How To Get Your Family To Replace The Toilet Paper

Why won’t your family replace the toilet paper? Husbands and kids alike don’t understand that replacing TP is easy.  Plus, it’s a respectful action to take after the toilet paper has run out.

For some reason women don’t have a problem with replacing it, however, their problem lies in trying to inspire others in their household to care.

I’ll admit, I battle with replacing the toilet paper every time it runs out. Why? I have no idea!

But I’ve developed the habit to replace it whether I feel like it or not. After all, it only takes a few seconds and toilet paper is likely nearby under the sink.

In this article we’ll share 10 of the best ways to get family to replace the toilet paper after it’s run out. Most of these tips are passive aggressive techniques, although, when dealing with family it’s easier to be honest and straight forward.

Making your reminder funny can leave a lasting impression and might be the best way to inspire the adults and kids in your home. Let’s get started.

  1. Post-It Note

A post-it note can be viewed as passive aggressive or a simple reminder. Post-it notes work great for reminders and they take seconds to make. They are usually bright colors so they’ll be easily noticed!

Better yet, they can be placed anywhere; wall, counter, toilet, roll holder etc.

Post-It notes don’t have much room to explain so the best way to write the reminder goes as follows:

  • Don’t forget to replace the TP!
  • Please REPLACE the toilet paper!
  • This is your last warning before being grounded

Addressing the culprits can be done in a nice way, funny way, or threatening way depending on the person and previous warnings given.

I bet most people would respond to a post-it note in a positive way. If they know there’s accountability they will be more likely to replace the toilet paper, even it they are lazy.

  1. Tape A Reminder To The Toilet Seat

Compared to a post-it note a piece of paper taped to a toilet seat takes longer. But taping a note to the seat ca be a long-term reminder that can remain for months.

If empty toilet rolls have been a problem in your household for years, then a more permanent note is required.

The only problem with the toilet seat reminder is if the seat is always left up. In this case the reminder won’t be seen and its effectiveness will be minimized.

Taping a note to the seat works best on plastic toilet seats which can easily be removed. If you’re taping to a wood toilet seat or another material, it may remove paint when you take of the tape (be aware of the toilet seat you have).

A toilet seat reminder can be similar to the above mentioned notes. Keep it short and sweet as most people don’t have much time to read before they pop a squat.

  1. Remove The Toilet Paper Every Day For A Week (Develop A Habit)

The problem with habits is they take a long time to develop. But once developed they stick with us – sometimes forever. To develop a habit you’ll want to “train” your family to change the roll.

Once they understand how frustrating life on the pot is without toilet paper, they will be reminding others in the house (exactly what we want).

In order to train your family, begin with these steps:

  • Remove the toilet paper roll everyday after you use the toilet
  • Put the removed TP roll under the sink with the other rolls
  • Each day you’ll notice a family member has taken out a roll (but have they put in on the holder?)
  • Do this for a week and act oblivious to your family’s complaints (plead ignorance)
  • If the toilet paper doesn’t end up on the roll, begin moving the toilet paper deeper into the cupboard under the sink (make them work harder to get it)
  • Eventually someone in the family will break and begin putting it on the holder

Once you’ve gotten through to 1 family member you can begin to work on the other family members. Remember that each family member will have a different timetable and some may require a few weeks of training.

  1. Write A Note On The Empty Toilet Paper Roll

Writing a note on the empty toilet paper roll can be a funny reminder to change it. In most cases this is an opportunity for humor and it might not be taken seriously.

You could write:

  • Who did this?
  • Please change me
  • CHANGE THE TOILET PAPER ROLL
  • Recycle me!

Writing a note on the empty roll is creative and might get a family member to change!

  1. Write A Letter And Frame It Over The Toilet

A framed letter can be a hilarious yet serious addition to the bathroom. People are always looking for funny wall art and decorations to put in the bathroom, so why not write a friendly reminder to change the toilet roll after it’s finished.

Anything framed, especially over the toilet will get a good look and inquisitive people will want to know what the letter says.

Is it a old letter from grandma? Is it a letter explaining the rules of the house? Is it a letter about the family? No! It’s a letter reminding everyone to change the darn toilet paper after it’s finished.

You can make this letter funny, sarcastic, or witty. If you want to get more attention for the framed letter consider:

  • Burning the corners to make it look old
  • Letting tea bags drip water on the letter to make it look old/dirty

A letter to your family also shows sincerity. If you spent time writing a letter and framing it, then it means something to you (you’re serious about it). How could someone in your family not make the effort to replace the toilet paper.

The framed letter may be temporary or permanent based on the reception it gets. Give it a try and let us know if it works in the comments below!

  1. Keep Extra Toilet Paper Close By (Easy To See)

Another simple reminder or trick is to keep extra toilet paper in plain sight near the toilet paper roll. We’ll admit, keeping extra TP hidden usually looks better but there are toilet paper holders that also have room for storage (check out the best toilet paper stands).

Keeping the toilet paper in plain sight leaves no excuse for family members. If they can see it, they can change it. Some of the stands are stainless steel and look great in both modern and traditional bathrooms.

No more excuses like “I thought the toilet paper was finished” or “I didn’t see it”.

  1. Write Multiple Notes And Insert Them Randomly In The Roll

Another trick you can use is to insert little notes into the toilet paper roll. You might be wondering “how do I do this”? There’s no science to it, but here are my tips:

  • Cut up a 3 x 5 card or other piece of paper
  • Write funny, sarcastic, or angry notes on the small pieces of paper
  • Slide notes into the roll at random places
  • Make sure there is a note or two near the end of the roll

As the roll is used the notes will fall out of the toilet paper. It should come as a surprise to the person using the toilet and they might even be confused.

They might bring it up in dinner conversation and say “the strangest thing happened to me on the toilet, do you think the person making the toilet paper did this”. If they see it as a sign from God they might start replacing the empty toilet paper roll. They will never forget it!

  1. Draw Or Write A Tutorial Above The Toilet Paper Holder

Similar to the framed letter we mentioned above, you could write a tutorial for your family. This would be a funny way to let your family know what they should be doing.

Young kids will often plead ignorance and say “I don’t know how” or “I didn’t know where the extra toilet paper was”. These are excuses and creating tutorial can help eliminate excuses.   To make a tutorial follow these tips:

  • Make a list of steps (example 1-5)
  • Use pictures or drawings
  • Give alternatives (example: if there’s no TP under the sink, check the garage)
  • Frame it to give more meaning
  • Put the tutorial in front of the toilet so people sitting will be staring at it.

The tutorial is good for kids and it will hammer home your point. It might not be as helpful for a husband or roommate but it might get through to kids!

  1. Hide Your Toilet Paper Only You Can Find: Your Family Member Has To Replace Eventually

This tips goes hand-in-hand with training your family. If you’ve come this far, you’re probably at your wits end – desperate times call for desperate measures.

If no one seems to be listening, consider keeping a personal toilet paper roll that you keep hidden in the bathroom. This toilet paper roll is only for your and it will make others find their own.

Chances are the other toilet users will find a roll but they won’t put it on the roller. This can be frustrating. If you get tired of sitting on the toilet and seeing a TP roll not on the holder, consider hiding the roll until it finds its way on the holder (training). After a while they will realize that TP on the holder doesn’t disappear!

  1. Provide Incentives

Another way to train your household is to provide incentives. Normally we wouldn’t recommend this option because you shouldn’t have to reward your family for something they should be doing in the first place.

Should someone get rewarded for doing something that’s expected (no right?).

But for young kids or a hard-working spouse, an incentive might help them change their behavior. Providing an incentive helps encourage people to do the right thing and everyone likes to be recognized! Possible rewards might be:

  • Backrub
  • Ice cream
  • Lollipop
  • Special toy
  • Day off from cooking
  • Trip to the movies

Be creative. We’d recommend doing something that requires little money but also shows appreciation – it should be the thought that counts not the dollar value.

Conclusion

Most households have a problem with the toilet paper. Why don’t family members replace the toilet paper roll after finishing it? I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve sat down on the toilet to see a brown roll on the holder. Why didn’t the last person change it! There are various reasons family members don’t change the toilet paper roll including:

  • Lazy
  • Purposely annoying
  • Think it’s funny
  • Oblivious

But there are plenty of ways to convince your family members. In this article we mentioned the best ways to remind your family to replace the toilet paper.

Some of the ways on our list were post-it notes, letters, tutorials, incentives, training by hiding toilet paper, and writing on the empty toilet paper roll.

Hopefully you found this article fun and it gave you some ideas. If we missed any ideas let us know in the comments. We will update the list accordingly!