The Wipe Stuff: A Brief (and Not-So-Glamorous) History of Toilet Paper

Let’s be honest—few things in life are as essential and overlooked as toilet paper. We use it daily, stockpile it during crises (looking at you, 2020), and rarely stop to ask: Who invented this stuff? So grab a roll, sit back, and prepare to dive into the surprisingly storied past of the world’s most humble hero.

Before the Roll: What Did People Use?

Spoiler: It wasn’t soft, quilted, or infused with aloe.

Long before Charmin came along, ancient civilizations were already thinking about personal hygiene—but with very different tools. The Greeks used stones and clay. The Romans? A sponge on a stick (shared, by the way…yikes). In China, records from as early as the 6th century mention the use of paper for cleaning, but it wasn’t until centuries later that this became widespread.

Enter the Emperor (and Paper)

By the 14th century, Chinese emperors had it good—royal court documents mention toilet paper being produced in bulk, with some sheets measuring two feet by three feet. When you’re ruling an empire, apparently only the giant-sized wipe will do.

Toilet Paper Goes Commercial

Fast forward to 1857 in New York City. A man named Joseph Gayetty was the first to commercially sell toilet paper in the U.S. His “Medicated Paper” came in flat sheets, infused with aloe, and marketed as a medical aid for hemorrhoids. A bold move—but people weren’t quite ready to spend money on something they’d been improvising with for free.

The real breakthrough? The invention of perforated rolls in the 1870s. The Scott brothers (of Scott Paper Company fame) helped turn TP from an awkward luxury into an everyday necessity.

The Rise of the Roll

By the early 1900s, as indoor plumbing became common, people needed a solution that wouldn’t destroy pipes. Enter softer, sewer-safe toilet paper. In 1928, Charmin hit shelves with its plush branding, and the rest is, well, soft history.

Marketing went wild in the mid-20th century. Who can forget Mr. Whipple or the eternally squeezable Charmin bear? Toilet paper wasn’t just a product anymore—it was a personality.

From Taboo to Treasure

Today, TP is a $30+ billion global industry. It’s available in every size, softness, scent, and ply. Yet it took a global pandemic for many people to truly appreciate its value—remember those empty shelves?

The Bottom Line (Pun Fully Intended)

Toilet paper may seem mundane, but it’s a perfect example of how human innovation meets everyday need. From sponges on sticks to plush triple-ply luxury, it’s a story of evolution, invention, and, yes, wiping.

So next time you reach for that roll, give a nod to Joseph Gayetty, the Chinese emperors, and everyone who decided leaves just weren’t cutting it.