We’ve got a couple of young teens in our house (boy 15, girl 12) and have noticed recently that the toilet paper in their bathroom is having to be replaced at an amazing rate - a couple of rolls a week (hubby and I have our own bathroom.)
Granted, girls probably use more tissue as they must wipe after visits (or should!), but we decided to experiment,and give them each a roll to use personally, laid down odds on who uses most, and marked each roll with a bright red Expo marker on the side of the roll (and this is Scott tissue, mind you - two teens, we’re cheap) - - lo and behold, the daughter’s roll is almost gone, while the son’s is nearly intact. This experiment is deeply flawed because they both leave their rolls of paper in the bathroom and we’re using the honor code - I think the son is trying to win the bet by using the daughter’s roll (which the husband hasn’t even decided what the prize is) -
So my question here for all, guys and gals, how much does a person normally use at each visit? I usually grab a certain amount and recently counted exactly how much I used (it was 7 squares) and that’s the norm for me. Of course, we’re not talking about those other times when it’s absolutely necessary to use more (and I won’t go into unnecessary details about that), I’m just curious about simply how much is normal for the general population, and I apologize in advance if this is just too personal a topic for my second actual post. But what the hell, it’s almost Christmas, and I’m stressed out…
However, I would like to hear your responses. My kids would like to hear it even more - I think the bet is riding on it.
Four squares, folded twice so you have a quadruple-thickness of double ply. Usually takes two or three sets. So, 8-12 squares per visit, barring unforeseen circumstances.
I’m a girl, I think I use a hell of a lot of TP. My SO complains about it. My excuse is that sometimes (esp. if the roll is almost empty) it comes off the holder too fast, and instead of rolling it back on, I tear it off and use it. I never count how many squares I use, I’m a buncher.
Another thought - maybe the girl drinks more water (or soda) and has to go more?
I was pondering this very question last night as I was cleaning the bathroom. Males only have to use TP for for less than half their scheduled visits, while females are pretty much guaranteed 100% usage rate, regardless of the nature of the visit.
I’m a woman, and recently my 20-year-old niece came to live with me. She uses SO much more TP than me. Really. A roll would probably last me 2 - 3 weeks when I’m alone, and lasts less than a week when she’s with me. I don’t know what she does with it. Now I know what my father was complaining about all those years ago.
Well, SylverOne, my hubby got me out of that years ago about buying the good stuff (we could buy other stuff!), and I learned to live with it (probably why I use less now, it’s scratchy)
And Boscibo, no, I don’t think there’s any more liquids being used by one child or the other, I think it’s just a matter of trying to win the bet, therefore the son is taking advantage of the other “roll.”
Hubby says there’s 1000 sheets on each roll, so even at 200 sheets a day per kid, that seems like a whole lot - maybe they’re doing other stuff we need to know about? And no, she’s not stuffing the bra (I also have a married daughter and both of those girls have been blessed by the titty fairy early on, no need there) -
But we’re definitely logging responses and now husband is trying to think up what the “prize” should be - any responses on that would be appreciated - and we always have our tongue planted firmly in our cheek, just so you know -
I need to know the secret to making a roll last 2-3 weeks. I use the cheapo brand (1000 sheets), and not a lot during each visit and I still wouldn’t be able to make it last even 1 week.
I use a lot of toilet paper. I probably use 3 feet of the stuff per pee pee. I have to buy the 100-sheets-on-a-roll type, or else I have to replace the roll daily! Maybe my husband uses a lot, too, but obviously he only uses it for #2.
Suggested prize–a teepee. (get it? a teepee for the t.p.!)
Well, I don’t really count my toilet paper squares or anything, but I can tell you here and now that for the most part Dr.J uses a LOT more tp than me. The roll runs out about 3 times as often as it did when I lived alone.
Of course, I should also note that I tend to run through quite a bit more during my period. Blotting just really doesn’t get it then.
Honey - Okay, I did a little math. I won’t annoy anyone with mathiness in my post, but I have 200 sheets per roll. I figure I use about 5 sheets at a time. That’s 40 bathroom visits on the average roll (YMMV, of course. Sometimes mine will, too). I work full time. I use the bathroom in the morning when I get up, of course. I always try to go before I leave work, not to save TP and water, but because it’s a Murphy’s Law that if I don’t go, I’ll likely be stuck at the barn feeding my horse, or in traffic where I can’t use the bathroom. I often don’t go again until I’m getting ready for bed. I never have to get up at night. So that’s an average of 2-3 times a day. Which means my roll should last about 16 days. Roughly.
When my wife, may she live forever, visits the restroom I hear Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr as the TP spins off the roll. By contrast, I am a model of ascetic virtue.
I’m a folder. Four/five squares, folded, do the job nicely. When I was growing up, though, my brother would wad up so much TP for a single wipe, and then wipe so many times, that he’d clog up the toilet repeatedly. I never understood that.
From my experience, men are “wadders” and women are “folders.” (Not that I’ve got much field research to back this up or anything…) Your daughter, Third Monkey, is something of an anomaly…the men in my acquaintance go through so much more TP than I do. (Maybe they need to up the Raisin Bran ante?)
And I admire those of you who can buy and cheerfully use the cheap stuff…if I don’t have the aloe-coated rippled stuff, I go insane. The way I look at it, I was only given one. CHERISH IT.
Your daughter, considering that she’s already “developed” if I understand correctly, may also be using some toilet paper to wrap any feminine hygeine products and/or wrappers that go in the garbage. This would only influence her usage maybe a week every month though.
