# Poll: your preferred softness of toilet paper **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382 "2009-10-19T20:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/1 "2009-10-19T20:11:50Z")
This is a subject which has come up from time to time here, and for something which seems small and insignificant to me, people have BIG opinions about it. So let’s have a poll. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/2 "2009-10-19T20:41:17Z")
My mom buys Scott’s. It’s awful. The minute I moved out I bought quilted goosedown ass pillow. (And real butter.) Now I take whichever isn’t Scott’s and is on sale - I like it soft but it doesn’t have to be the softest. My dad calls the rough stuff John Wayne toilet paper because “it’s rough, it’s tough, and it doesn’t take shit off of anybody.” ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/3 "2009-10-19T21:00:20Z")
I’m used to Costco tp, works and feels fine. I visit folk with high budget tp and grab way too many squares on autopilot. That always makes me wonder if it’s just a wash. Sure I spend less on tp but I use 3-4 squares every time when nicer tp requires half that amount. I honestly like a coarser feel though, same with kleenex, soft is not the end all be all. A little coarse feels cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/4 "2009-10-19T21:50:20Z")
Maybe I’m using too much pressure, but I find the softer paper tears too easily, and I end up with shit on my hand. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/5 "2009-10-20T02:06:37Z")
I agree with **gladtobeblazed** that soft paper shreds too easily. The rougher paper makes you feel like you’re actually accomplishing something when you’re wiping your buttocks. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/6 "2009-10-20T02:06:39Z")
Charmin Ultra Soft. When you have digestive issues like I do and, er, evacuate your bowels as often as I do, you’ve gotta have something soft on your tushie! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/7 "2009-10-20T02:33:55Z")
I will use Scott’s. I don’t like the ultra soft stuff. Ultra soft TP is like ultra soft tissues or towels. When I blow my nose or dry my body, I want to feel dry after. The soft stuff seems always leave a damp feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/8 "2009-10-20T03:04:46Z")
What are you guys doing to tear the toilet paper? Are you, like, _scrubbing_ back there? ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/9 "2009-10-20T03:08:19Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > My mom buys Scott’s. It’s awful. The minute I moved out I bought quilted goosedown ass pillow. (And real butter.) Now I take whichever isn’t Scott’s and is on sale - I like it soft but it doesn’t have to be the softest. > > My dad calls the rough stuff John Wayne toilet paper because “it’s rough, it’s tough, and it doesn’t take shit off of anybody.” I’ve been using Scott for years and years. It doesn’t deteriorate to the touch like those cushy papers do, and it doesn’t make those little TP balls that stick in your butt. It does the job. Wow, can’t believe I just shared that . . . ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/10 "2009-10-20T04:42:24Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > What are you guys doing to tear the toilet paper? Are you, like, _scrubbing_ back there? _Hair._ This ends the public service announcment brought to you by Scott’s. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/11 "2009-10-20T04:49:27Z")
We all have it, but only some of us can’t handle a gentle toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/12 "2009-10-22T00:58:57Z")
I hate the remnants left by the ultra soft junk. I get little bits stuck in my pubes and have to pull them off or find them in my undies. No thanks. Hand me the generic Walgreens Big Roll, please. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/13 "2009-10-22T01:10:27Z")
We use Scott’s because we are hardcore hardasses 😃 Actually, we’ve discovered it is possibly the only brand that meets my level of cheapness and does not clog up the pipes. ( My MIL bought us a brick of Charmin, yanno, THE FANCY ASSWIPER STUFF, and even with the minimal amount used was clogging up the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/14 "2009-10-22T03:03:50Z")
ScotTissue all the way, baby. Doesn’t leave dingleberries and doesn’t clog the plumbing. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/15 "2009-10-22T21:29:06Z")
Moist. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/16 "2009-10-22T22:30:21Z")
I have irritable bowel symptoms, so I go to the loo often, which cause, eh, extensive use and wear, so I prefer my toilet paper to be as soft as possible. While economical. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/17 "2009-10-23T21:13:46Z")
When I traveled to western europe in the 1960’s, many of my hotels had very rough, scratchy, chafing, uncomfortable, irritable toilet paper. It was so bad, me and my companions brought a big supply of American toilet paper with us on subsequent trips until the 1970’s. It was really bad!!! I had to substitute Kleenex facial tissue on that first trip . By the end of the late 1970’s, the toilet paper in those same countries were now soft like in America. I would like to find out what kind of toilet paper it was back then that was so scratchy, and how did people who lived there managed to use it. …and if it is still being made or used somewhere and where I could get it. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-preferred-softness-of-toilet-paper/514382/18 "2009-10-23T21:39:15Z")
Six sheets of Scott’s (or the Kroger equivalent) followed by a few swipes from a flushable moist towelette. When I finally buy my own place, my very first upgrade is going to be a bidet.