Buzz
It might not be shocking that toilet paper is relatively recent in comparison to the many remarkable innovations throughout history. The following 10 facts highlight some amusing moments surrounding the creation and rise of toilet paper, as well as some of its most hilariously bizarre moments.
10. The Unexpected Holiday Gift
Few felt the strain of Russia’s faltering industries more than the factory workers in Penza, a city located 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Moscow. The joy that had filled the air among the employees at a struggling clock factory quickly dissipated when they received their holiday bonuses—150 rolls of toilet paper.
This “generous” bonus was so heavy that many workers spent three days hauling it home. One woman even tried to use her allotment as an unconventional way of paying her rent, though her attempt was unsuccessful.
One worker, who tragically jumped from the factory rooftop, left behind a suicide note requesting that his funeral costs be covered by the company’s director. Meanwhile, workers in other locations were luckier, receiving gifts such as cucumbers, pineapples, and even brassieres. A 1998 survey revealed that only 18 percent of Russian workers were regularly paid on time.
9. Toilet Paper Recommended by Doctors
Scott Paper Company, a major player in the toilet paper market, employed one of the most successful advertising strategies: showcasing images of irritated “bottoms” and claiming that people were using the wrong type of toilet paper.
In 1929, these advertisements created a huge stir. They warned, “After 40, doctors say you have a 50/50 chance of developing some form of rectal disease. The culprit: rough or impure toilet paper.”
Though some may argue the ads were fear-mongering, they may not have been entirely off the mark. Before the 1930s, toilet paper made from wood pulp couldn’t completely eliminate the tiny wood slivers. Once manufacturers realized that longer cooking times reduced the splinters to mush, Scott Paper proudly marketed their product as “splinter-free” and boasted endorsements from both doctors and plumbers.
8. The Infamous Toilet Paper Bandit
For a period of time, Ricardo Jefferson executed one of the most bizarre—and likely least lucrative—heists in U.S. history. It all started on August 5, 1995, when City Controller Jonathan A. Saidel launched an investigation into missing stadium toilet paper.
While employed as a store supervisor at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, Jefferson is said to have “cleaned out” the stadium over a span of 10 months, from October 1994 to August 1995. The absence of toilet paper was first noticed just before a Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason game, when a “major shortage” caused confusion among stadium officials and left football fans desperately holding it in.
Jefferson was alleged to have stolen $34,000 worth of toilet paper and was promptly fired. Whether he was simply dealing with an extreme case of irregular bowel disorder or attempting to line his own pockets, the fate of the missing TP remains a mystery.
7. Inappropriate and Unmentionable Product
While toilet paper was being made in China as early as the fourth century, it wasn’t until 1857 that Joseph C. Gayetty introduced the first packaged “Therapeutic Paper” to the United States. Scott Paper Company saw a huge opportunity, given America’s increasing interest in improved hygiene.
In 1890, they began selling the first rolls of toilet paper. However, the company’s success was largely dependent on how to market a product considered taboo by many.
Because of the country’s conservative values, Scott Paper Company was wary of tarnishing its family-friendly image by promoting a product tied to what was viewed as a “lewd” subject. Instead, they sold toilet paper rolls to private dealers, who would then relabel and rebrand the product.
This trend continued until 1902 when Scott Paper acquired the “Waldorf” trademark, marking the company’s first branded toilet paper. Public approval grew, and by 1903, Scott Paper Company officially began imprinting their name on the once-taboo product.
6. The Bathroom in Space
As noted by the National Air and Space Museum, one of the most common questions people have about astronauts is how they manage to use the bathroom in space. Few are aware of the months of research and testing that go into creating a maintenance-free restroom system for space missions.
Considering the extensive training astronauts undergo to master sitting and staying in place on a $30 million space toilet, along with all the complex details, the costs add up quickly.
No detail is spared, even when it comes to the space shuttles' toilet paper. ISS Expedition Six Science Officer Don Pettit described the paper as being far from what one would expect.
Pettit described the tissue as consisting of two layers of rough, woven gauze stitched together with a layer of brown tissue in between. While unconventional, Pettit assured that the tissue works “very well for its intended purposes,” leaving little to the imagination.
5. The Tax Man
One would think that basic hygiene essentials would be exempt from taxes—unless, of course, you reside in New York. In the Big Apple, sales tax on toilet paper is 8.875 percent, a fact that has left many, including New York State Senator Phil Boyle, scratching their heads. Many residents of New York are even unaware that this essential product is taxed.
It’s not just New Yorkers feeling the pinch, however. After learning about Florida’s sales tax laws, Sun Sentinel columnist Michael Mayo started a petition calling on lawmakers to exempt toilet paper from being taxed.
Pennsylvania resident Mary Bach took it even further. In 2007, she filed a lawsuit against Kmart for charging her sales tax on toilet paper.
4. The Toilet Paper Shortage of 1971
In 1971, Hawaii was thrown into chaos when the island faced the terrifying prospect of running out of toilet paper. The crisis began 3,900 kilometers (2,400 miles) away when West Coast shipping workers in San Francisco went on strike, halting the shipment of goods that Hawaii relied on, including essential household items.
Approximately 15,000 workers went on strike demanding higher wages, highlighting how dependent islands can be on outside supplies. In fact, 90 percent of goods consumed in Hawaii arrive by ship, making toilet paper a particularly prized commodity.
The strike lasted for 134 days, and in February 1972, a deal was struck when workers accepted a 14-cent per hour wage increase. It remains unclear what islanders did when their toilet paper supplies were exhausted for months on end.
3. Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark, one of the world's top distributors of branded toilet paper, was born in a time of hardship and uncertainty. Established in 1872, the company’s first product was newsprint made from cotton rags and linen.
As the company grew, so did its pioneering innovations, especially in the field of hygiene on the battlefields. In 1914, Kimberly-Clark’s researchers developed the world’s first cellulose wadding (known as tissue), created from a by-product of processed sugar cane.
During World War I, “cellucotton” replaced scarce surgical cotton and was used to treat the wounds of countless soldiers in the trenches. Nurses soon discovered that it also had other uses, including for feminine hygiene.
However, it wasn’t until six years later that the company recognized its commercial potential, launching the world’s first “feminine” napkin in 1920. In the 1940s, Kimberly-Clark devoted significant resources to the war effort and later initiated a growth program to meet the surge in consumer demand following the end of World War II.
2. Revelations
In 2013, ancient Roman artifacts that had been on display at the Fishbourne Roman Palace in England since the 1960s were revealed to have served as a form of toilet paper, according to the British Medical Journal.
The ceramic discs, which the museum had originally identified as “gaming pieces,” were found to have traces of partially mineralized excrement. French anthropologist Philippe Charlier explained that similar items were often discovered near latrines. He referenced an ancient Greek saying: “Three stones are enough to wipe one’s arse.”
In addition, Charlier discovered an image on an ancient Greek cup that depicted the use of stones for personal cleansing. Dr. Rob Symmons, the museum curator, mentioned that Fishbourne might reconsider the classification of the objects after conducting further chemical tests.
1. A Profitable Mistake
As previously mentioned, Scott Paper Company took advantage of the increasing demand for better hygiene by essentially creating the toilet paper market. However, nearly a decade later, a manufacturing flaw at Scott's mills led to the production of tissue that was too thick for toilet paper use.
Recalling a story about a teacher who used cut-up copy paper as hand wipes instead of a communal cloth that spread germs, company founder Arthur Scott decided to market the world’s first disposable paper towel.
By transforming the previously unusable thick paper into individual sheets for easier dispensing, Scott focused his marketing efforts on institutions such as railroad stations, hotels, and schools, branding it as 'Sani-Towels.' What started as a mistake by a paper manufacturer quickly became a popular household staple across America by 1931.
