything just right, pretty linen, heirloom tea cups, dainty finger food. Right before the guests were due to arrive, she discovered she was out of toilet paper. In a flash of inspiration, she went to her sewing room and grabbed a bunch of old dress patterns, and cut them into squares, and stacked them in the bathroom. The guests arrived and oohed and aahed over the lovely tables settings. One of the ladies went to the restroom, and came back in awe.
She told her friend in a whisper, "Our hostess is so fancy, she has toilet paper marked Front and Back!"

Hope you can get to the store!



Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I'm out of toilet paper. [View all] zanana1 Friday OP
Pictures of Trump? OLDMDDEM Friday #1
Necessity is the mother of invention buzzycrumbhunger Friday #2
Clean yourself with a warm, soapy washcloth. Rinse. no_hypocrisy Friday #3
I got confused... buzzycrumbhunger Friday #8
Two Possible Suggestions wyn borkins Friday #4
Thank you, wyn borkins. zanana1 Friday #7
A tennis ball. n/t LuckyCharms Friday #5
Love - 40. Harker Friday #11
That snuck up on me. Prairie_Seagull Friday #14
I'm trying to tie DU Lounge threads together True Dough Friday #18
Install a bidet. NNadir Friday #6
I tried a bidet converter kit, I will call it... 1WorldHope Friday #9
Old fashioned Marthe48 Friday #10
Smooth stones. Harker Friday #12
After giving birth Diamond_Dog Friday #13
I see you have received some decent replies Skittles Friday #15
Use the 3 sea shells!! Niagara Friday #16
I would suggest True Dough Friday #17
omg Niagara Saturday #19
I kinda left out a little detail True Dough Saturday #20
I have a convertible LuckyCharms Saturday #21
They say shit happens Niagara Saturday #23
Yes LuckyCharms Saturday #24
Whew. That's wild, Lucky Niagara Saturday #25
This is wilder (I can't believe you make me go down this terrible path) LuckyCharms Saturday #26
I didn't make you do anything of the sort Niagara Saturday #27
Yes. You did. LuckyCharms Saturday #29
No, it wasn't me Niagara Saturday #30
I consider it an education. LuckyCharms Saturday #31
Did you see my Demolition Man 3 sea shells response up thread? Niagara Saturday #33
LOL I just watched it. LuckyCharms Saturday #34
lol Niagara Saturday #40
I have a confession Niagara... LuckyCharms Saturday #43
It's alright, Lucky Niagara Saturday #47
You're a LuckyCharms Saturday #48
Absolutely Niagara Saturday #50
That's okay. zanana1 20 hrs ago #53
Thank you for being a great sport, zanana1 Niagara 19 hrs ago #54
Make sure True Dough Saturday #35
"Keeping the soft top up" LuckyCharms Saturday #36
Sorry. Maybe I was thinking of True Dough Saturday #39
Oh thanks, True Dough. LuckyCharms Saturday #41
Somehow, I doubt that! True Dough Saturday #45
I go to this place... LuckyCharms Saturday #46
I just can't stop laughing over here Niagara Saturday #22
Kinky Friedman had the answer. rsdsharp Saturday #28
The right hand is for eating and the left hand is for ..... Lochloosa Saturday #32
Sponges work great because they are reusable Bluestocking Saturday #37
Both of my bathrooms here sdfernando Saturday #38
RUN OUT AND PANIC BUY!!! u4ic Saturday #42
Do you happen to have a telephone book, Sears catalog, or corn cobs handy? underpants Saturday #44
Wash cloth. Emile Saturday #49
This method is the easiest, Emile Niagara Saturday #51
use the papers in the classified box /nt bucolic_frolic Saturday #52
Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»I'm out of toilet paper.»Reply #10