u/sgtPresto

Given much thought to how much TP you really will need in a protracted grid or supply chain down situation?

Consider the average American uses 142 rolls of TP a year meaning two adults would need close to 300 rolls for a year of supply chain interruption. Europeans, South Americans and Asians use far less. Why?

Having done extensive global travel i noticed far more reliance on bidets and other water dispensing methods.

When Europeans and Asians look at the American reliance on toilet paper, the reaction generally ranges from mild amusement to genuine cultural bewilderment. Because bathroom habits are deeply ingrained from childhood, discovering how another culture handles basic hygiene can feel like a bit of a shock.

I recall traveling in Japan and my host pointed out how Americans do alot of 'smudging' or 'wadding' when it comes to dry use of TP with no use of water which he said appeared to be so unhygienic. His face grimaced at the thought which I had never really thought of it like that.

Americans are the largest users of TP in the world, by far. It is amusing how disruptive events like impending floods, tornados, hurricanes all generate panic buying of TP.

Count your food stores in days (servings x calories x containers ÷2000 ). Now how many mandays (sorry for lack of gender neutral) do you have? Now count your TP. Do they match? What goes in must come out.

So what is the solution?

Here is what is installed on all my toilets. It cost about $60 each and a simple install. Of course you need water pressure which i have a Plan B, Plan C and a Plan D.

Amazon sells portable bidet sprayers for about $40 each.

I was spoiled by bidet use when in Europe and love them.

So unless you want to continue 'dry smudging' and stocking enormous amounts of rolled paper (a large amount of bulk waste to dispose) consider one of these little fellows.

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Dehydrated mushrooms are one of those often-overlooked additions to a long-term food supply that bring massive value, especially when planning for extended grid-down or SHTF scenarios. While most people focus heavily on standard grains and beans, dried mushrooms provide critical culinary and practical advantages.

​Here is why they are highly beneficial for long-term storage:

​1. Incredible Shelf Life and Space Efficiency

​Shelf Life: Properly packaged (sealed with oxygen absorbers in Mylar bags or glass jars), dehydrated mushrooms can easily last 10 to 15+ years.

​Space & Weight: Because they lose about 90% of their water weight during dehydration, they take up a fraction of the space of canned or fresh options. As we just looked at with your 3.5-ounce batch, a tiny, lightweight bag yields nearly 1.5 pounds once water is introduced. That is one pack shown above. This makes them highly portable if you ever need to mobile-optimize your gear.

​2. A Powerful Solution for "Appetite Fatigue"

​In a prolonged emergency, eating the same bland staples (rice, oats, pinto beans) day after day leads to appetite fatigue—a psychological state where you simply lose the desire to eat, which drains morale and energy. I experienced that with C Rations in Vietnam which i ate every day except my first week, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was so tired of looking at those OD green cans.

​Dried mushrooms are packed with glutamate, the compound responsible for the savory savory flavor known as umami.

​Adding just a handful of rehydrated mushrooms and a splash of their soaking liquid can completely transform a bland pot of white rice or basic beans into a rich, deeply savory meal that tastes like comfort food.

​3. High Nutritional Resilience

​Mushrooms hold up incredibly well under dehydration, retaining specific nutrients that are crucial during high-stress times:

​Immune Support: They contain beta-glucans, which help support immune function when clean conditions or medical access might be compromised.

​B Vitamins & Minerals: They are excellent sources of B vitamins (riboflavin, niacin), copper, and selenium—micronutrients that can be hard to come by if fresh produce isn’t available.

​Vitamin D: If exposed to UV light/sunlight before or during drying, mushrooms are one of the few non-animal sources of Vitamin D, which is vital if spending a lot of time indoors or in shelters.

​4. Multi-Purpose Soaking Liquid

​In a survival situation, nothing goes to waste. The water used to rehydrate the mushrooms isn't greywater to be thrown out—it becomes a potent, concentrated mushroom broth. You can use it as the cooking liquid for your rice or grains, instantly infusing the entire dish with flavor and nutrients without needing extra salt or commercial bouillon cubes.

​Storage Tip: Store-bought dried mushrooms usually come in cellophane bags, which are terrible for long-term storage because they let in light and moisture over time. For maximum shelf life, transfer them into glass Mason jars with a vacuum sealer or pack them into sealed Mylar bags with a 100cc oxygen absorber. I keep mine in a large black bin with tight pop top.

Since I have food stored for 10 folks for about a year, I purchased 35 of these from Temu for about $4 each. That is about 52 pounds (rehydrated) or $2.60 a pound. Well worth the add for all the nutrients, flavor diversity, and bulk. Remember we arent talking about 52 pounds of rice but a means to break the fatigue of having rice and beans day in and day out.

We often discuss numerous options for food and water storage but little thought to post-event hygiene.

When modern infrastructure fails, hygiene issues generally collapse into these five categories:

Waterborne Diseases: Dysentery, Cholera, and Typhoid (caused by fecal contamination of drinking water).

Skin Infections: Staph (MRSA), fungal growth (athlete’s foot), and infected minor wounds leading to sepsis.

Parasitic Infestations: Body lice, scabies, and intestinal worms from contaminated soil or close quarters.

Oral Decay: Severe tooth abscesses and gum disease which can cause systemic infections.

Vector-Borne Illnesses: Diseases spread by pests (rats/flies) thriving on unmanaged human waste and trash.

Remember...no Urgent Care Centers or hospitals.

I studied this for decades and although im not a medical professional, I did pick up some pointers to consider.

For a condensed, high-impact hygiene kit, you want multi-purpose items that prioritize disease prevention and water conservation.

​1. Sanitation & Waste (The Essentials)

​5-Gallon Bucket & Lugs: A makeshift toilet.

-​Heavy-duty Trash Liners: 1.5 mil thickness or higher to prevent leaks.

-​Dry Cover Material: Pine shavings, peat moss, or kitty litter to neutralize pathogens and odor.

I purchased a camping potty from Temu for $20 and tons of Potty Bags. I also got Pooh Gel packs to drop in that congeals the waste making it safer to handle.

​2. Waterless Personal Care

​Extra-Large Body Wipes: "Shower in a bag" wipes save gallons of precious drinking water. I purchased Yardley Wipes from Family Dollar and Dollar Tree for $1.50 for pack of 18. One wipe is 8 x12" and can be stored in resealable sandwich bag for repeated use before discarding.

Hand and body

​Hand Sanitizer (60%+ Alcohol): Your first line of defense before eating or after handling waste.

​Baking Soda: Works as toothpaste, deodorant, and a cleaning scrub.

Cheap soap from discount stores.

​3. Medical-Grade Cleaning

​Bar Soap: Dr. Bronner’s or Fels-Naptha. Bars are more concentrated and last longer than liquids.

​Calcium Hypochlorite (Pool Shock): Far superior to liquid bleach for SHTF because it has a shelf life of several years and can be diluted to create bleach as needed. Bleach has short shelf life.

​Nitrile Gloves: Vital for cleaning wounds or managing waste without cross-contamination. Temu sells them by the hundreds.

​4. Oral & Maintenance

​Dental Floss: High-tensile floss can also serve as emergency thread or cordage.

​Manual Clippers/Shears: To keep nails short and hair managed (long hair/nails trap bacteria).

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Looking at the high toilet paper usage per person (141 in S U8 in UK) how to avoid stocking so much for an extended down event?

I have back up pumps and manual backups for my well so I merely installed a simple bidet to cut dramatically on TP use. Actually I love the bidet. It eliminates the old 'smudging' and leaves you nice and tidy. Since my water flow was a high priority than food, I have a Plan B and Plan C. I not only have solar generators for keeping it running but a dual fuel generator as a backup. The manual pump is if all fails. But as long as I have running water, I can take care of the hiney with minimal TP usage.