Why is toilet paper cut in such small squares? Does anyone every use only one?

Question

It's not a stupid question...it's a reflection of our society and the stupid things that often go unnoticed.

Answer 1

OOOOOOOOK Guitargadfly is here to save the day once again! Toilet paper is cut into small squares because large circles really didn't work. They tried large circles, but everyone kept getting that stuff on their fingers. Ewww...
AND, they also realized that if you make TP in large circles, people tend to use JUST ONE, which is very bad for sales... whereas if they make it as they do, people think OMG one is way too small! I'll get poo all over my fingers, and they grab a big bunch. Witness the lady who earlier said her and hubby use a roll a DAY!

Answer 2

No, no one I know has ever used just one sheet. However, it is perforated at to such small squares so that one can get as close to the amount he or she desires. If the perforations were farther apart, you could potentially waste quite a bit of toilet paper, since once you miss one perforation you would proceed to the next, which would be quite farther down the roll.

Answer 3

It's cut into small squares to readily fit down the outlet of the toilet and into the soil pipe. it also dissolves readily, to help keep it from clogging the plumbing the way regular paper would.

And I don't think much of anyone uses a single sheet. I've read discussions on this on other boards, and everyone used several sheets.

Answer 4

LOl the funny thing is i work in a nursing home and all of them that i have ever worked in when you take a older person to the restroom and they get the toilet paper ready they only use like 2 squares and i came to the conclusion that its because they were raised during the great depression and stuff like that

Answer 5

NO, but you do fold it exactly at the edges so they are all neat & tidy little squares, right? That's what it's for. It's supposed to show you the size to fold it too. :D

There have been stories of business owners who have told the employees they could only use so many squares per restroom visit. How to enforce that? Well maybe those were the one's getting in trouble for the toilet cams OR perhaps they were passing it out as people enter. SCARY JOB - I woulda quit immediately.

Answer 6

No one uses just one. Those are folding creases. Here's another question to ask, The number of squares used? I think it's 3. I can only answer for myself. Also depends on the brand and type. Charmin, might be able to use just one, risky. Also, single ply, cheap kind.....no way....8 squares at least.

Answer 7

It's a little known fact that the inventor of toliet paper had OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) with regard to cutting and counting. He originally made it one long sheet, but became infatuated with making the perfect square. The trend just kind of stuck around..

Kidding.. but wouldn't that be a funny if it were true?

Answer 8

Uses for 1 square of toilet paper:

- to cover a man's face in little white dots after shaving
- to clean a pair of eyeglasses
- to blot lipstick
- as a blanket for Polly Pocket

That's all I can think of...

Answer 9

No...it's harder to get just one square than it is to just grab a handful and rip it off, regardless of how much you need. But now that I'm thinking about it, what could you possibly do with one little square of toilet paper?

Answer 10

With wars, starvation, nuclear proliferation, earthquakes, terrorists, genocide, volcanoes erupting, coalition forces being killed in Iraq, hurricanes heading for the southern states, etc.etc. I pity you that your world is so small you worry about the size of a piece of toilet paper!!!!!

Answer 11

My mom once told me a story about people who use one square. They poke their finger thru the toilet paper, use their finger to wipe (like when they go pooey), then use the toiet paper to wipe their finger! Lol no idea if it's true or not!