What is the correct toilet paper roll direction? That’s a question that gets asked repeatedly in households across America.
Who knew there would be a Wikipedia page about toilet paper orientation? Not me.
But I am happy to report that I have finally discovered the correct way to hang the toilet paper roll!
Yes, there is finally proof that toilet paper direction (over vs. under) does make a difference!
Right:
Wrong:
How do I know?
Because the hearts and flowers are upside down when the toilet paper is hung the WRONG way.
Haa haa. Hee hee.
So, now that I have proof (thank you Northern!), my next mission is to get dear hubby to start hanging the toilet paper roll the RIGHT way.
I don’t normally buy this ‘hearts and flowers’ brand of toilet paper. If I did, perhaps hubby (and others) would have caught on long before now and there’d be no debate on the issue.
Furthermore, according to Northern bath tissue, the majority of people (72%) prefer their toilet paper come from the top.
So, I’ve actually been doing it “right” ever since I moved out of the house and started living on my own.
Which is why finding the toilet paper hanging “wrong” somewhere else just seems so… well, wrong!
What Others Are Saying…
Before you start thinking I’m the only one talking about this delicate issue — and blogging about it — consider this…
They’ve been talking about toilet paper on TV a lot lately. (And today’s toilet paper commercials are nothing like the toilet paper commercials of yesterday.)
Heck, the techies at cNet are talking about this topic.
So are the geeks at Fast Company.
Even Business Insider has an opinion on which way the toilet paper roll should hang! (Theirs is based on the official “toilet paper patent” which clearly indicated which direction the roll should hang. By the way, here is the history of toilet paper and timeline of its use that you’ve been wondering about.)
So I’m definitely not alone here.
People seem to be putting the most weight in this infographic — which, as it turns out, was created by a couple of engineers!
Toilet Paper Usage Facts
Even more fun facts from Northern toilet tissue you probably didn’t know…
- The majority of people (53%) use 4 to 6 squares of toilet paper to get the job done.
- 90% of women and 75% of men wash their hands after using a public restroom. (Personally, I wonder how many actually wash their hands after using the restroom at their own house!)
- 8% of Americans flush public toilets with their feet.
- 51% vs. 49% prefer to “crumple” vs. “fold” their toilet paper before using it.
- 1/3 of all Americans flush the toilet while sitting.
- 10% of Americans cover toilet seats in public bathrooms with toilet paper to avoid germs and filth.
News Flash… Toilet seats aren’t that germy! Here are 25 things we use every single day that have far more germs on them than a toilet seat. (Like your phone!)
Must read: How To Clean A Toilet Properly + The Best Toilet Cleaning Products
Little-Known Facts About Bathroom Behaviors
Fortunately, there are lots of people to help us with our good hygiene… and good humor!
- For parents, Cottonelle makes it easy to determine how much toilet paper kids should use.
- How much toilet paper do you use? Here is one person’s summary of toilet paper usage over one year. (Psst, Sheryl Crow recommends using 1 square per visit!)
- Never run out of toilet paper again. Use this toilet paper calculator. (I learned something new… we go through 3 rolls of toilet paper every 14 days in our 2-person household!)
- If you have pets (or kids), you may want to turn the toilet paper around the “wrong” way. Here’s why.
- To prevent people from using too much toilet paper in your house, just squish the cardboard tube inside the roll of toilet paper a little before you put it in the holder. That prevents it from unrolling smoothly and makes it more difficult to get a bunch of paper off the roll at one time.
- Here are literally hundreds of fun things you can do with toilet paper rolls made of cardboard.
- How do you store your toilet paper? These Peterboro toilet paper baskets are quite cute. (That’s how I used to store toilet paper on the tank. In that same article, you can see how I use a wire basket on the top of the tank for storing toilet paper rolls these days.)
- And if you fear the almighty germs floating around in the air, then be sure to close the toilet lid when you flush! Here’s why.
By the way, do you snoop inside the medicine cabinet at someone else’s house? I don’t — but 50% of people do!
The Bottom Line
So, to answer the question, “Which direction should a toilet paper roll face?”
The answer, once and for all, is down — so that the paper rolls OVER the top of the roll toward the floor.
This is proven by the original toilet paper roll patent, dated 1891, the direction of the designs printed on toilet paper, and the majority of Americans’ personal preference.
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