Let’s get one thing clear. I understand that reaching for the toilet paper and realizing it’s on the wrong way is trivial compared to famine, natural disasters, and war. I have perspective.
But I also know that it’s the simple things in life that tend to annoy us most and many people overlook the finer details of life.
Sure, life could be worse. The fact that your toilet paper is even on the holder is a big step for many families around the world.
Laziness seems to be at it’s worst when the fresh roll is left on the sink for days while the old, empty roll remains on the holder. I’ve counted the days a toilet paper roll has sat on the sink without it being placed in the holder (after a few days I was fed up and did it myself).
Putting a roll on its holder doesn’t solve the problem. If it’s in the in the wrong position it might as well be off the roller. A wrongly hung roll can lead to confusion.
- Does this person not know how a toilet roll goes on its holder? Should I inform them?
- Did they do this to mess with me?
- Was this a simple detail they overlooked?
In this article, we’ll discuss toilet paper: under or over etiquette. We’ll also discuss how to motivate people around you to pay attention to details.
Is There Really An Argument: Toilet Paper – Under or Over
I regret having to write this section of the article. There has never been an argument for “how to put on the toilet paper” and there never will be.
Those who argued that it rolled underneath are just poking a sleeping tiger. They can’t possibly state that they’ve never had the phantom toilet paper roll down the backside of the roller – it’s happened to us all.
It’s also hard to argue with our evolutionary biology. The palm down position is much more natural than the palm up (palm down is used to bring toilet paper to the front while palm up pushes toilet paper to the back).
Then there is the mechanics of tearing toilet paper. This is routinely done one-handed. Incorrectly positioned toilet paper, that rolls to the back of the holder, is in a precarious position for tearing as it can get caught up on the roll. It often leads to a pull rather than a tear and leaves with you tissue that needs to be rerolled.
Armatures and oblivious folk may attribute a poor pull to happenstance, when in fact, it was due to the incorrect placement of the toilet paper roll.
A pull of toilet paper from the front provides allows more pressure to be placed on the perforated section, and thus, a clear tear is achieved.
Why Your Line Of Sight Matters With Toilet Paper Positioning
Line-of-sight matters when dealing with toilet paper, especially if you’re using one hand. It’s not uncommon to see the end of the toilet paper stick to its roll. This can be confusing because we can’t tell where the end of the roll is. As a result, we furiously spin the roll and wait for the TP to unstick.
If you’re spinning the roll backward, you won’t see the toilet paper until it’s already crept down the back of the wall. By this time you’ll have to reroll or use an unnecessary amount of toilet paper (which could clog your toilet – your problems are multiplied).
Homeowners usually hang toilet paper holders at a 55-65 degree angle from our line-of-sight (this depends on the height of the person, the height of the toilet, and the position of the holder on the wall).
>> check out my article on the best toilet paper holders
The angle blocks our line of sight for 5-6 inches while the toilet paper runs down the wall. Conversely, toilet paper that is hung correctly will always be in our line of vision.
Living With Someone Who Doesn’t Care About The Position of Toilet Paper
Who knew such a small thing could lead to relationship issues? It’s even been known to cause breakups! If you’re living with someone who doesn’t understand the finer details in life, they are likely to resist your polite reminders to hang the TP correctly.
How you approach the situation the 1st time is everything. Once your roommate knows it bothers you, he/she will likely do it to annoy you (yes people do that).
If you tell someone who ignores life’s details that they put the toilet paper roll on wrong, they will likely look at you and wonder if you’re joking. They might even get offended.
>> check out my article on the best toilet paper
At this moment it important that you let them know it doesn’t bother you….instead let them know it bothers someone else (like your parents when they visit). I’ve also blamed the toilet paper position on my dog, on the angle of the sunlight in the bathroom, and on humidity levels after taking a shower.
Yeah, I dunno either. It sounds stupid, right? But it’s not.
The more complex you can make the situation, the more challenging it is for your roommate to understand why it needs to be the “correct way”. Present the rolls position in a way that sounds technical, yet reasonable, and you may have converted your detail-lacking roommate to doing things your way (the right way).
Approach the situation in a “this is right and you’re wrong” way and you’re setting yourself up for failure, tension, and passive-aggressive messages with toilet paper.
Correct Toilet Roll Position and Cats – Can They Live In Harmony?
The one decent argument I’ve heard about the toilet roll position is with cats. Cats like things that spin and they like to paw at the toilet paper. They always paw/scratch from top to bottom, so they could, in theory, unroll toilet paper. Yes, I know it happens.
Is this a reason to keep the toilet paper going down the pack of the holder? I don’t believe so. Toilet paper is meant for humans and convenience should cater toward the human.
Our behavior should not conform to our pet’s bad habits, rather, pet owners have a responsibility to house-train their pet (house-training is much more than just where they go to the bathroom).
There’s also a simple fix to the scratching cat. You can purchase a toilet paper holder that has a front cover. This covers also make tearing the toilet paper easier.
Conclusion
Toilet paper: under or over? If you’ve read this far, you’re either 1) really bored, 2) couldn’t agree with me more, or 3) are wondering if I’m serious.
The positioning of the toilet paper is important. I’ve been left with a handful of unrolled toilet paper 1 too many times and it’s frustrating. Once it’s unrolled it’s challenging to roll up again. It’s also wasteful so if you’re an environmentalist you should definitely make sure the toilet roll is in front.
People have argued for years about the position of toilet paper, but the reality is, there’s not an argument (you can even see Seth Wheeler’s patent for the toilet roll).
Our hands and arms are meant to be palm down and push things down, not up. It also makes the one-handed tear that much easier. Our line of sight highlights the need for a visual while we’re working to unroll the toilet paper.
Lastly, there’s the issue of cats. Yes, they will appreciate the correct position of the toilet paper – let them have some fun too!
Thanks for reading another Toilet Travels article. This website is dedicated to dumps large and small, worldwide! Let us know what story you told your roommate to get them to put the roll the right way! Or let us know the toilet roll position ruined your relationship!
