Okay, true story, happened moments ago...

My supervisor is standing in my cubicle talking about a book I'm typesetting and she accidentally knocks over her coffee mug, spilling coffee onto the desk. Quick as a flash, I've unzipped my attaché case and pulled out the handy roll of "Towels to Go"* which we used to mop up the spill. No mad dash to the bathroom or kitchen - what I needed was at my fingertips. It's being ready for the everyday 'emergencies' that makes this preparedness mindset so valuable.


*On a side note, I got these at a local clearance/outlet store for 59¢ per roll (I bought all they had - 9 rolls). In doing more reserach, it appears that back in 2002, Cotton Buds Inc. got the Procter and Gamble contract to produce "Bounty to Go" and "Charmin to Go" dispenser packs. This looks like a plain-wrap offering by the same company, perhaps of overrun supplies. Other than this, there is little mention of them in Google searches and I have not seen this product anywhere else.

Sometimes you have to snatch up the bargains when you find them. You never know when you'll need them!

~Sarah

Chalk one more point up to the prepaired lady!

I have a zippy bag with paper towels in my onsite case to use for cleaning client's computers. I wonder if that was where the idea came from?

Rena

I have a toiler paper version for backpacking trips, it also comes in handy for emergencies. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Sarah
I certainly hope you're going to charge the $.59 back to the company. Plus.. pain and suffering, etc. etc.

We came across toilet-paper-to-go from Charmin in a Wally World a while back. We learned a long time ago that there isn't toilet paper in the woods and we vowed to carry our own. Back then, we had single rolls of Marcal in our camping gear.

When toilet paper to go came out, it was like someone turned on a light.

Paper Towels To Go are another excellent idea for both BoB and camping gear.

I love my wife; Not only doesn't she think I'm strange, she's right there with me going "Are you SURE only 3 of that (insert survival toy here) is enough? Is it a bargain? Well, lemme see...we've got (insert painfully small dollar amount here). Let's buy 'em all."

I can honestly say I married well this time, and I hope she thinks the same of me.

Panz

Panzerboy:

What happened to the idea of removing the cardboard cores from regular toilet paper and squashing it down to fit your pack?

I have seen those toilet papers to go, and they are so expensive per sheet, that it might be a better idea to just do it the nautral way in the woods (Assuming your knees still let you squat that far.), and when going home put plastic on the car seat, and wash your clothes when you get home.

One of the things we all (Those of us that are "NORMAL?".) want to avoid is "chocolate fingers" when cleaning up in the woods, so we tend to use extra paper to avoid that dreaded "finger breakthrough". One way to avoid this is to use the least toilet tissue possible with some grass or green leaf padding between the fingers and the paper to avoid "breakthrough". There is another way which is initially more expensive but more convenient called a "Bottom Buddy" which grips the paper in a rounded 3 "finger" grip and releases the paper with a button on its handle. It is made out of plastic and is sold mainly to the infirm, caregivers, and the physically limited with the cheapest price on the web being $34.99 so far. You will use less toilet tissue, its design is gentle on the behind, and if "breakthrough" does occur, you just wipe it off with toilet paper, leaves, or grass.

Does anyone know if the old toilet paper that felt like fine sandpaper is still available? It may not have been soft, but "breakthrough" was never a problem, and a roll went a long way.

Bountyhunter

I don't know about US rough toilet paper... You may want to talk to some of our buds posting from over in Europe, though. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps a half of a blue workshop towel roll would work against the breakthrough. Carrying an extra S***t stick with me in the woods does not sound pleasant. Though, with the new toilet bowl cleaning systems out there right now, in a few months they should be really cheap to find...

Rena

The toweletts from Preparation H are great for use in this kind of a situation. Very sturdy, serves more than one purpose, handy to carry, self sealing package.
Also a good idea to Blue Bag "it" when using frequently traveled trails. Carry out what you carry in.

Less of the dig at us Euro's.

Although it does remind me of a Sketch by the "not the nine o'clock news" that went something along the lines of :-

Andrex - and that's not all it wrecks. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

More seriously. Wasn't there a thread here about some ultra tough zip lock bags, 200ft crush depth and an ordourless version that could well be used to "blue bag".

Anyone remember that thread?

I love being able to offer up a needed item at a moment's notice. The look of pleasant surprise on the surrounding faces make it worthwhile.