With a lack of ideas for my hot take, I went to my mom and explained my problems. Promptly she replied with "well, lets see, what's out there that's not too controversial.. Toilet paper!"
So, without further ado, I am here to present to you the fact of the matter; toilet paper should be hung "over", not "under."
A recent study with University of Colorado presented us with the facts behind the matter; by hanging your toilet paper in the over fashion. a bathroom will remain cleaner, and bathroom users are less likely to pick up food poisoning. The reasoning behind this? Simple; when the paper is hung under, people touch the wall and toilet paper roll more so than when the paper is hung over.
But what's the big hold up? What's so bad about touching the walls and roll?
Bathrooms are breeding grounds for bacteria, specifically e.coli. For those who don't know, e.coli is a bacteria found in feces which can lead to food poisoning. In one office in Florida 55 people fell sick with food poisoning, 22 of whom experienced such severe symptoms they had to be hospitalized. In the most severe cases, food poisoning can lead to brain damage and even death.
Regardless of if you're an over or under kind of person, remember to wash hands for 20+ seconds, using soap and warm water.
Which way do you hang your roll? Over or under? Those of you who do under; would you consider switching to over after reading this?
I was raised in a household where over is the norm. If I was an under person I would really consider switching. A small adjustment like the way your TP faces is worth avoiding getting sick.
What about this did you find interesting?
When I started looking for a source I didn't expect to find such a definite answer. Until today I thought the way your TP hangs is just a personal preference and that there isn't a real right or wrong.
Did you realize food poisoning was such an issue? Did you know you could pick it up from not only food, but the bathroom?
I honestly didn't realize that e.coli and food poisoning was such a problem, or that you could get it from the bathroom. I understand that most cases aren't this way, but I had no idea people could die from food poisoning.
The source I used can be found here.
Replies
Interesting topic, well written and good questions! You should have provided a link to the study you mentioned and you should have replied to everyone with onlu one page of comments but since you were gone, I will take that into considerations.
Well done overall Emma!
I hang my toilet paper over just because that is what I have always done. After, reading this I realized it was much safer and healthier to do so. I knew food poisoning was an issue because last year I took a foods class, and we did a big chapter about it. Where we learned about the majors ones and what they all do. Then how to try and prevent it.
I never pay attention to whether our toilet paper is under or over. But now I will make sure it is hung over. I never knew one way was more safer and healthier than the other. I knew food poisoning was a serious issue, especially in the kitchen or when consuming food, but I didn't know you could catch food diseases in the bathroom. Especially if people can die from food poisoning, you should definitely change your toilet paper to hanging over.
I used to prefer my toilet paper under, but after reading this I now prefer, obviously, my toilet paper over. I also thought that the way your toilet paper hangs is a personal preference. I had no idea that having your toilet paper under could cause such problems, but am very happy to figure that out before something bad could happen.
Yes, I agree with everything you said, and I think making a small change is worth keeping yourself from getting food poisoning. It sounds like food poisoning from the bathroom doesn't happen too frequently -I mean, think of just how many times you've used a public bathroom- but getting food poisoning is no pleasant experience, and taking precautions to avoid it is worth it.
I agree that its interesting how much thought went into such a simple task but I guess thats why some people do the research. Since I work in a kitchen I know that if you dont wash your hands you can spread a lot of bad stuff around like covid and other bacteria.
The study is pretty well backed up by common sense. If you simply use your brain, more touching leads to more spread of germs, and germs can lead to sickness. Therefore, whichever way requires less touching -the over method- is going to be cleaner. It just makes sense.