6 Fun facts about toilet paper

Most people globally use toilet paper every day. Understandably, it isn't something that we tend to talk about.

Did you know, in South Africa a family of four uses approximately one toilet roll every 1.5 days?

But, as with almost anything, when you start to think about it you realize that it is really interesting.

Here are ten of the most fun (a bit unusual) facts about toilet paper.

1. Toilet Paper - Who and when?

Well, while everything is literally made in China it's no surprise that toilet paper was invented by Chinese.

The earliest recorded use of paper as a toiletry comes from China in the sixth century AD but it only became really popular from the fourteenth century when the Imperial Court of the Ming Dynasty started having it manufactured for the purpose.

In 1393 the Court ordered no fewer than 720, 000 sheets to be made to keep the royal seat clean. The astonishing thing is that each sheet measured the equivalent of 60 cm by 90 cm - nearly 26,000 square miles of paper!

The Emperor Hong Wu was particularly delicate in his habits and ordered 15, 000 sheets to be made especially soft and perfumed for his personal use.

2. Life before tissue?

Well, what you used for your personal bathroom needs before the invention of toilet paper depended to some degree on your social status and your geographical location.

If you were rich enough, then you might use wool, or a soft - and washable - rag. The Ancient Romans used sponges on sticks and then soaked in water.

Unfortunately, if you were not so well off, then the most common thing to do was simply to grab a fistful of grass, leaves or straw to do what needed to be done.

In some parts of the world, going to the toilet always meant just going to the nearest river or stream and letting the current carry the waste away. Any wiping was done just by hand. That is why in India and some parts of the Middle East it is considered offensive to eat or pass food at the table with your left hand - because that's the one that you would use in the river.

In many European countries today, the use of toilet paper is considered dirty and unhygienic. In these countries the most common practice is a thorough, soapy wash and rinse afterwards using a 'bidet.' This is a sort of low basin with hot water tap and soap that you sit on and is usually placed next to the toilet for convenience.

3. How Many Sheets on a Roll of Toilet Paper?

The number of sheets on a roll varies depending on the manufacturer and the type of paper being used. It also depends on if it is one-ply, two-ply or three-ply.

One-ply has a single layer of paper per sheet. Two-ply has a double layer for added strength and softness. While Three-ply has the latter three times.

The average number of sheets per roll can vary enormously from as few as two hundred up to a thousand. In general, there will be more sheets if it is one-ply and fewer if it is two-ply. Why not check your own rolls to find out what you've got?

This is because you are paying for the same amount of paper in each case and so the cost is the same - but you get fewer sheets for your money!

With that said, there are no hard and fast rules. Some budget suppliers will produce loosely rolled paper with only two hundred sheets wrapped around each tube. At the other end of the scale there are huge rolls with thousands of sheets that are produced for use in public conveniences.

4. How Many Sheets Does One Person Use?

A survey conducted by toilet paper manufacturers, respectively, found that that an average family uses approximately fifty-seven sheets of toilet paper per day and one toilet roll every 1.5 days?

That's three hundred ninety-nine sheets per week, one thousand, nine hundred ninety-six sheets per month, nineteen thousand one hundred fifty-two sheets per year and a staggering one million, five hundred thirty-two thousand, one hundred sixty sheets if you live to be 80 years old!

An average household will flush away nearly eighty thousand sheets a year.

And that doesn't include the paper that is used for other purposes such as blowing noses, cleaning spectacles and so on.

That's a heck of a lot of paper!

5. Toilet Paper Colour

While white is still the most popular toilet paper throughout the world, there are other colors available - such as soft pink or peach. Some toilet paper is also moistened or perfumed.

6. The World's Largest Toilet Roll

The largest ever toilet roll was made by the U.S. manufacturer, Charmin and measured a monstrous eight feet high and had a diameter of more than nine feet. The roll was made to celebrate World Toilet Paper Day and was verified by the World Record Academy.

According to reports, the giant toilet roll was made out of 1,000,000 square feet of toilet paper - that's the equivalent to 95, 000 regular toilet rolls!

Just like that, that's the end of the roll. Please comment and tell us what some of the fun facts that we might have left out.