Toilet Paper information

Toilet Paper links

Vikings used wads of wool, the French used lace and ancient Romans kept special sponges in a bucket of salt water. The Discovery Channel uncovers these and other interesting tidbits about the history of toilet paper in its video "How Toilet Paper is Made." A CNN.com report, "Why Toilet Paper Belongs to America," looks at this product's past, too.

Renova is a designer toilet paper from Portugal that comes in seven colors, including fuchsia, chartreuse and black, and is packaged in color-coordinated vertical tubes. Prices on Renova's website are in euros, but they work out to about $11 for a three-roll gift pack. The New York Times, Gizmodo.com and others gape at this extravagant toilet paper, and Adland.Tv ogles its sensual nude ads.

America's craving for luxury toilet paper is destroying old-growth forests, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups. They say recycled toilet paper is a more sensible choice, leaving forests to absorb greenhouse gases and provide wildlife habitat, The New York Times and The Washington Post report. Recycled paper also takes less water and energy to produce, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tightened pollution regulations for paper mills, including toilet paper manufacturers. These new rules still allow toilet paper companies to use chlorine dioxide to bleach their papers white, which can contaminate the water stream with toxic pollutants. However, some manufacturers steer clear of chlorine dioxide: The Natural Resources Defense Council identifies 17 toilet paper brands that don't use any chlorine compounds.

ConsumerReports.org evaluates toilet paper in a video report. Unlike most ConsumerReports.org content, the blog is free.

Some cities are begging residents to quit using flushable wipes, according to the Raleigh News & Observer and the Portland (Maine) Press Herald. Sewer officials say the wipes don't break down when flushed, clogging the system. A Detroit TV news station reports on a woman whose basement flooded with sewage after flushable wipes clogged her pipes. ConsumerReports.org advises consumers not to flush these wipes, no matter what the package says.

Do you need special toilet paper for an RV or septic tank? Experts say no. The National Small Flows Clearinghouse, a federally funded agency that helps small communities with wastewater problems, says "the thickness and color of toilet paper does not necessarily affect its biodegradability." Experienced RVers agree: In reader forums at Motor Home magazine and RVtravel.com, none recommend using special paper.

Manufacturers' websites offer more information about their toilet paper brands:

Charmin

Cottonelle

Marcal Small Steps

Quilted Northern

Scott

Seventh Generation