National Toilet Paper Day in the United States Date in the current year: August 26, 2024

The discussion of post-defecation hygiene is somewhat of a taboo in most cultures, but there is no denying the fact that it is an integral part of our lives. There are two main methods of anal cleansing: rinsing with water or wiping the area with dry materials.

The prevalence of a particular method largely depends on cultural traditions. For example, Islamic toilet etiquette calls for using water, whereas the use of toilet paper for cleaning after defecation is predominant in most Western countries.

Toilet paper originated in China, which is not surprising since it is China where the paper-making process developed. Paper was known in China as early as in the 2nd century BC, but the first records of the use of paper for post-defecation hygiene date back to the 6th century AD. According to an Arab traveler who visited China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD), the Chinese only wiped themselves with paper after defecation and didn’t use water for cleansing.

For a long time, toilet paper was unknown outside of China, and people who did not use water cleaned themselves with whatever materials they had available, including rags, leaves, grass, hay, moss, seaweed, corncobs, stones, wood shavings, sticks, etc. In the 18th century, people in some parts of the world started to use newspapers for cleansing.

Toilet paper became commercially available in the mid-19th century thanks to Joseph Gayetty, an American inventor who introduced toilet paper made from Manila hemp in 1857. His product was sold in packages of flat sheets. Toilet paper rolls were popularized by the Scott Paper Company in the late 19th century. Moist toilet paper, commonly known as wet wipes, was introduced in the 1990s.

Although toilet paper might seem ubiquitous to Westerners, it is uncommon in many parts of the world, as we’ve already mentioned above. The largest consumer of toilet paper in the world is the United States; Americans buy more than 7 billion rolls of toilet paper every year.

The origin of National Toilet Paper Day is unclear, but whoever came up with the idea of celebrating it was right in that toilet paper deserves recognition as an essential household commodity. National Toilet Paper Day, just like World Toilet Day, also serves as a reminder that millions of people around the globe don’t have easy access to toilets, hygiene products and water, which has resulted in the global sanitation crisis.

National Toilet Paper Day is a good day to stock up on toilet paper to make sure there is no risk of running out of it, as well as learn more about sustainable toilet paper options such as bamboo toilet paper and recycled fiber toilet paper, which allow to reduce your environmental impact on the planet while maintaining the level of comfort you’re used to.