Over or Under: Both Sides of the Toilet Paper Debate

For as long as humanity has had access to toilet paper there has been a great debate – over or under? While it might seem like an inconsequential discussion, the topic is quite controversial, and people passionately defend their side. So, which way is the right way to hang toilet paper? Here are a few points to consider when making the decision of over or under.

• It's the OG of TP

  Here's one for all the history buffs out there. The “over” technique of hanging was the placement illustrated in Seth Wheeler's original patent back in 1891.

  

• 70%¹ of wipers already prefer this position

  Not that you should ever blindly follow the crowd, but a whopping 70% of the population prefers the “over” position.

• Makes it easier to grab

  Because the toilet paper is closer towards you, it does make it easier to grab from a seated position.

• Less likely to transmit germs

  You might not consider this but when the toilet paper is hung “under”, your knuckles will inevitably rub against the wall when tearing off a sheet. This action can actually transmit germs onto the wall or other bathroom surfaces².

• Makes it easier to tear

  Having the paper away from the wall generally makes it easier to tear.

• Oprah approves

  The former queen of day-time TV prefers the "over" technique, and it appears her studio audience agrees. With much gumption, Oprah declared: "Let me just say this that I, Oprah Winfrey, am an over girl myself," which was met with wild applause. The talk show host explained, "I actually prefer over because it tears so readily."

• Looks “tidier”

  The first supporting point for the “under” technique is that it offers a cleaner look. With the toilet paper closer to the wall and the paper hanging behind the roll, it does make for a more minimalist visual.

• Limits accidental unrolling

  If you have a pet at home who is prone to playing with the toilet paper, then you might want to give the “under” technique a try. Because the roll hangs against the wall, there’s enough tension built up to keep the roll secure in its place.

• Increased difficulty in unrolling leads to lower/more economical usage

  Sometimes it just takes something to be a little more inaccessible to make us realize the consequences of our actions. This goes for wiping, too. Because the “under” method is a little bit more difficult to unroll, users are less likely to use excessive amounts³ of toilet paper when using the toilet.

• Who cares about toilet paper orientation?

  Quite a lot of people apparently! Roughly 50%³ of the population say that they pay active attention to toilet paper orientation, and 20%³ will go as far as to get agitated if the toilet paper is oriented in their perceived “wrong” way. 19%³ of people admit to having changed the orientation of toilet paper in someone else’s house.

• Does gender play a role?

  According to most studies, gender does not play a role in how your orient your toilet paper. However, men³ do rate higher for being agitated if the orientation doesn’t match their preference.

• Ask the experts

  There are some people out there who think how we mount our toilet paper might have more to say about our personality then we might think at first. Dr. Gilda Carle is a consultant for Cottonelle^® Brand Toilet Paper and she has devised a toilet paper personality test and linked paper preference to personality types.

• What does hanging “over” say about you?

  Generally, Dr. Carle⁴ says that people who utilize the “over” technique are more likely to have a dominant personality type.

• What does hanging “under” say about you?

  If you hang “under” you’re more like to have an easy-going, submissive nature, according to Dr. Carle⁴.

• The Verdict

  So, in summary⁴ “overs” are more dominant and “unders” are more submissive. You might be able to guess who’s changing the orientation at other people’s houses!

Sometimes personal preference won’t matter, and external factors will make your decision for you.

• Alter placement based on arm’s reach.

  Depending on your arm length and where your toilet paper is mounted, you may have to use the “over” hang just to reach your toilet paper comfortably.

• Tuck the loose hanging tissue into the roll to secure it against accidental unrolling

  If you like the convenience of the “over” technique but are worried about accidental unrolling, you can tuck the loose hanging tissue against the roll to keep it from falling down.

• Use Flushable Wipes

  No matter which toilet paper holding technique you prefer, we recommend pairing your Cottonelle^® Brand Toilet Paper and Cottonelle^® Flushable Wipes for a refreshing clean. They dissolve like toilet paper and immediately start to break down after flushing!

  Keep a package on the back of your toilet or at arm’s reach in each bathroom of your home to keep you feeling shower fresh clean!

It’s nice when everyone in the household subscribes to the same toilet paper orientation but unfortunately that’s not always going to be the case. “Over” and “unders” have to find some way to live together and we have a few tips.

• Defer to the person who cares

  Decide who cares the most about the toilet paper orientation. If someone is the type of person who gets agitated with it being hung “the wrong way”, then keep things moving smoothly and go with their way.

• What to do in a divided household

  That’s fine if only one person in your household has a passion for toilet paper hanging, but what if you have two people with opposing views? In that case we recommend switching the toilet paper when it’s your turn to use the bathroom. When you finish, you can switch the toilet paper to the opposite orientation for the next person.

Whichever way you choose to hang it, over or under, choose Cottonelle^® Brand Toilet Paper, that removes more in just one wipe†! Cottonelle^®’s 1-ply Ultra CleanCare^® is our strongest toilet paper giving you a confident clean, and Cottonelle^® Ultra ComfortCare^® is our softest and most absorbent toilet paper for a luxurious clean. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

Which way do you hang your toilet paper?