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What Type of Toilet Paper Should You Be Using?

10/25/22

Image: a man holding many toilet paper rolls, cover image for What Type of Toilet Paper Should You Be Using?

Your toilet is one of the most essential tools in your entire plumbing system, and you want to ensure you are using it correctly. We’ve broken down a few of the most popular types of toilet paper so you’ll know what type of toilet paper to use in your home and prevent clogged sewage pipes.

Why Toilet Paper Matters

One of the most common causes of clogged pipes is using the wrong kind of toilet paper. It might seem like a small detail, but it can make all the difference. If you don’t want clogged pipes, you need to choose your toilet paper wisely.

Image: toilet paper rolls with a blue background.

So, what’s the best type of toilet paper? It depends on the type of plumbing in your home. For example, if you have a septic system, it can handle more bulk than standard plumbing. Softer tissue rolls are also better because they break down faster than harder ones.

Toilet Paper Factors

When choosing your toilet paper, it is important to consider the following four factors.

How Fast it Dissolves

When you flush traditional toilet paper down the toilet, it can take up to two days to dissolve completely. This allows solid waste particles to stick together and clump in your pipes, leading to serious clogs and backups over time.

Image: cat meme about a clogged toilet.

But what if there was a better way? What if there was toilet paper that dissolved almost instantly after being flushed? Well, there is such a thing — and it’s called fast-dissolving toilet paper. It’s better for your pipes and your septic tank.

Chlorine-Free

Chlorine isn’t always safe for septic systems. It can cause problems with your pipes and drain field if they aren’t properly maintained or if there are leaks. Chlorine can also react with other chemicals in your water supply to form byproducts that can harm human health. Chlorine-free toilet paper is the best way to avoid further damage.

Strength

Ply is a term used to describe the number of layers used to make a sheet of toilet paper. For example, a four-ply roll has four layers of tissue paper, while a two-ply roll has two layers. The more ply, the stronger the tissue paper will feel.

Image: a meme about the great toilet paper shortage of 2020.

The number of plies on your toilet paper matters because most people prefer the stronger feeling that comes from more ply. If you like soft tissue, opt for fewer plies.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly toilet paper is a product that has been designed with the environment in mind. It is made from recycled materials and has no harmful chemicals or dyes.

Eco-friendly toilet paper is often made from recycled materials such as:

  • Recycled paper
  • Natural plant fibers (such as wood pulp)
  • Other sustainable materials like bamboo or hemp

Why Ply Matters

One-ply toilet paper is made with one layer of cellulose fibers and no added chemicals or dyes. It’s soft, absorbent, and dissolves quickly in water. Two-ply is made from two layers of cellulose fibers and may contain chemical additives for color or texture.

1-ply toilet paper is easier on your septic tank and plumbing system. There’s less chance of clogging pipes or backing up your septic tank.

Toilet Paper That Can Hurt Your Plumbing System

If you want to avoid a costly plumbing maintenance bill, stay clear of flushing these types of toilet paper down your toilet.

Flushable Wipes

Flushable wipes are pre-moistened cloths that you use to wipe your bottom and dispose of in the trash. They’re marketed as being safe for sewer systems and septic tanks, but the truth is that they’re not really any better than regular tissue. Although there are some flushing guidelines on the packaging of these products, they don’t consider how different types or brands may affect your plumbing system differently.

Extra Soft

Extra soft toilet paper isn’t a good choice. It’s too soft and tears easily. In addition, the extra soft layers and fibers create more problems in the plumbing system than the standard toilet paper because it clogs up easily.

Image: a child playing with an extra soft roll of toilet paper.

3 or 4-ply Toilet Paper

If you use 3 or 4-ply toilet paper, you’re more likely to have a plumbing problem. This is because the extra layers of paper can cause a blockage in the pipes, which will result in sewage backing up into your home.

Image: a person getting ready to plunge the wrong type of toilet paper out of the toilet.

The Best Type of Toilet Paper to Use

The best types of toilet paper to flush down your toilet are the ones that dissolve quickly, don’t clog, and don’t cause any damage to your plumbing.

Choose a quality brand of toilet paper made from recycled materials or at least containing recycled material. Softness can be good if you want to be comfortable, but it’s not so good if you want your toilet paper to dissolve quickly.

Need plumbing maintenance? Call the plumbing professionals at HELP for all your plumbing needs.

Posted in: Plumbing

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