Ooooooh, Kate just sent me a photo of her new, installed atomic starburst toilet paper holder — one of the last remaining stock from Rejuvenation’s current supplier. I thought it looked lovely but frankly, I found it very difficult to focus, as I was so OCD-alarmed that the toilet paper was hanging the wrong way. It needs to go OVER! Talk about a timeless design issue: What is your view on this importante topic, dear readers? I invite you to vote and to comment, too.
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85 comments
Kiki says
Sheesh! Everyone knows that it’s Over, unless you have a bad kitty :o)
Kimberj says
We always do over. My mom insisted that reaching under all the time was a quick way to scratch away paint, woodwork, wallpaper etc. She was right, people tend to reach too far. If you’ve got ceramic tile, stone, or metal… under all you want 🙂
Sara says
Under in our bathroom! We have a recessed TP holder in the wall behind the toilet. It’s really hard to reach. And for some reason, if you put the TP over, you practically have to wrench your shoulder out of socket to grab the paper. If it’s under, it’s much easier to reach. Plus we have a psycho cat who really enjoys eating TP, so under works better. She also enjoys eating Kleenex, so the Kleenex box on top of the toilet is upside down, lol.
Jay says
Now that’s funny! I had a cat who amused herself by pulling all the tissues out of the box and unspooling the TP which I resorted to setting on a small shelf instead of using the TP holder.
Sara says
Yes Jay, this cat is something else. Once I went down to the basement and she had pulled about 30′ of t.p. off the roll and strewn it all over. Plus she chewed a bunch of it so it was like spit wads stuck on the floor. She’s also a cleptomaniac. And she ate the curtains. And if you leave your drink on the coffee table, she will knock it down. The house is all child proofed just because of her. If you’d like to experience her for yourself, we’re quite tired of her high maintenance behavior and would happily send her to live with you, lol. Plus then we could start putting the t.p. OVER instead of under.
Mary Elizabeth says
Sara, Jay can speak for himself, but I’m afraid that adorable cat is probably with you to the end of days. Those of us who already have psycho cats can’t handle another. Occum also has a couple of claws that won’t retract (a birth defect), which are very handy for fishing tissues out of the box. But he’s stopped eating them, thank goodness. He just fishes a couple of tissues out (from the boxes in the bath, next to my bed, and in the kitchen) and leaves them for me next to the box.
Rebecca says
Over! If kids or cats are problem just smash the roll a little, it wont spin so easily 🙂
Nancy says
Anyone remember the classic Simpsons episode when the Dept. of Children’s Services was investigating Marge and Homer for poor parenting? Checklist in hand, the agent discovered the toilet paper roll mounted under and it was pronounced the ultimate transgression. Marge and Homer were hauled right off to the slammer.
That’s all I need to know.
pam kueber says
as it should be!
pam kueber says
EXCELLENT!
Nicole Oliveira says
Awwwe, the great Toilet Paper Debate! It is so funny that this is the story on Retrorenovation that I woke up to today. I am getting my masters degree in Mental Health Counseling and in class last night, we took the Toilet Paper Personality Assessment just for fun!
1) Over: You like taking charge, crave organization and are likely to over-achieve. You are faithful, logical and sensible, a traditionalist who takes special joy in keeping his or her environment well regulated.
2) Under: You are laid-back, dependable and seek relationships with strong foundations. You are carefree, enthusiastic and spontaneous, a heedless fool with a skewed perception of reality.
3) Set the new roll on top of the old without putting on the spindle: You are reckless, incorrigible and lazy, most likely male, with the attention of a goldfish.
Ann Landers said that this subject matter was one of the most controversial topics in her column’s history.
I am an “over” person. Like at hotels, I like how I can fold the loose square in to an appealing triangle shape after I am done cleaning to make the bathroom look fresh! Also, when I get up and go in the middle of the night and it’s dark, I can easily find the end of the roll without fumbling!!
My husband is an “under” person and it make me CRAZY!! I have to change it immediately!!
Sandra says
Cats prefer it under. People prefer it over. It all depends on how tall you are.
Jenny A. says
Hee hee! What a great question! My sister and I have been having this argument for years. We were both raised in an ‘over’ household but when she moved out on her own, she became an ‘under’. I still switch it when I’m at her house and she’ll switch it when she’s at mine, ha ha. I like Gord’s response, though. The ‘right’ answer is that it probably doesn’t matter how it’s hung as long as there is some available at the crucial moment. 😉
P.S. Does anyone remember Elaine on Seinfeld – “I have no square to spare”, ha ha!
lynda says
Kate, glad you finally got the toilet paper holder. It looks very nice against that new pink tile! I think someone needs to research how people hung toilet paper in the 50’s and 60’s! Hotels are always over with that cute fold on the end.
Janet in CT says
OVER OVER OVER! My husband and I have been married 42 years now and he likes the toilet paper hung under. Since I adamantly disagree, he has not changed the toilet paper since we got married. The replacement roll will sit on the vanity until I put it up. That is the first thing I noticed when I saw the photo!