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
Charlotte says
I am relieved to see that the overwhelming majority of RR readers believe the t.p. goes over. I knew there was a reason I liked this place!
Susan Sheehan says
I was raised in an ‘over’ home, became an ‘over’ adult, and raised my children to be ‘over’ people. Regardless of the ‘thousand’ sheets to be re-rolled, I cannot abide seeing a roll of toilet paper in the ‘under’ position. For me, it stops the flow of energy, feng shui if you will, LOL!
Mary Elizabeth says
Susan, I had a friend who had a Feng Shui consulant help her reorganize and redecorate her home. The rule about baths is that the toilet bowl should be closed when not in use and the bathroom door should be kept closed at all times. That way the “chi” doesn’t flow into the bathroom at all and cannot be disturbed by which way the toilet paper is rolling.
However, we all love to show off our pink, green, blue, agua, yellow, black and white baths to visitors, don’t we, so it’s hard to keep the door closed. I mean, you can’t keep asking your guests all night, “Oh, does anyone have to go? If so, it’s the the second door on the right.” They might become suspicious.
I think the “chi” in my house likes to go in and out of the pink bathroom and is happy that the plastic tile goes up the walls and over the ceiling. The reason I think it flows there is that my shower curtain is always blowing slightly. Oh, never mind. That was the cat.
pam kueber says
Yes, feng shui says: Close toilet lids — or money energy flows right down! I believe it, that is why I will not allow photos of open toilets on my site. And yes, doors closed, or “mal odors” will flow into your living space. Pretty tile or no, disobey the feng shui at your own risk! Perpetually yours, Potty Obsessed Pam.
dkzody says
I agree wholeheartedly. Every so often I have a guest who leaves the lid up and the door open. I fly in there to take care of that. Yes, indeed, we must keep the feng shui in the right place.
lynda says
Try a Toto Washlet–all bad air is whisked away immediately. I noticed Costco had a Kohler Washlet seat that is much cheaper than Toto. Not sure if it works as well or it has as many features.
Mary Elizabeth says
Hmm. . . . Does the feng shui rule apply in photos as well? Does the chi flow through the world wide web? That’s a pretty scary thought, Pam. 😮
pam kueber says
Just like seeing TP rolled “under”, I am taking no chances…. Plus, I want to role model.
tammyCA says
I do both ways ’cause I don’t care & it doesn’t bother me..same with the toothpaste thing.
Dave says
I used to be firmly in the over camp until my wife forcefully changed me to under. I now fear for my life should I ever insert a new roll as over. I thought it might be fun to tease her at first and put it in over. She didn’t laugh 🙂
pam kueber says
Serious stuff, indeed.
Kathy M says
You can’t fold it if it goes under. When I clean I fold so guests know it is clean.
Dulcie says
Why would folding it indicate that it’s clean? I would assume that if it’s on a roll, hanging on a spindle, that it would be clean without needing a fold to tell me so. Who would have a roll of dirty toilet paper? What I think of as dirty toilet paper would definitely NOT be something you’d find still on the roll, yuk! And wouldn’t you have to run in the bathroom and refold each time someone used it then?
Eliza says
I have decided this is actually a trick question. The answer depends on how to you tear the paper off the roll, how long your arms are, if you are right handed/left handed, the side of the toilet the paper is on, and how far from the toilet it is… For example: In my bathroom I tear the paper one handed (not holding on to it with my other hand because I have short little arms) grabbing in on the end closest to me and pulling away from me. I have a holder that is open on the side closest to me so I can’t pull it towards me or the whole roll will fly off. If I try this with the paper UNDER, a whole bunch comes off the roll. If I do this with it OVER, just the right amount for me comes off each time. It would not work this way if I pulled a different direction or the holder was further away etc… Everybody pulls their paper differently so everyone just needs to live and let live! I think I may have given this way too much thought 🙂
Peace, love, and toilet paper, people…
pam kueber says
Yes: “Peace, love, and toilet paper, people….” 🙂
sarah @ homeologymodernvintage says
for the love of all things holy, pleeeeze place the roll in the over position. otherwise, one is forced to “handle” the paper more while wrestling to tear it from the roll. and that’s just not prudent.
Mary T. says
I have been known to switch the TP in friends’ houses to “over” just for the heck of it. Hey, you gotta have a little fun! (Guess I’m easily amused!)
nina462 says
I don’t care, as long as there is toilet paper and not an empty tube.
However, according to hotel and military standards (I was in, I know)…it goes over and then is folder with a nice crease. I still remember having to fold the toilet paper during boot camp 🙂
Sandy says
Remember the old printed toilet paper? It was designed to go over the roll for a reason. And if you have pets you know that nothing inspires a toilet paper attack more than leaving it hanging down the way it does when you unroll it from underneath … better to just let it roll over the top as nature intended. 😉
Jan says
As stated, I’m an under. But in my household, it doesn’t matter which way I have it, one of my cats is extremely interested in the way the toilet paper flows off the spindle. So I also have a box sitting on top of the roll with the end of the paper on top, so that particular little culprit can’t find the end to pull on!