Kids can ask the most innocent inquiries that can make us think about topics that make us uncomfortable. While we were having a nice day at home the other day, my five-year-old grandson asked me something that shocked me.
“Why does toilet paper always have to be white?”
At first, I thought it was funny. But then I remembered that I didn’t know what to say.
I’ve always used white toilet paper without really thinking about it, just like a lot of you. But I wanted to know more because my grandson was so happy. What I found was a lot more interesting than I anticipated it would be.
A Kid’s Simple Question
Kids see things that grown-ups don’t notice. My child perceives things in color. There are blue blankets, red fire trucks, green fruits, and great books. But what about in the bathroom? People use white toilet paper the most. He didn’t like that.
“Why not blue or yellow?” he asked. having large eyes. “Everything else is colored.”
I understood what he was saying at that moment.
I went outside to find out what the answer was. I learnt about the history, science, and psychology of toilet paper while I was looking. A lot of people don’t think about these things.
In the Past: There Were Different Colors of Toilet Paper
It’s hard to believe that toilet paper used to come in different colors.
In the early 1900s, toilet paper came in bright colors like pink, blue, and even light green. Many manufacturers developed patterns that looked nice in bathrooms in the 1950s and 1960s, when color-coordinated bathrooms were all the rage. You could even remember how Grandma put those soft-colored rolls on the shelf in her bathroom.
But after a while, the bright hues started to vanish from the shelves. There are many valid reasons why the world is white right now.
How the color of toilet paper changes as it is being made
To understand why most toilet paper is white, we need to know how it is created.
They make toilet paper using wood pulp, which is a mix of natural fibers. Bleaching this pulp throughout the making process gets rid of contaminants and makes it softer. Bleaching makes the paper look and feel nicer, which makes it work better.
Companies learned that making white toilet paper made their customers happier more often. People liked it because it appeared cleaner, softer, and better for you.
Color Psychology
We don’t know how much the color white affects us, even when it comes to cleaning supplies.
In psychology, white is often linked to cleanliness, purity, and sterility. Hospitals that employ white linens and lab suits are the same way. We believe that white is clean.
White toilet paper is associated to personal hygiene, so it looks clean and safe. It doesn’t seem like it, but it is quite deep.
White toilet paper looks excellent in a lot of various kinds of bathrooms, from old-fashioned tile to new marble. It feels good, doesn’t get old, and is neutral.
The Color: Real Reasons to Pick It for the Environment and the Price
People want white toilet paper for both practical and money-saving reasons.
It’s easier and cheaper to make only one hue. To add colors or patterns, you need more tools, chemicals, and a higher risk of skin irritation, especially for young children and older adults.
Bleaching also lets manufacturers use fibers that have already been used, which cuts down on waste. Many people believe that white toilet paper is bad for the environment, but it is actually good because it can be recycled. It does take some resources to bleach things, though.
Where did the toilet paper with colors and patterns go?
A lot of people want the pink and blue rolls that used to be marketed.
You can still find colored toilet paper in some parts of the world, but it’s not as widespread in the U.S. anymore. Some of this is because people are scared of how dyes can harm delicate areas. But a lot of individuals also thought that white was a good color that they could trust.
Some small retailers sell toilet paper that smells or has designs on it, but not many people want it. People enjoy things that are simple, and white is still the best color.
A Lesson on How to Learn and Be Interested
I wasn’t ready for my grandson’s question, but it was a good chance for both of us to learn something new.
We sat at the kitchen table and looked at old toilet paper advertising, watched short videos on paper mills, and even spoke about how different colors make us feel. His eyes lit up with every new bit of information, and I was just as interested.
This made me think about something important:
You can find a lot of intriguing things in the world if you look closely.
And sometimes, the smallest inquiries can lead to the grandest answers.
You can’t see everything that goes on in life.
Most people use white toilet paper. But behind that small roll is a mix of history, science, psychology, and how people decide what they need, want, and even what intrigues them.
So, the next time you reach for a roll, you can smile because you know that not all white is boring. You might also remember that kids’ questions can affect how adults see things.