FAQs

They are made of fabric. A blend of 70% bamboo viscose and 30% cotton. The white ones are made from natural (unbleached) threads. All our tissues are OEKO-TEX-100 certified.

The white and black tissues are purchased in Canada, but the fabric is manufactured in China in a modern, eco-friendly facility that complies with CPSIA regulations. They are then locally cut in Montreal. The fabric of the Canadian tissues are made in Montreal.

The same size as a disposable tissue, which is 7.5” x 8” (19 x 20.3 cm). They may slightly change dimension over time and washes.

To have more for the same price and to encourage using them the same way as disposable tissues: blowing your nose and setting it aside (ie. in the provided basket with the kits) instead of having one handkerchief to reuse in every corner. This promotes a more hygienic usage.

A "single-use" usage also makes them less personal and fits into a more social context. They can be made available to the whole family and even to guests instead of everyone having their own large handkerchief.

YES. Since they are single-use: blow your nose and set them aside (in their basket) before washing. They are used exactly the same as disposable tissues, so they are not less hygienic.

Also, thanks to their thickness and high level of absorption, mucus and germs are less likely to penetrate and end up on your fingers than with a paper tissue. To prevent the spread of microbes, it is advisable to place them somewhere other than your pockets to avoid spreading, hence the basket that comes with the Boaty Hankits or the waterproof side of the Boaty tissue pouch.

All our tissues have the same size and the same composition of bamboo viscose and cotton. White and black tissues are manufactured in China, while cream tissues are made in Canada.

White tissues are chosen if you simply want them to look like disposable tissues. In fact, if you are sensitive to others' judgment, this is an excellent choice because no one will notice that you are blowing your nose into fabric.

Black tissues are chosen if you often have nosebleeds, if you wash more colored loads than white, if you don't want to stain them when using them for other purposes (removing makeup, cleaning dirty children's mouths during outings, etc.), or if you want to differentiate them from the white ones to avoid mixing them (after lovemaking in the bedroom, cleaning baby's bottoms, etc.).

For three reasons:

1. Because it's more environmentally friendly.
Putting a seam on each tissue would produce hundreds of thousands of meters of extra thread per year.

2. Because it's more economical.
Putting a seam on each tissue requires thread and also labor (local please!). The tissues would then be twice the price.

3. For the look.
To achieve the tissue-paper look we are all used to.

Our white and black tissues are not supposed to fray.

It may happen that small threads come loose from the sides during the first washes. This is completely normal. Just cut them off without cutting into the fabric, and it shouldn't happen again.

We have seen some cases of tissues fraying significantly. All these cases were strangely related to the same type of washing machine used; a top-loading, agitator-free HE washer. If you have this type of washer, it is recommended to use delicate cycles with the tissues and to cut the threads after the first washes. If the problem persists, contact us.

Note that the cream tissues (in clearance) fray more than whites and blacks. That's why they're on clearance. The next Canadian production of cream tissues will not have this issue.

The kits include everything you need to store our clean tissues and set aside used tissues.

In the case of the home sets (Boaty hankits), they include:
- A pretty fabric box for clean tissues.
- A reversible fabric basket, matched to the box, to hold used tissues until the next wash.

The basket may seem pointless in the kit, but it is necessary to structure the cycle (blow nose, dispose, wash) and prevent tissues from ending up in the trash, getting lost, or laying everywhere. It is placed next to the box to get a practical, easy-to-use, and complete set. The kits come with 12 or 24 tissues.

The travel pouches are made following the same system, but in a portable version. The pouches are double, so they allow you to store clean tissues on top and have space in the back/underneath to put used tissues. This space has a snap button to prevent used tissues from escaping from the pouch. The pouches come with 4 tissues.

They are made of a thick 100% cotton fabric with a smooth side and a brushed side. The white ones are made from natural (unbleached) threads. The black ones are dyed with the same type of dye used for underwear.

The fabric is manufactured in Canada and is locally cut a few minutes from our offices in Montreal.

When laid flat (unrolled), they measure 9" x 4.5" (23 x 11 cm). For comparison, they are the size of two sheets of disposable toilet paper. When rolled, they become a small roll about 4.5" (11 cm) high when stored.

Note that they may slightly change dimension over time and washes.

Because our reusable toilet paper fabric rolls up on itself in the dryer!

Each sheet thus provides an individual roll that is easy to store, which is used once for wiping before being set aside.

YES. Since they are single-use: we wipe and set them aside for washing, we use them exactly the same as disposable toilet paper.

Also, thanks to their thickness and high level of absorption, pee or bidet water is less likely to penetrate and end up on your fingers than with ordinary toilet paper. Obviously, they do not tear or leave paper residues either.

What emits odors are closed or hermetically sealed bins that accumulate odors and stink as soon as they are opened (like a compost bin or a diaper bin).

The solution is therefore to put the used rolls in an open bag or bin. That's why our waterproof bags are not closed, but still have a small cover made of non-waterproof fabric to hide the contents.

They have exactly the same size, thickness, softness, and are made of the same fiber. The only thing that changes is the color (blacks are dyed).

The dyes used for our rolls are reactive dyes without formaldehyde and are non-toxic to the skin. These are the same dyes used for underwear fabrics.

White or black? What to choose?

If you like to see what you wipe, choose white. If you want to wipe during your periods and not have to rinse or detach them, choose black.

In a complete kit, it is even possible to choose a mix (half and half) of both.

For three reasons:

1. Because it's more environmentally friendly
Putting a seam on each of our washable hygiene products would produce hundreds of thousands of meters of extra thread per year.

2. Because it's more economical
Putting a seam on each roll would require thread and also labor (local please!). The rolls would then be twice the price.

3. So they roll
By avoiding the seam, they roll up on themselves in the dryer.

No. They are made of a type of fabric that does not fray or very little.

It may happen that small threads come loose from the sides during the first washes. This is completely normal. Just cut them off without cutting into the fabric, and it shouldn't happen again.

If your rolls fray abnormally, contact us.

The Boaty Kit includes everything you need to store clean rolls and set aside used rolls:

• A fabric basket to store the rolls vertically.
• A waterproof bag made of recycled PUL in white or black, with an opening and a cotton flap to dispose of used rolls until the next wash.

Both have snap buttons and come with straps that are secured by a knot between the lid and the tank of the toilet. The basket and bag easily "snap off" so you don't have to constantly manipulate their straps or your tank lid after installation.

Simply toss them in the washing machine and let it do the work!

If needed, you can first rinse/soak them or run a quick cycle (15 min) with hot water. This step is optional but helps alleviate psychological barriers for many.

Then, wash them with a regular load (clothes, washcloths, towels... whatever!) preferably with cold water (for the environment). Otherwise, the water temperature is really up to you.

CAUTION! Do not overload the washer. Tissues and rolls need space to expand so that water and soap can penetrate the fabric.

YES. It even helps keep the handkerchiefs soft and fluffy, and allows the rolls to roll up by themselves.

The fabrics may shrink slightly, but as long as it doesn't affect their primary use, it's not a problem.

Of course, you can hang them to dry, but they will be a bit stiffer. Note that clothespins can stretch and deform the fabric. Hung rolls won't roll up by themselves; you'll need to roll them up by hand.

Since the fabrics of the kits are new when received, it's advisable to wash them in cold water with similar colors to prevent shrinking or color bleeding.

It's also recommended to dry them flat or hang them to increase their lifespan.

Bidets can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

To prevent limescale buildup in the nozzles due to hard water, you can soak them in vinegar.

Effective disinfection can be achieved in two ways: chemically or thermally. For ecological reasons and to avoid skin irritation, we suggest thermal disinfection. In this case, it's necessary for the water to reach over 60°C (140°F) for a sufficient amount of time.

To be more precise, effective disinfection in washing can be achieved if the result of this equation is greater than 250:

Either the difference between the water temperature in degrees Celsius and 55°C, multiplied by the number of minutes the temperature is maintained.

Time (X°C - 55°C) > 250

NO. Since our fabrics are made of natural fibers, chlorine can weaken the fibers and damage or yellow the fabric over time. Additionally, bleach is a toxic and chemical product, so it's avoided for environmental reasons.

For disinfection, it's preferable to opt for thermal disinfection instead of chemical (see the question "How to kill germs and microbes?").

To whiten fabrics, it's recommended to use sodium percarbonate (sodium percarbonate; not to be confused with baking soda) or Oxyclean.

NO. Fabric softener waterproofs the fibers, and the handkerchiefs or rolls would become less absorbent over time!

It's important to know that red blood cells burst and release iron into hot water, which can stain brown white fabrics.

Therefore, it's necessary to pre-rinse the blood with cold water if you intend to wash the handkerchiefs or rolls with hot water. If you can do it immediately after the stain, it's even better.