At the beginning of the pandemic, many people around the world had started to hoard toilet paper; rolls had swiftly begun to disappear from supermarket shelves, leading to panic and more stockpiling.

Buy Now | Our best subscription plan now has a special price

Now, more than two years into the pandemic, a product has gone viral in the market, which claims to reduce people’s dependency on toilet paper, while encouraging them to be more sustainable in their approach to life. This comes at a time when the climate crisis has become an urgent topic.

Netizens, however, are not convinced. They have been questioning the existence of such a product in the first place. The hullabaloo surrounds a reusable toilet cloth, which first went viral on video-sharing app TikTok, and is now making people queasy on Twitter.

If i saw this in someone’s house, i would leave and never come back. pic.twitter.com/8e8e7l4HLo

— 💕 Doll Face ✨ (@smoke_nd_pearlz) August 13, 2022

The reusable toilet cloth, according to the viral TikTok video, works in a way that it completely replaces the toilet paper. You first pull a piece — like how you do with a toilet paper roll — and fold it in thirds. Then, you rinse it with water before wiping your bum. Once that is done, you fold it inwards (obviously), store in a wet bag or a basket until you are able to machine-wash it.

Then, you can re-roll it and use it!

The product in the viral video is from the company Net Zero, on whose website it appears to be sold-out. Justifying the use and purpose of reusable toilet cloth, it writes that about “9.8 million trees are cut down annually just to be flushed down the toilet”.

“Single-use toilet paper isn’t as clean as you might think. Bleached toilet paper releases toxins into the air and water, which has been shown to harm humans and wildlife.”

A post shared by Net Zero Co. (@netzerocompany)

In the product description, the company writes about the sustainable invention as: “These washable and reusable toilet paper provides a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to clean yourself without creating waste or spending a mini fortune over time. You don’t have to practise good hygiene at the planet’s expense, this alternative fits on any standard toilet paper roll and easily re-rolls to hold its shape.”

It adds that the roll comes in a pack of 24 with “complimentary darling designs”, and that each piece measures 4.5 x 12in/11.5 x 30cm. It is priced at $24.99 or INR 1,985.

Netizens had the most amusing reaction to the product. “There’s feces in that washing machine,” one person tweeted.

There’s feces in that washing machine https://t.co/dbmJ9WE11h

Another added: “White people would use anything but installing a bidet.”

White people would use anything but installing a bidet https://t.co/QRZBBIufqF

— Ivor is tired (@ivor_xianz) August 15, 2022

“We’re supposed to do this to save the planet, meanwhile Kylie Jenner takes a private jet to get her daily Starbucks…” a tweet read.

right and we’re supposed to do this to save the planet meanwhile kylie jenner takes a private jet to get her daily starbucks right ok right https://t.co/d5pxQQ58bF

Check out these other interesting reactions:

I know y’all wanna save the planet or whatever but this is getting ridiculous. It’s either invest in a bidet or biodegradable toilet papers. They done lost their everlasting minds if they think anyone wants to “reusable” clothe to wipe they ass… pic.twitter.com/HVxN0otooi

y’all will waste water to wash these disgusting cloths but won’t use water to clean ur asses. i mean what’s the stubbornness for?????? https://t.co/EfFA3xaIMl

Let me get this straight, someone could have Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter or C. diff and you wipe then put it in….*checks notes*…. the washing machine? https://t.co/WMIWHPS26G

If I saw this in someone’s house I’d shove the entire roll into the toilet and keep on flushing. https://t.co/69Kndzya5A

this entire video is insanity but what struck to me the most was… you have a bidet but you’d rather smear shit all over your clothes that you put on your body and have your whole house smelling like unwashed ass? https://t.co/fJnp1JGPzd pic.twitter.com/qzffzpE9VW

Would you want to use it?

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!

Bilkis Bano order: As Cong sharpens attack, BJP says no comment, AAP silent