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Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

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Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#11

Post by waterphone »

schoen wrote: post #3

Something I find quite strange is how South American countries pervasively discourage people from flushing used toilet paper (instead preferring to have a little wastebasket to collect it and later throw it away in the trash). The usual account of the reason for this is that the plumbing can't handle it -- which you also hear about some old buildings in the U.S. OK, but this norm persists even in buildings that were…

And restrooms in stores along the U.S. border where people cross from Mexico often have to have signs in Spanish telling people to please flush their toilet paper and not throw it on the floor beside the toilet or go out into other parts of the store and drag trash cans into the restrooms to dispose of it in.

(This is not intended as a criticism of Mexicans, merely a comment on the fact that just across the border such practices still remain very active. Unfortunately due to the clash of expected practices, their belief that it's necessary to avoid clogging plumbing, and the U.S. lack of such a practice meaning there isn't a wastebasket beside each toilet, it often leads to rather unhygienic restrooms. In some cases, stores compromise and put wastebaskets in as well so everyone is satisfied.)

Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#12

Post by waterphone »

oh_sigh wrote: post #8
schoen wrote: post #3

Something I find quite strange is how South American countries pervasively discourage people from flushing used toilet paper (instead preferring to have a little wastebasket to collect it and later throw it away in the trash). The usual account of the reason for this is that the plumbing can't handle it -- which you also hear about some old buildings in the U.S. OK, but this norm persists even in buildings that were…

If the signs say don't flush anything down, they usually mean anything other than toilet paper and bodily excretions. Flushing tampons, pads, condoms, whatever the hell else is in your pocket is common and that is what those signs are discouraging. Toilet paper is designed to basically disintegrate once it gets wet, so it is not causing any problems in plumbing

In many Central and South American countries, flushing toilet paper is explicitly discouraged.

Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#13

Post by girvo »

oh_sigh wrote: post #8
schoen wrote: post #3

Something I find quite strange is how South American countries pervasively discourage people from flushing used toilet paper (instead preferring to have a little wastebasket to collect it and later throw it away in the trash). The usual account of the reason for this is that the plumbing can't handle it -- which you also hear about some old buildings in the U.S. OK, but this norm persists even in buildings that were…

If the signs say don't flush anything down, they usually mean anything other than toilet paper and bodily excretions. Flushing tampons, pads, condoms, whatever the hell else is in your pocket is common and that is what those signs are discouraging. Toilet paper is designed to basically disintegrate once it gets wet, so it is not causing any problems in plumbing

In Cuba, we were told in no uncertain terms not to flush toilet paper (or anything else, of course).

Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#14

Post by allengeorge »

autokad wrote: post #2

> "But as our economy continues to circle the drain, will Americans part with their beloved toilet paper in order to adopt more money-saving measures? Or will we keep flushing our cash away?" written in 2009, so I guess we know that yeah, we will continue using toilet paper. Though more are using flush-able wipes

Also, I found this article on flushable wipes really interesting! [1]

[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/10/are-wet-...

Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#16

Post by 3131s »

perfectstorm wrote: post #15

Having used bidets in India and Japan I can never go back to toilet papers if I've a choice.

Agreed, toilet paper falls short in nearly every regard compared to a bidet or a "bum gun". Using water is faster, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly.

Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#17

Post by nrau »

schoen wrote: post #3

Something I find quite strange is how South American countries pervasively discourage people from flushing used toilet paper (instead preferring to have a little wastebasket to collect it and later throw it away in the trash). The usual account of the reason for this is that the plumbing can't handle it -- which you also hear about some old buildings in the U.S. OK, but this norm persists even in buildings that were…

Actually, this is the case in some Asian countries as well including parts of Japan and Indonesia.

Re: Toilet Paper History: How America Convinced the World to Wipe (2009)

#20

Post by bootlooped »

oh_sigh wrote: post #8
schoen wrote: post #3

Something I find quite strange is how South American countries pervasively discourage people from flushing used toilet paper (instead preferring to have a little wastebasket to collect it and later throw it away in the trash). The usual account of the reason for this is that the plumbing can't handle it -- which you also hear about some old buildings in the U.S. OK, but this norm persists even in buildings that were…

If the signs say don't flush anything down, they usually mean anything other than toilet paper and bodily excretions. Flushing tampons, pads, condoms, whatever the hell else is in your pocket is common and that is what those signs are discouraging. Toilet paper is designed to basically disintegrate once it gets wet, so it is not causing any problems in plumbing

In Korea there are buildings that still insist you don't flush toilet paper. They usually say specifically toilet paper. My position is that it would not be dangerous to ignore this, firstly, because like you stated toilet paper is very weak when wet, and secondly, the impression that I got was that it was mostly an old-fashioned idea.
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