Toilet Paper Roll Etiquette

Practicing acceptable toilet paper roll etiquette is a courtesy that benefits everyone.

Making sure that toilet paper is easily accessible in a restroom is part of the etiquette that many hotels and other businesses uphold. However, there are a few tips you can take from these establishments when it comes to displaying toilet paper roll etiquette in your home.

Over Hanging

In hotels, the toilet paper is hung over the roll, which means the loose end of the toilet paper is over the remainder of the roll. The main reasons hotels have adopted this method is so that a member of housekeeping can fold the loose end in a triangular pattern, and perhaps attach a sticker with the hotel's logo; this is a sign that the room has been cleaned, or that the room is ready for new occupants. Some individuals feel this is more visually attractive, although this is debatable.

Under Hanging

When toilet paper is hung with the loose end underneath the roll, it is easier for individuals to roll the paper out to the desired length and tear it off the roll with one hand. Under hanging can prevent individuals from taking off more tissue than is needed, or altering the shape of the roll.

Asking for Toilet Paper

When in a public restroom, it is acceptable to request toilet paper from the person in the adjacent stall. If an individual knows that another person in the bathroom is about to enter a stall where there is no toilet paper, it is polite to warn the person entering the stall.

Additional Toilet Paper

It is proper etiquette to have extra rolls of toilet paper available in both private and public restrooms. Many homeowners purchase toilet paper roll holders for their bathrooms, which should be placed behind the toilet, usually on the right side. A basket filled with additional rolls is acceptable as well. Public restrooms should supply rolls of toilet paper that are wrapped in paper for sanitary purposes; these rolls can be kept in each stall or in the restroom closet.

Toilet Paper Clogs

If a toilet is filled with too much toilet paper, the person who notices the clog should report it to the proper maintenance workers, whether or not the person is the cause of the clog. If an individuals knows that she has caused the toilet to clog, it is proper etiquette to report the problem right away when in a professional setting.

References

• The International Center for Bathroom Etiquette: Hanging the Toilet Paper
• A to Z of Manners and Etiquette: Toilet Etiquette