If human history were plotted out on a roll of toilet paper (with 400 sheets), modern toilet paper as we know it would occupy less than a quarter of a single sheet. That’s with each sheet representing 750 years!
So, what were our ancestors wiping their bums with before the advent of our silky, soft toilet paper? Some of these experimental contraptions are enough to clench your cheeks in sympathy.
Let’s unravel the history of toilet paper and its humble holder to better understand how this essential bathroom tool developed.
Early Humans Keep Things Natural
Most accounts start the history of toilet paper with Classical Antiquity. But, this begs the question: How did humans clean their backsides for the first 2,800 years? According to anthropologists and historians, our early predecessors pretty much grabbed anything that was lying around. Sticks, stones, leaves, moss, dirt, sand, and water are all believed to be the first forms of toilet paper. Nature calls, and nature answers.
Greeks and Romans Experiment
The Ancient Greeks and Romans played a huge role in the timeline of the toilet, so it’s not surprising to find these inventive civilizations in the history of toilet paper. Unfortunately, they hadn’t figured out the paper part quite yet. The Greeks used pieces of broken pottery or clay, known as ostraca, to clean their lower extremities. Unsurprisingly, the Romans didn’t adopt the practice. Instead, they used a tersorium which is essentially a sponge attached to a stick – a considerable improvement from the plain stick.
China Invents Toilet Paper
Shortly after the Roman Empire’s downfall, the Chinese started using the earliest version of toilet paper. The region had already discovered paper 400 years prior, but people didn’t decide to use it for posterior polishing until the 6th century. This superior practice eventually rolled across the extensive Chinese empire. According to History.com, China was producing 10 million packages containing 1,000-10,000 sheets every year by the 1500s. Unfortunately, it would take another several hundred years before toilet paper caught on in the rest of the world.
Further Reading: Different Kinds of Toilet Materials
Medieval Europe Sticks to the Basics
Nothing momentous happened in the history of toilet paper throughout Medieval Europe. The wealthy were wiping their bums with cloths and rags. However, the rest of society was priced out of these expensive bathroom luxuries. Most people in rural areas were stuck using straw, hay, and even corn cobs. Ouch!
News Reaches US Bathrooms
The invention of the printing press had an unexpected impact on the history of toilet paper. All of a sudden, paper material was quicker and cheaper to make than ever before. This paved the way for modern, mass-produced toilet paper, but the transition wasn’t that smooth. The newspapers and magazines that came into circulation served two purposes: one for reading and another for wiping. The Sears Roebuck catalog even became a euphemism for the toilet tarp given its widespread distribution and soft paper.
Rolling into the Future
In 1857, toilet paper took its modern form after New York inventor Joseph Gayetty introduced the world to a hemorrhoids-preventing product…at least that’s how he marketed it. His manila hemp sheets were infused with aloe and pulled from a tissue-shaped box. It would take a few more decades before standard toilet paper was launched into circulation. The Scott brothers decided to put toilet paper in roll form which proved to be a hit with wipers everywhere. Their strategy to sell to drugstores and hotels helped propel their new product to everyday use.
The History of the Toilet Paper Holder
Where was the toilet paper holder during this evolution of the roll? It actually didn’t come around until the 19th century after the invention of the roll. The earliest forms of this bathroom essential didn’t require a rolling contraption. Seth Wheeler (the perfect last name!) patented his design in 1871, roughly 14 years following the invention of modern toilet paper. The simple yet effective design has remained largely unchanged.
After thousands of years of experimentation, world toilet culture is converging on a perfected restroom experience complete with advanced plumbing, secure stalls, and – of course – lusciously soft toilet paper. The Portland Loo is on the frontlines ensuring all members of society have access to the best that restrooms have to offer. Check out why the Loo is making a name for itself in cities across the world.
