Which led to talk of the horrible stuff that was around when we were young, that had been more like sheets of harsh tracing paper. School toilets had them (if you were lucky), and it was supposedly sturdy enough to resist the damp of the outside toilet, but as it didn’t dissolve in water, blockages were common. Izal was the common brand, and after being sold to Jeyes in 1986, the company eventually wound down in 2010 as people turned to using ‘extra-soft’ or ‘3-ply’ brands for their ‘delicate areas’.

Before toilet paper, people used whatever was readily available, depending on their location, such as leaves, grass, moss, or even shells (ouch). Higher classes might have used wool, linen, or lace, while cultures such as the ancient Romans used a sponge soaked in vinegar or salt water on a stick called a tersorium. The people of Ancient Japan used thin sticks called chuugi, and the ancient Chinese used sticks made of bamboo or wood, sometimes with cloth, and later developed paper for sanitary purposes, while the Vikings used sheep's wool or moss. Ancient Greeks used stones or pieces of ceramic (ouch again), and moss or hay was commonly used in the Middle Ages. However, in rural areas of North America, corn cob husks had been used, being plentiful and therefore popular! Millions in the Middle East and Asia shun toilet paper altogether and prefer to use a clean rinse of water.

Bidets

Which brings us to the bidet, used all over Europe and parts of Asia and Latin America for personal hygiene, and is becoming increasingly popular. The word ‘bidet’ comes from France, and stems from the 17th-century French word for ‘pony’ or ‘little horse’, referring to the way users straddle the fixture, and early versions were wash basins on a stand or wooden bench that one would sit astride to clean their ‘naughty bits’.

In arctic climates, people historically used snow in the winter (what? - are they serious?) and soft tundra moss in the summer. Other materials, like animal fur and sealskin, were also used, depending on availability and the season (presumably washed and used again?).

It’s all about the pipes

Indoor plumbing helped the popularity of toilet paper soar. Since leaves, moss, and catalogue paper could clog the pipes, everyone turned to flushable toilet paper. In the 1950s, fancy toilet paper appeared in concentrated colours, and people enjoyed these costlier products for a while, but they disappeared when users broke out in uncomfortable rashes from the intense use of chemicals in the dyes. By the 1970s, people were concerned more about the environment than the pretty products, further reducing the popularity of colourful toilet paper.

How did pirates wipe their bottoms?

This is a bit indelicate, to say the least. It was called a ‘tow rag’, a rag tied to a bit of old rope, that snaked through the hole in the ‘Seats of Ease’. After use, the rag was dangled in the ocean for cleaning – and presumably when the rope was past its best, a new piece replaced it!

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Claire Mueller;

Modern Loo Paper

Thank you, Seth Wheeler, for inventing the concept of perforated squares of toilet paper on a roll in 1883. Nowadays, toilet paper is usually manufactured from pulpwood trees, or even from sugar cane by-products or bamboo - the latter being a sustainable, eco-friendly resource that can be strong, soft, and hypoallergenic. Bamboo paper products are often free of harsh chemicals, making them gentler on sensitive skin, and being made from a natural product, they are biodegradable, making them safe for septic systems and plumbing.

Will re-usable loo paper be a ‘thing’?

Personally, I have never come across it, but apparently it exists, and is based on a similar concept to cloth diapers, using strips or squares of cloth to replace toilet paper. I doubt it will catch on with the general public due to significant bacterial contamination risks – not to mention the ‘yuck factor’ of handling soiled fabric!