The Ultimate Guide to Toilet Paper: 10 Must-Know Facts & Tips 🧻 (2025)

Did you know the average American uses a staggering 141 rolls of toilet paper every year? That’s enough to circle the Earth nearly twice! Whether you’re a casual consumer, a camping enthusiast, or an eco-conscious shopper,

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel everything you ever wanted to know (and a few things you didn’t!) about toilet paper. From the evolution of wiping materials through the ages to the best eco-friendly brands for your next camping trip, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ll share insider tips on how to store and use

Key Takeaways

  • Toilet paper has a rich history, evolving from ancient paper sheets to modern multi-ply rolls with specialized textures.
  • Choosing the right toilet paper depends on your needs—whether softness, septic safety, or eco-friendliness.
  • Eco-friendly options like recycled and bamboo-based toilet paper reduce environmental impact but watch for shipping footprints.
  • Camping hacks include removing the cardboard core and using zip-top bags to save space and keep TP dry.
  • “Flushable” wipes often cause plumbing issues and should be avoided or packed out responsibly.
  • Top recommended brands for campers and eco-conscious users include Who Gives A Crap and Seventh Generation.
  • Innovations like smart rolls and coreless designs are shaping the future of bathroom hygiene.

Curious about which brand tops our list or how to store toilet paper on a backpacking trip? Scroll down to discover all the juicy details!

Table of Contents

⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts About Toilet Paper

  • Average American uses 141 rolls per year—that’s 50 % more than most Europeans.
  • One tree = ~800 rolls. Globally we flush 27 000 trees daily.
  • “Splinter-free” was a legit bragging point until the 1930s—yikes!
  • Over vs. under? 60–70 % of you hang it over—the correct way, obviously 😉.
  • Recycled TP can contain BPA because thermal receipts get mixed in—look for PCW (post-consumer waste) labels.
  • Camping hack: pack half a roll in a zip-top bag with the cardboard tube removed—saves 60 % space and stays dry. (More genius hacks in our Camping Checklist.)

Need the ultra-condensed version? ✅ Buy 3-ply recycled, store it dry, and never trust “flushable” wipes.

🧻 The Evolution and History of Toilet Paper: From Ancient Times to Modern Rolls

white toilet paper roll on white toilet bowl

From Stones to Splinters: A Brief Timeline

Era Material Fun Fact
6th c. China Paper sheets First recorded use by imperial court.
14th c. China Perfumed rice paper 10 M packages manufactured per year in Zhejiang alone.
1857 USA Gayetty’s medicated flat sheets Watermarked with the inventor’s name—early influencer marketing.
1890 Scott Paper rolls Originally sold through pharmacies; people were too embarrassed to ask clerks!
1942 Andrex 2-ply Britain’s answer to wartime softness shortages.
2020 The Great Shortage Aussies fought over Quilton; we fought over Charmin.

We still keep a “vintage” roll of single-ply in the gear loft as a reminder: never take modern TP for granted.

🚽 What Is Toilet Paper? Types, Textures, and Thickness Explained

Video: How Toilet Paper is Made.

Ply Count Cheat-Sheet

Ply Feel Best For
1-ply Institutional, scratchy Backpacking weight-weenies
2-ply Balanced Everyday family use
3-ply Plush Glamping, sensitive skin
4-ply+ Luxury Guest bathrooms, Instagram pics

Texture Talk

  • Embossed: little diamonds = more surface area = quicker clean.
  • Quilted: air pockets = cushy, but slower to break down in septic systems.
  • Rippled: claims better “grip”; we say marketing wiggle.

Specialty Add-Ons

  • Aloe-infused – great for post-hike rash.
  • Fragranced – ❌ can trigger vulvar dermatitis (American College of Ob-Gyn warning).
  • Elemental-chlorine-free (ECF) whitening – greener than old-school bleaching.

🔍 How Toilet Paper Is Made: From Pulp to Perforated Sheets

Video: How TOILET PAPER ROLLS are Made 🧻 | THIS IS HOW 83 MILLION TOILET PAPER ROLLS ARE PRODUCED.

  1. Pulping: Virgin wood chips (or recycled office paper) are cooked, cleaned, bleached.
  2. Pressing: Pulp slurry is rolled into mega-thin sheets.
  3. Creping: blades “wrinkle” the sheet so it feels soft yet tears easy.
  4. Perforating: rotary dies punch those satisfying half-cuts.
  5. Winding: jumbo logs are slit into retail widths, wound onto cores, sealed with glue.
  6. Packaging: plastic wrap (boo) or paper wrap (yay for campers—burnable).

Insider tip: Bamboo TP skips the tree farms but ships from Asia; if you’re in North America, recycled PCW still wins on carbon miles (NRDC study).

🧼 Toilet Paper vs. Alternatives: Bidets, Wet Wipes, and More

Video: A Brief History of Toilet Paper.

Method Cleanliness Eco Score Camping Viability
Toilet paper 7/10 5/10 ✅ ultralight
Portable bidet bottle 9/10 9/10 ✅ 60 g, no batteries
“Flushable” wipes 8/10 2/10 ❌ leave-in-pack weight, cause fatbergs
Natural materials (moss, snow) 6/10 10/10 ✅ when TP forgotten

We pack a 500 ml squeeze bidet on week-long treks and cut TP use by 70 %. Win-win for backpackers and plumbers alike.

🌿 Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper: Sustainable Choices and Environmental Impact

Video: Unrolling History: Military Grade Toilet Paper.

The Tree Math

  • 27 000 trees daily become TP (Wiki source).
  • One recycled ton saves 17 mature trees (EPA).
  • Bamboo regrows in 3–5 years vs. 30–50 for spruce.

Certifications to Trust

  • FSC Recycled – chain-of-custody verified.
  • PCW – post-consumer waste, the gold standard.
  • ECF / TCF – elemental-chlorine-free or totally-chlorine-free bleaching.

Brands That Walk the Walk

  • Who Gives A Crap 100 % Recycled – B-Corp, wraps in funky paper, donates 50 % profits.
  • Seventh Generation – no dyes, no perfume, 100 % PCW.
  • Marcal – USA-made, chlorine-free since the 70s, survived a factory fire and doubled down on recycling.

👉 CHECK PRICE on:

🛒 Top 10 Toilet Paper Brands Reviewed: Softness, Strength, and Value

Video: Quilted Northern Rustic Weave | Artisanal Toilet Paper.

(1–10 scale, 10 = best)

Brand Softness Strength Eco Septic-Safe Overall
Charmin Ultra-Soft 10 9 3 ❌ slow breakup 7
Seventh Generation Recycled 7 8 10 ✅ 8.5
Who Gives A Crap 100 % Recycled 8 8 10 ✅ 9
Scott 1000 Sheet 5 7 6 ✅ rapid dissolve 6
Cottonelle Ultra-Clean 8 8 5 ❌ rippled = clog 7
Quilted Northern Ultra-Plush 9 9 4 ❌ thick = slow 7
Presto! Amazon Brand 7 7 3 ❌ virgin pulp 5
Angel Soft 7 6 3 ❌ fragrance issues 5
Marcal Small-Step 7 8 10 ✅ 8
Green Forest Premium 7 7 9 ✅ 8

We rate Who Gives A Crap #1 for campers—paper wrap doubles as fire starter and the rolls are jumbo 385 sheets, so less resupply.

🧻 7 Tips for Choosing the Best Toilet Paper for Your Bathroom Needs

Video: Officers get even after high schoolers toilet paper police headquarters.

  1. Count sheets, not rolls—“mega” can mean 2× air.
  2. Feel test in-store: squeeze pack—if it pancakes easily, it’s airy, not dense.
  3. Look for “rapid-dissolve” if you have an RV or older home.
  4. Avoid scents—fragrance is a top trigger of contact dermatitis.
  5. Buy recycled PCW—saves trees and usually costs the same when you price-per-sheet.
  6. Check core size—some brands fatten the tube to fake a bigger roll.
  7. Store in a dry bin—moisture = mildew city. See our Camping Preparation Guide for more storage hacks.

🚿 How to Store and Install Toilet Paper Properly: Avoiding Common Mistakes

Video: Making toilet paper moonshine.

At Home

  • Over not under—60 % of plumbers agree (plus easier to find in the dark).
  • Away from shower spray—steam + paper = soggy disaster.
  • Q-factor: squeeze roll sides—if it collapses, tube is too thin and will wobble on holder.

In the Wild

  • Backpackers: remove cardboard core, flatten half-roll, slip inside sil-nylon stuff sack.
  • Car-campers: stash one roll per person per 3 days—double if you’re chili fans.
  • Bear country: TP goes in the same odor-proof bag as food—bears associate bleachy paper with humans.

💡 Fun Facts and Myths About Toilet Paper You Didn’t Know

Video: EXPOSING the Toilet Paper Industry.

  • Myth: “Toilet paper was invented by the Scott brothers.” Fact: Seth Wheeler patented the roll in 1883, but Gayetty sold flat sheets in 1857.
  • Cats unroll 2× faster if the flap hangs under—gravity plus claw angle (true physics).
  • The TP-ing prank peaked in 1980s USA; some towns now classify it as littering.
  • Nokia (yes, the phone guys) made TP in the 1960s—talk about a diversified portfolio.
  • Colored TP died out after FDA dyes were linked to irritation; you can still find pastel rolls in parts of France.

🧻 Toilet Paper Usage Around the World: Cultural Differences and Preferences

Country Avg. Rolls/Year Notable Quirk
USA 141 Mega-size packs at Costco
Japan 91 High-tech bidets = less TP
Germany 134 4-ply considered normal
Brazil 38 Bidet showers ubiquitous
India <10 Water + hand-held jet preferred

We packed a single roll for two weeks in Nepal—locals chuckled, but it lasted because tea-houses provide water buckets. Lesson: cultural adaptability > extra pack weight.

🧴 Toilet Paper and Plumbing: What You Need to Know to Avoid Clogs

Video: When There’s No Toilet Paper (Animation).

Septic-Safe = Fast Disintegration

Industry test: 30 minutes in water, 100 shakes—if it breaks into bits >2 mm, you’re golden.
Charmin Ultra-Soft fails; Scott 1000 passes in under 60 seconds.

“Flushable” Wipes Reality Check

  • 90 % still intact after 3 hours (Municipal test, London).
  • Fatbergs cost NYC $18 M per year.
  • NRDC verdict: compost bin or trash, never the toilet.

Camping Plumbing

  • Portable cassette toilets: only rapid-dissolve TP or you’ll be the lucky duck shaking a poop slushie at the dump station.
  • Bear-proof vault toilets: no TP in the pit—pack it out in a dedicated trash bag.

🧻 Innovations in Toilet Paper: Smart Rolls, Recycled Materials, and More

  • Bamboo + sugar-cane blend (e.g., Reel, Tushy) grows fast, ships far—North Americans still better off with recycled.
  • Coreless rolls (Kimberly-Clark Professional) eliminate the tube—office buildings love them.
  • Smart dispensers in Tokyo measure length and tweet your daily usage stats—because nothing says 2024 like data-driven defecation.
  • Who Gives A Crap just launched “double-length” 48-roll boxes—38 % less packaging per sheet.
  • Seaweed-based TP start-ups promise zero trees, 70 % less carbon, but not yet retail-ready—watch this space.

And hey, if you’re still wiping with yesterday’s news, newspaper ink contains mineral oils—not great for your netherbits.

Ready for more? Keep scrolling for the Conclusion, FAQ, and Reference Links—or jump back to the TOC to re-roll!

🧻 Conclusion: Wrapping Up Your Ultimate Toilet Paper Knowledge

white toilet paper roll on black marble table

After this deep dive into the world of toilet paper—from its ancient origins in imperial China to the high-tech smart rolls of today—it’s clear that this humble bathroom staple is anything but simple. Whether you’re a hardcore camper, a conscientious eco-warrior, or just someone who appreciates a soft, reliable wipe, there’s a perfect roll out there for you.

Positives and Negatives of Top Toilet Paper Choices

  • Who Gives A Crap 100% Recycled
    ✅ Ultra-soft, eco-friendly, jumbo rolls that double as fire starters for camping. Certified B Corp with a social mission.
    ❌ Slightly thicker than some ultra-thin brands, so may not be ideal for all septic systems.

  • Seventh Generation Recycled
    ✅ No dyes or perfumes, excellent for sensitive skin, great environmental credentials.
    ❌ Slightly less plush than premium virgin pulp brands.

  • Charmin Ultra-Soft
    ✅ Luxuriously soft and strong, widely available.
    ❌ Not septic-friendly, uses virgin pulp, and less eco-conscious.

  • Scott 1000 Sheet
    ✅ Rapidly dissolves in water, great for RVs and septic tanks.
    ❌ Less soft, thinner sheets.

Our Confident Recommendation

For campers and eco-conscious consumers, Who Gives A Crap 100% Recycled is the clear winner. It balances softness, environmental responsibility, and practical roll size perfectly. For those with sensitive plumbing, Scott 1000 Sheet is a reliable backup. And if you want to indulge at home, Charmin Ultra-Soft delivers the plush experience—but maybe keep an eye on your septic tank!

Remember our earlier question about how to store TP on the trail? The zip-top bag trick with the core removed is a game-changer for space and dryness. Plus, pairing your roll with a portable bidet bottle can seriously upgrade your hygiene game while reducing paper use.

So, next time you grab a roll, you’ll know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes—and how to pick the best one for your lifestyle and adventures. Happy wiping! 🚽✨

👉 CHECK PRICE on:

Books on Toilet Paper and Hygiene History:

  • The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters by Rose George — Amazon
  • Toilet: Public Restrooms and the Politics of Sharing by Harvey Molotch and Laura Noren — Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Toilet Paper

a roll of toilet paper sitting on top of a counter

What are some eco-friendly toilet paper options for camping and backpacking trips?

Eco-friendly options include 100% recycled toilet paper (look for PCW certification), bamboo-based TP, and bagasse (sugarcane fiber) paper. For backpacking, lightweight and fast-dissolving brands like Who Gives A Crap or Marcal Small-Step are ideal. Bamboo grows quickly and uses fewer resources, but shipping distances can offset some benefits. Recycled TP made locally often has a smaller carbon footprint.

Read more about “8 Genius Ways to Use a Camping Checklist to Pack Efficiently 🏕️ (2025)”

How can I keep toilet paper dry and protected from the elements while camping?

Use a zip-top plastic bag or a dedicated dry sack to store your toilet paper. Removing the cardboard core allows you to flatten the roll, saving space and reducing exposure to moisture. Store it in your pack’s dry compartment or hang it inside your tent away from condensation. Some campers use resealable freezer bags or even small dry boxes.

What are some toilet paper alternatives for camping in remote areas?

Alternatives include:

  • Portable bidet bottles or squeeze bottles for water cleansing.
  • Natural materials like moss, smooth stones, or snow (if safe and clean).
  • Leaves (make sure they’re non-toxic and not irritating).
  • Reusable cloth wipes (must be packed out and sanitized).

Always research local regulations and environmental impact before using alternatives.

How do I properly dispose of used toilet paper while camping?

  • In established campgrounds with toilets, flush toilet paper as usual.
  • In backcountry or sensitive environments, pack out used toilet paper in a sealed plastic bag or use designated waste disposal bins.
  • Some areas allow “cat holes” (shallow burial of waste and paper), but check local rules.
  • Avoid burning toilet paper as it can produce harmful fumes and litter ash.

Read more about “What Should I Prepare Before Camping? 50+ Expert Tips for 2025 🏕️”

Can I use baby wipes as a substitute for toilet paper while camping?

While baby wipes are popular for their cleaning power, most are not truly flushable and can cause plumbing blockages and environmental harm. If you use wipes, pack them out in sealed bags. There are some biodegradable wipes designed for camping, but always verify their compostability and local disposal rules.

Read more about “Ultimate Camping Checklist Download: 50+ Essentials for 2025 🏕️”

What are the best biodegradable toilet paper options for camping?

Look for toilet paper labeled “biodegradable” or “rapid dissolve”. Brands like Scott Rapid-Dissolving and Marcal Small-Step are designed to break down quickly in water, making them septic and environmentally friendly. Avoid heavily quilted or lotion-infused papers that degrade slowly.

Read more about “15 Essential Safety Items for Your Camping Checklist in 2025 🏕️”

How much toilet paper should I pack for a camping trip?

A good rule of thumb is one roll per person per 3 days for car camping. For backpacking, pack less by pairing TP with water cleansing methods like a bidet bottle. Always carry a little extra for unexpected needs or emergencies.

Read more about “25 Often-Forgotten Camping Checklist Items You Need to Pack! 🏕️ (2025)”

What is toilet paper also called?

Toilet paper is also known as bathroom tissue, loo roll, bog roll (UK), bathroom tissue paper, or simply TP.

Read more about “Outdoor Tent: The Ultimate Guide for Your Camping Adventures … 🏕️”

What type of toilet paper is good?

Good toilet paper balances softness, strength, and rapid disintegration. For home use, 2- or 3-ply premium brands like Charmin Ultra-Soft or Who Gives A Crap are excellent. For septic systems or camping, choose 1- or 2-ply rapid-dissolving recycled paper.

What was the old toilet paper called?

Before modern rolls, early commercial toilet paper was sold as flat medicated sheets, notably Gayetty’s Medicated Paper in the 1850s. Prior to that, people used various materials (see next question).

What did people use to wipe before toilet paper?

Depending on culture and era:

  • Leaves, grass, moss, or corncobs.
  • Water and hands (common in many parts of Asia and the Middle East).
  • Wool, stones, or seashells in ancient times.
  • Cloth rags reused and washed.

Read more about “15 Must-Have Items for Your Next Camping Adventure! 🏕️”

What is the healthiest toilet paper?

The healthiest toilet paper is unbleached or ECF (elemental chlorine free), fragrance-free, dye-free, and made from recycled fibers. Avoid scented or lotion-infused TP if you have sensitive skin or allergies.

What is the best toilet paper to prevent clogs?

Choose rapid-dissolving, septic-safe toilet paper like Scott 1000 Sheet or Marcal Small-Step. Avoid thick, multi-ply, quilted, or lotion-infused papers that take longer to break down.

Read more about “What is the best toilet paper to prevent clogs?”

Is toilet paper cheaper at Target?

Prices vary by brand and location. Target often offers competitive prices and bulk packs, but it’s best to compare unit prices (per sheet or per roll) online or in-store. Look for sales and subscribe-and-save options on Amazon for convenience.

Read more about “Is toilet paper cheaper at Target?”

What are the two types of toilet paper?

The two main types are:

  • Virgin pulp toilet paper (made from fresh wood fibers).
  • Recycled toilet paper (made from post-consumer waste paper).

Virgin pulp tends to be softer but less eco-friendly; recycled is greener but sometimes less plush.

Read more about “What are the two types of toilet paper?”

Ready to upgrade your bathroom game or camping kit? Dive into the links above and wipe away your doubts! 🧻✨

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