Some disagreements never die. Cats versus dogs. Ketchup on hot dogs. And, in bathrooms across America, which way the toilet paper should hang. Over the front of the roll, or under against the wall? Plenty of couples have quietly flipped a roll behind each other's backs.
The debate is old, but it really took off in 1977, when advice columnist Ann Landers wrote about it. Her readers responded in droves, and she later said it was her most popular column ever, drawing 15,000 letters. As for the original design, the 19th-century patents of toilet paper roll pioneer Seth Wheeler mostly show the paper hanging over.
The Man Behind the Roll
Before rolls, there were packages of flat sheets. Joseph Gayetty is widely credited with introducing modern commercial toilet paper in the United States in 1857. His "Medicated Paper" came in flat sheets watermarked with his name, and it was advertised as "The greatest necessity of the age!"
Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, received the earliest U.S. patents for toilet paper and dispensers in 1883. The rolled kind caught on when the Scott Paper Company began marketing it in 1890. Wheeler patented several holders, and in many of the drawings the paper hangs in the over position. At least one, however, shows it under. So even the inventor left a little wiggle room.
The Case for Over
In various surveys, around 70 percent of people prefer the over position. Supporters say it's easier to see and grab the loose end. It also keeps your knuckles from brushing the wall or cabinet, which could spread germs.
Hotels like it because the last sheet can be folded into a neat point to show the room has been cleaned. And if your toilet paper has a printed pattern, it's generally designed to be seen hanging over.
The Case for Under
The under crowd has solid arguments, too. The loose end stays tucked out of sight, which looks tidier. It's also harder for a curious toddler or a playful cat to bat at the roll and unspool the whole thing across the floor. In an RV, hanging it under may even keep it from unrolling while you drive.
Both sides claim their way makes it easier to tear along the perforations. And it's not clear whether either direction actually saves paper. Most people, when asked, simply say they hang it the way that's easiest to grab, or the way they always have.
A Lesson in Human Nature
Believe it or not, this bathroom question is used to teach college students. One sociology professor opens his introductory course by asking which way the roll should hang. Students then spend the class exploring why they feel so strongly about rules they've never consciously thought about. A course at the University of Notre Dame has used the same exercise.
One psychology professor classified toilet paper orientation as a matter of taste, like a favorite cola or baseball team. It's a personal preference, not a moral value, even if it doesn't always feel that way at 2 a.m.
The argument has even reached the bottom of the world. At the Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole, people have complained about which way the toilet paper is installed. So whichever side you're on, you're in good company. Just maybe don't flip the roll at a friend's house.
