The United States is the world leader in toilet paper usage. Nearly every American person uses a few feet of toilet paper in their daily life. Every American home bathroom and public restroom (hopefully) has toilet paper readily available.
Origin: China
The earliest accounts of paper being used for cleaning up are from 6th century China, though it's likely people could have used it even earlier than that. Large-scale manufacturing of toilet paper officially started in the 14th century in the modern-day province of Zhejiang, China.
The Procter & Gamble Company.
In 2021, China produced over 125 million metric tons of paper and paperboard, making it the leading paper-producing country worldwide. The United States was the second-largest paper-producing country that year, with an output of 67.5 million metric tons.
One of the reasons some countries have always favoured toilet paper, it appears, is the climate. Most countries in Northern Europe are cold for a good part of the year, and although we live in the 21st century and water heating is available today, it's just a habit that's been passed down the ages.
The Romans cleaned their behinds with sea sponges attached to a stick, and the gutter supplied clean flowing water to dip the sponges in. This soft, gentle tool was called a tersorium, which literally meant “a wiping thing.”
For many cultures, bathroom habits come from what has been available, rather than what is easy. The washroom essential for many cultures is a container of water. Instead of wiping, they rinse themselves clean by pouring water over a bowl, or even a hole.
Although modern-day toilet paper was invented in the United States in 1857, the introduction of toilet paper to Australia came decades later and coincided with the building of city sewers. Adelaide had a drainage system by 1885, while Sydney's was only partially complete by 1876.
Not the hoarding. The avoiding. Because despite Australians' newfound passion for TP, it's actually pretty gross when you think about it. Yes, we're all used to our Western method of post-bathroom cleansing, which involves large wads – folded or scrunched – of this increasingly rare commodity.
Toilet paper is used in Japan, even by those who own toilets with bidets and washlet functions (see below). In Japan, toilet paper is thrown directly into the toilet after use. However, please be sure to put just the toilet paper provided in the toilet.
Public toilets often do not equip each toilet stall with toilet paper in Russia. Sometimes toilet paper is available outside the stalls. Sometimes there is none to be had. You can purchase small, travel-sized rolls from hygiene-product travel sections in supermarkets or convenience stores.
Leaves, sticks, moss, sand and water were common choices, depending on early humans' environment. Once we developed agriculture, we had options like hay and corn husks. People who lived on islands or on the coast used shells and a scraping technique.
Quilton is an Aussie made and owned brand, manufactured by ABC Tissue Products. It has facilities in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The brand offers a wide range of options, including 4-ply, 3-ply and king-sized toilet papers. Quilton products are made from both local and imported ingredients.
Eagle-eyed shoppers have discovered Aldi's budget toilet paper rolls are actually made by the same Australian company that creates Quilton.
While on the toilet, one must remain silent. Talking, and initiating or answering greetings are strongly discouraged. When defecating together, two men cannot converse, nor look at each other's genitals. Eating any food while on the toilet is forbidden.
It's the moment we all dread in the Netherlands: having to use the loo when you're out and about.
In the majority of Asian countries, the water management process is not as nice as compared to the West. Due to the sanitary issues it may cause, flushing toilet paper should be avoided. This is the result of why people there commonly use water bowls, bidets, or bidet showers in place of paper.
From Seashells to Communal Sponges
In very ancient times, wiping with stones and other natural materials and rinsing with water or snow was common. Some cultures opted for seashells and animal furs.
Common causes include: Chronic diarrhea Constipation Hemorrhoids Crohn's disease The skin of the anus can stick to the stool and make it difficult to clean the anorectal area after a bowel movement. Leaky gut Leaky gut is also known as fecal incontinence.
Porta-Johns. Yes, we have "Porta-sh*tters" located on the frontlines. For the most part, they're located on the larger FOBs. To keep these maintained, allied forces pay local employees, who live nearby, to pump the human discharge out of the poop reservoirs.
Washing with water is a much more effective and long-lasting way of cleaning, and removes more germs and bacteria than paper. Using water is a much more gentle and soothing way of cleaning after using the toilet and the feeling of freshness and cleanliness is incomparable to when using paper.
What Did People Use Before Toilet Paper? Paper itself is said to have contributed to a Golden Age in China, with the pulp making process attributed to a chap called Ts'ai Lun (pictured right), a Chinese court official who mixed mulberry bark, hemp, and rags with water.
And though sticks have been popular for cleaning the anus throughout history, ancient people wiped with many other materials, such as water, leaves, grass, stones, animal furs and seashells. In the Middle Ages, Morrison added, people also used moss, sedge, hay, straw and pieces of tapestry.