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

(23,740 posts)
10. Old fashioned
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 12:03 PM
Jun 5

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