As a member of the Chronic Illness Blogger’s Network, I was given the opportunity to review the Fohm cleaning dispenser.
I’ve lived in the country for about 25 years with a very cranky septic system. My husband was always very insistent that all toilet paper go into the trash. Which is certainly understandable, but I was always struggling with extremely heavy menstrual periods and irritable bowl syndrome. Trying to keep myself clean meant wiping myself raw. Sometimes I’d grab one of the diaper wipes that we had around with mixed results.
Then a year ago I got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. As you can imagine, now the problem is even worse! One of the best things I did was to get a bidet which really helped the clean up process with less irritation. But still, sometimes I needed “more.”
We already know that flushing the supposedly “flushable” wipes down any toilet is never a good idea for conscientious homeowners. And not only that, marine biologists tell us that wipes can disintegrate into micro-plastics which wind up floating around our oceans and being consumed by marine life. (Ew.)
Fohm was created to turn your existing toilet paper into a wet wipe. It’s pH-balanced, paraben free and fragrance free and designed to turn your existing toilet paper into a wet wipe. And not only that, it’s made in the U.S.A.
My Experience with Fohm
I found Fohm very easy to set up and use. You just have to charge it in a USB port, and then set it up in a convenient spot by your toilet. Just one pump of the soap should be enough most of the time. I found the cleanser to be very gentle and it didn’t cause any irritation at all. Between the bidet and the cleanser, I feel completely confident that “I got it all.”
I also have a son with special needs who needs toileting assistance. This product is also a help for him to achieve some independence in that area.
You can get the Fohm Home Starter pack, which includes the dispenser and cleaner for $49. This should last you for about six weeks. Cleanser refills are $7 for a month supply, or you might want to get a 3 month supply of cleansing fluid for $21.
Fohm FAQ
(From Fohm themselves)
Do I need special toilet paper?
We’re obsessed with efficiency. We love that you’ll be able to utilize your existing toilet paper, and won’t need to buy anything fancy from us.
How’s Fohm compare to flushable wipes?
Flushable wipes have been labeled an “environmental catastrophe”, due to how they don’t break down properly and are ingested by marine life after they’re flushed.
Fohm is what you end up with when you create a user experience that’s built for adults on toilets, and not try to repurpose a product designed for babies in diapers.
What’s the cleanser?
It’s a paraben-free, pH balanced and fragrance-free version of what you find in a baby wipe from a national brand (insert your favorite one here).
I think Fohm is a great product, the only thing I’d like to see is actual wipes. IBD patients in particular have sudden urgency where we have to find the bathroom NOW and there’s nothing worse than being in a public restroom and wiping yourself raw with the store’s cheap toilet paper. At this point I haven’t found a wipe that I really liked so having something with the gentle Fohm cleanser would be really great.
Welcome to The Chronic Illness Diary. This is a new weekly post that I’m starting at Chronic Mom Life where I write about all the little things that are happening (or not!) in my day to day life. Things like my self care routines, what I’m reading or listening to, what I’m doing in the kitchen and more. As a blogger I’ve found myself getting caught up in the blogging should and to-dos and I’ve forgotten the joy of writing for its own sake!