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Why is colored toilet paper a taboo abroad?
Oh, these cultural differences – they even made it to the bathroom!
Once upon a time, toilet paper was only gray. Hard, like cardboard, but at the same time scarce – even such a simple thing in the days of our mums and dads was a luxury. Thank you for not being a newspaper, let alone the color of the paper itself and the degree of its softness – the tenth thing. Now, however, toilet paper also sometimes becomes a shortage – remember how it was scattered from the shelves a year ago, when the coronavirus pandemic had just begun. But usually the choice of paper is even wider than the palette of hair dyes. But abroad it is not in fashion – why?
Color history
In the west, multi-colored toilet paper was popular already 70 years ago, in the 50s of the last century. The trend lasted almost three decades: in the 70s, hippie culture, bright colors and colors were in fashion. Bathrooms preferred to be decorated in shades of pink, yellow, blue, green. White toilet paper with such a design would be completely inappropriate. That is why they bought a multi-colored one – so that everything was harmonious.
And in the 80s, colored toilet paper suddenly became useless. No, you can still buy it, but it will be much more expensive than white, and it has become more difficult to find it. There are several reasons for this.
Fashion is merciless
The main reason that colored paper began to disappear from everyday life was the fashion for minimalist bathroom design. Everyone suddenly fell in love with the Scandinavian style with its white walls, white fixtures and a desire for neutral shades. Therefore, colored toilet paper began to look just out of place – yes, some people pay attention to such trifles.
The second reason is health care. According to some reports, using colored toilet paper can cause skin irritation, urinary tract infections, even cervical cancer and rectal problems.
The third is concern for the environment. Dyed toilet paper does not degrade as quickly as white toilet paper. And now everyone is trying to think about the future of the planet. In addition, because of the colored paper, septic tanks clog up faster.
And what about us?
Our experts also believe that colored toilet paper is not the best choice for health. Irritation on the skin may well appear, and poor-quality paper can really cause hemorrhoids, inflammation, or even provoke the development of cancer.
Plus, recycled toilet paper is also a poor choice. Such paper is bleached with chlorine-containing substances.
“Chlorine turns into dioxin, a toxic and carcinogenic substance,” said dermatologist Irina Skorogudaeva in a conversation with the publication».
So it is quite possible that soon this fashion will become obsolete in our country – when the collective memory of the scarce times is erased.
3 facts about toilet paper
It is believed that gray paper, which is made from waste paper, including old newspapers, contains lead. This is a misconception; lead paint has long been discontinued in the printing industry.
A roll of two-ply or three-ply paper with a shorter length will seem bulkier than a roll of single-ply paper, so before buying it is better to read how many meters are in the selected package. Although this designation is often applied in very small print.
Wet toilet paper should not be used all the time; with frequent use, it can cause dermatitis.