Prompt Cast
The History and Evolution of Toilet Paper
TLDR From leaves and corn cobs to the invention of Gayety's Medicated Paper Sheets, this podcast explores the fascinating history of toilet paper. Learn about the rise of toilet paper as a symbol of cleanliness, the creation of the first toilet paper on a roll, and the ongoing debate over overhand or underhand hanging.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Toilet paper is a pretty American thing, with Americans spending about six billion dollars on it every year and going through 36 and a half billion rolls annually.
05:04
The hosts discuss their experiences with bidets and the various materials that have been used for toilet paper throughout history, including leaves, moss, coconuts, shells, corn cobs, sheep's wool, and lace.
10:12
Americans in the past used the Farmer's Almanac and the Sears catalog as toilet paper, which made it difficult for Joseph Gayety to sell his invention of Gayety's Medicated Paper Sheets.
15:15
The Scott brothers created the first toilet paper on a roll, but were initially ashamed to put their name on it, so they released it under other company names; however, they were successful in selling it to hotels and drug stores.
20:48
Toilet paper became popular and associated with cleanliness after being championed by plumbers and doctors, and a joke made by Johnny Carson about a toilet paper shortage in 1973 led to panic buying and actual shortages in some places.
26:41
Toilet paper is made from trees that are ground up into pulp, bleached, mixed with water, pressed onto a screen, and then dried using a dryer, while cardboard rolls are made concurrently.
31:44
Toilet paper is made by cutting a long continuous tube into 60-inch rolls, gluing it together, cutting it into smaller rolls, and then individually wrapping or packaging them.
36:53
Toilet paper can be embossed with designs to differentiate brands, and there is a debate over whether toilet paper should be hung in an overhand or underhand fashion.
42:08
In addition to the debate over overhand or underhand toilet paper, using a bidet is a popular option in many countries, such as Europe and Japan.
47:03
Bidets are popular around the world because they use less water than toilet paper, which requires 37 gallons of water to make one roll, and they are also more environmentally friendly than wet wipes.
52:13
Toilet paper companies are making rolls smaller and increasing the size of the cardboard tube, resulting in less paper for the same price or more, while also charging about 2% more each year.
Categories:
Society & Culture
