Barry Kudrowitz, a toy designer and associate professor and director of product design at the University of Minnesota, finds toilet paper so interesting that he's written an online history of the product.
A brief history of toilet paper
April 1, 2020 at 4:46AM
His research includes data on back-to-front vs. front-to-back wiping, paper under or over the roll, and wadding vs. folding.
Here are some of his highlights on how humans have cleaned themselves down there over the years:
Pre-50 B.C.: Sticks, leaves, stones, water and snow are the preferred materials.
50 B.C.-Middle Ages: There's an upgrade to cloth, wool, hay and a sponge on a stick.
Late 14th-late 19th century: Corn cobs, coconut shells, Sears catalog, Farmers Almanac.
1857-1999: The toilet tissue age, including the perforated roll (1890), "splinter-free" paper (1930), two-ply (1942), scented rolls (1964).
1999: The "paperless toilet" is introduced in Japan that can wash, rinse and blow dry.
Richard Chin
about the writer
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