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Toilet paper is a necessity in most homes and if your home is anything like mine was (before I discovered the bidet) then you probably go through rolls of toilet paper faster than you can say, Jack Robinson.
This may have left you wondering how long a roll of toilet paper should last. Are you going through toilet paper faster than the average household or is your toilet paper usage around the norm?
How long should a roll of toilet paper last? There are many factors that go into how long a roll of toilet paper lasts, but on average, a roll of toilet paper should last one person 3-4 days.
Factors That Influence How Long a Roll of Toilet Paper Lasts
While 4-5 days is the norm, there are many factors that can influence how long a roll of toilet paper lasts one person.
Sex
On average, females go through toilet paper faster than males for a number of reasons.
Unlike males, females require toilet paper to wipe themselves clean and dry after both number one and number two.
Additionally, when a female goes through monthly menstruation, they require additional toilet paper.
Health Conditions
There are a number of health conditions that may cause a person to go through a roll of toilet paper faster than average.
Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease can cause diarrhea which results in an increased need for toilet paper (1).
In addition, certain medications, viruses, and exposure to bacterial pathogens can also cause diarrhea and thus, increase toilet paper usage.
Toilet Use Frequency
How often you need to use the toilet will impact how long a roll of toilet paper lasts you.
When it comes to bowel movements, the length of time between them varies from person to person.
Some people have two bowel movements a day, every day, like clockwork. Others can go three days between bowel movements. (2)
Of course, this is going to have a strong influence on how long a roll of toilet paper lasts.
It’s normal to pee anywhere from four to ten times in a 24 hour period which again, will influence how much toilet paper a person goes through.
Type of Toilet Paper
There is a dizzying array of toilet paper available these days, but the main factors that go into how long a roll of toilet paper lasts are:
- Number of plies
- Size of the roll
Plies refers to the thickness of the toilet paper.
1-ply consists of one layer of toilet paper. It is thin, tears easily, dissolves quickly, and usually necessitates using more toilet paper than 2-ply.
2-ply consists of two layers of toilet paper and is the most common type.
3-ply is made of three layers of toilet paper. It’s thick and soft, but has a tendency to clog toilets and some people feel it is too thick to get into the crevices that need to be wiped.
Of course, the size of the toilet roll also factors into how long it will last. Jumbo rolls will last longer than a standard size roll of toilet paper.
Folding Style
Ahh, the age-old debate. Which folding style is better – wiping or scrunching?
Most people fit firmly into one camp and there’s probably nothing that will change their mind.
However, folders use 50% less toilet paper than scrunchers, so if you want your toilet paper roll to last longer, it may be time to consider folding instead of scrunching (3).
What You Use It For
The obvious reason people use toilet paper is to wipe themselves after using the toilet. And if that’s all you use toilet paper for, then the 4-5 day per roll average probably applies to you.
However, people use toilet paper for a whole host of other reasons too, including:
- Wiping your nose
- Removing makeup
- Picking up dog poop
- Cleaning glasses
- Cleaning the toilet seat
If you use toilet paper for purposes other than simply wiping after toileting, you’re going to go through a roll of toilet paper much faster.
Bidet Usage
Bidets may not be as popular in the United States as they are in Europe and Asia but there’s no denying one thing – installing a bidet in your home (especially a bidet with a dryer) will result in your toilet paper usage going down dramatically.
In fact, depending on the type of bidet you purchase, you may not even have to wipe with toilet paper at all.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many factors that go into how long a roll of toilet paper lasts.
However, there’s one fact that remains – if you’re concerned with the amount of toilet paper you’re using, it’s worth considering installing a high-quality bidet which will greatly reduce (or possibly even eliminate) your need for toilet paper.
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352241
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9663-stool-changes-and-what-they-mean#:~:text=The%20normal%20length%20of%20time,and%20more%20difficult%20to%20pass.
- https://www.toiletpaper.com.au/blog/fold-your-toilet-paper-for-a-better-clean-or-is-scrunching-more-your-style-/
