What do amish use instead of toilet paper?

What the Amish Use Instead of Toilet Paper

It might surprise some, but many Amish households have long relied on alternatives to commercial toilet paper—often choosing practicality over convenience. One such alternative? Newspaper.

In rural Amish communities, frugality isn’t just a habit—it’s a way of life. Wasting resources goes against their values of simplicity and self-sufficiency. So when it comes to everyday essentials, they often find creative, low-cost solutions. Toilet paper, being a modern, store-bought product, doesn’t always fit into that framework.

As one former Amish woman recalled, “When I was a little Amish girl, we did not use toilet paper like this. Well, my family didn’t. And most of the Amish in my community did not. Instead, we used newspaper.”

Yes—stacks of yesterday’s news were commonly repurposed for personal hygiene. The paper was readily available, free, and functional. While it might sound unusual to outsiders, for many Amish families, it was simply practical. Even today, some households continue this tradition, though others have since adopted alternatives like reusable cloth or basic commercial toilet paper, depending on regional customs and family preferences.

But it’s not just about saving money. The choice reflects a broader mindset: use what you have, waste nothing, and live with intention. In a world of endless consumer options, the Amish approach offers a quiet reminder of how much we can do with less.

So the next time you reach for that roll in the bathroom, remember—some people are still turning the page, quite literally.