My husband Steve grew up in a one-ply household. Satisfied with the product, he did not realize better-quality alternatives existed until later in life. My upbringing taught me to bargain hunt and, if possible, avoid paying retail. Mom purchased products based on her weekly coupon stash. My sister and I knew not to pick up an item simply because we wanted it. We compared prices and had second thoughts about opening our wallets to dish out hard-earned cash on frivolities, luxuries, and pricey items when cheaper substitutes existed. But I grew up and grew out of my tight-fistedness. I am a 2-ply gal and not shy about announcing it.
In case you do not know what I am talking about, the number of plys refers to the layers of sheets wedged together in a piece of toilet paper.
Most toilet paper users do not think of toilet paper at all, unless faced with the awesome decision of what brand and size package to purchase. We are lucky to live in an age when toilet paper exists. The Chinese made paper for the specific purpose as far back as the 13th century (for use by the privileged class), but for millennia the rest of the world utilized other materials, such as wool, lace, hemp, rags, leaves, stones, sand, corncobs, and whatever resources were available. Ancient Romans used a sponge on a stick. Toilet paper as we know it today was initially manufactured in the late 1800’s.
You may wonder what materials compose the perforated sheets pulled off rolls every day. The most common material is wood fibers from pulpwood trees. At times sugar cane or bamboo byproducts are used. Chemical additives are often added. Packages of toilet paper from a variety of companies fill grocery and drugstore aisles around the world. Rolls vary in size, weight, smoothness, coarseness, chemical components, water-absorption, and other characteristics companies consider important to consumers, or market as significant. Price, of course, is always a consideration.
The essential features discerning consumers consider are size and ply. Squares manufactured for American consumers used to be 4.5”, but, like so many products that shriveled in recent years, toilet paper size shrunk. Today sheets are usually 3.7” long and 4.1” wide. Larger sizes are still available.
I must admit my lifestyle has not been adversely impacted by the reduction in toilet paper size. I realize most people, before reading this article, had no idea a vital product used every day, more than once a day, is smaller than the product they used years ago. Which is ironic, since so many of us are larger than we were years ago.
Most shoppers choose based on ply and price, and many shoppers prefer a particular brand (full disclosure: I am partial to Quilted Northern). There are advantages and disadvantages to both one- and two-ply squares. Three, four, and higher ply sheets are also manufactured. One-ply pieces are a single piece of whatever a company decides to roll through their toilet paper-producing machines. An advantage is that thin sheets are less likely to clog the plumbing of sensitive septic systems. On the negative side, 1-ply feels rough on one’s sensitive skin. Two-ply and higher squares are thicker, stronger, and usually softer. Most people prefer the smoother texture of 2-ply (or higher) on their bottoms.
For years, whether my pocketbook was slim or 2-ply unavailable, I tolerated 1-ply. During Covid I settled for whatever remained on store shelves, often a package of 1-ply, rough, greyish rolls.
But times change.
Nowadays I buy 2-ply or higher multi-packs, a luxury indulged without guilt.
My husband can use the higher-ply rolls, or buy his one 1-ply supply.