# So what IS the deal with colored toilet paper? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866 "2001-09-15T19:58:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/1 "2001-09-15T19:58:46Z")
Because that’s all the store had, we were desparately low, and had to grab some peach colored toilet paper? Are there any major dangers to using it? I know you’re not supposed to…then why do they make it? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/2 "2001-09-15T20:55:07Z")
**Guin** - I opened this thread because I have been wondering about this myself. I have heard vague rumours about the dangers of colored toilet paper, and was curious since I often buy blue to match my bathroom. I’ve done a lot of searching, and found no specific information or warnings anywhere, which probably explains why they still make it. Some medical sites do recommend using only white, non-perfumed paper if you have specific types of irritations, like [yeast infections](http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/jul_96/concerns.htm) or [hemorrhoids](http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3172.16332). But if you don’t have anything unpleasant going on in that area, I wouldn’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/3 "2001-09-15T20:55:33Z")
They make it because people will buy it. People will buy it because it’s the same price as white and they happen to like the colour, or it matches their bathroom. Dangers? - you’re not thinking of eating it are you? ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/4 "2001-09-15T21:01:43Z")
Here in Canada (or atleast in Ontario) you cannot buy coloured paper… I’ve been told it’s illegal… but I can’t confirm that… It’s always odd when I go back to a UK supermarket and I see all the multi coloured paper. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/5 "2001-09-15T21:32:11Z")
For many people, it irritates our delicate parts. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/6 "2001-09-16T01:54:31Z")
Not to mention that septic systems don’t like it very much. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/7 "2001-09-16T02:50:47Z")
We live in the country, and have a well, therefore we only use white butt-wipe. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/8 "2001-09-16T03:07:26Z")
So now the question becomes, “why don’t septic systems like colored toilet paper?” ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/9 "2001-09-16T03:55:00Z")
Because the dyes don’t break down as easily. [http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/smallcommunity/](http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/smallcommunity/) > [@](#): > > Use white single ply toilet paper: It breaks down more easily. The dyes in colored papers and the fragrances used in scent paper are generally poisonous chemicals. This also answers the OP, which IIRC, was, “What’s the deal?” The deal is that paper mills still dump wastewater into rivers, and if it’s a “colored scented toilet paper day” at the mill, then the wastewater is full of toxic dyes and fragrances. So if we all work together to not buy colored, scented toilet paper, we can help make the world a brighter, cleaner place. [exit with birds singing, flowers swaying in the breeze] This Green Moment was brought to you by…Kimberly-Clark, for all your personal paper product needs… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/10 "2001-09-16T21:51:47Z")
Scented is REALLY bad for you, urinary tract infections anyone? We only got like, one roll, because that was all that was available. Now we have regular white toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/11 "2001-09-16T22:08:09Z")
Wait … scented toilet paper? Who thought that one up? “Well, here’s something I’m going to wipe my bum with, gee I wish it smelled pretty before it got covered in …” Why in the world do they scent toilet paper?? ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/12 "2001-09-16T23:18:34Z")
And on a related note, what’s with deodorant tampons? There’s no point to THOSE, either. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/13 "2001-09-17T00:06:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiterabbit \* > \*\*And on a related note, what’s with deodorant tampons? There’s no point to THOSE, either. \*\* Yeah, and nothing else smells like 'em, either. It’s not as if you go “What’s that smell? Gardenia?” ---
**Author:** ![Holly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/48db29/32.png) [@Holly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Holly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/14 "2001-09-17T01:55:28Z")
Exactly, Girl Next Door! lol. Using scented tampons is like announcing to everyone you meet, “Hey, I’m on the rag! And I have some tampons in my purse!” ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/15 "2001-09-17T02:03:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiterabbit \* > \*\*And on a related note, what’s with deodorant tampons? There’s no point to THOSE, either. \*\* Exactly! They probably invented it because we’re supposedly nervous about how we smell “down there”… ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/16 "2001-09-17T02:03:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > Because the dyes don’t break down as easily. I orginally read that as “Because the **dykes** don’t break down as easily.” :eek: > [@](#): > > This also answers the OP, which IIRC, was, “What’s the deal?” The deal is that paper mills still dump wastewater into rivers, and if it’s a “colored scented toilet paper day” at the mill, then the wastewater is full of toxic dyes and fragrances. So if we all work together to not buy colored, scented toilet paper, we can help make the world a brighter, cleaner place. While it’s true that dyed, scented toilet paper is worse than undyed, unscented toilet paper, not all colored paper is bad. Making paper white requires a bleaching process. Most “green” recycled paper products are brownish. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/17 "2001-09-17T08:10:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*They make it because people will buy it. > \*\* And in France they buy (almost) nothing else! Wherever you go in France you’ll find **pink** toilet paper. It’s as if someone a long time ago decreed that toilet paper has to be pink. (Probably at the same time they decided that milk will have to last for three months in a cupboard (no kidding) and that bread will turn into concrete the next day (not much kidding)). ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/18 "2001-09-17T15:05:04Z")
You have a law about bog roll? Now I’ve heard everything. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/19 "2001-09-17T15:23:55Z")
I accept that the dyeing process may have environmental implications, I’ll even believe you that the coloured paper takes longer to break down, but really, how much harm can it do to just wipe your bum with the stuff? it’s not like very much (if any) of the dye is going to get in your system that way. I also have my doubts about the dyes being particularly toxic; I come into contact with all kinds of dyed paper products on a daily basis, should I be worrying that handling this ream of green copier paper is going to make my hands fall off? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866/20 "2001-09-17T16:27:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Here in Canada (or atleast in Ontario) you cannot buy coloured paper… I’ve been told it’s illegal… Wow, I did not know that. Is there a black market? Could you be arrested for smuggling it in? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-the-deal-with-colored-toilet-paper/81866.md?page=2)