Author: santhoshj

There are some things that no one* wants to talk about in a public forum. One of those things is how we clean ourselves after using the toilet. Being a South Asian, I find the bathroom etiquette a bit different from where I am now- in the US. I don’t think it is something we have to keep mum about.

[*Mostly]

Earlier, I had read a ” Quora WAR ” where there was a fierce fight between fellow Western country people vs Indians. Indians advocated using water and the West despised that and advocated using dry wipes/toilet paper. Recently (Yesterday), I remembered this Quora debate and I was curious, when was the commercial production of toilet tissues started? And what were the hygiene methods followed before that.

Obviously, My reading started with Wikipedia. And from there, it was a rabbit-hole. I don’t know how, I kept on reading for almost 2 hours. And this piece is out of my understanding of things I read during that mere 2 hours.

We take it for granted today, but toilet paper has a fascinating story spanning thousands of years. From creative ancient solutions to the modern perforated roll, humanity’s quest for comfort and cleanliness reveals surprising ingenuity.

Time Before Toilet Paper

Historically, people used whatever they had in their habitat, to clean themselves. This varied from grass, leaves, tree barks, etc. And yes, many civilizations insisted and used water as the main cleaning method. But this was mainly based on the availability of clean water.

Wherever the availability of water was in question, people got creative! Ancient Romans used “tersorium”- basically it is a sea sponge on a stick. They sock it in vinegar or salt water between uses. These were communal.

Greeks preferred smooth pottery fragments with rounded edges. Of course, no one wanted the other end of the digestive tract injured! 😀

Early Chinese civilizations wrapped cloth around wooden sticks shaped like spatulas.

Medieval Europeans show their class divisions even in the bathroom! The wealthy used wool, hemp, or even lace. While commoners made do with whatever cloth they had- sometimes, their own sleeves (- today, YUCK!). In the 1700s rural Americas, people turned to nature, using corncobs and seashells.

No matter what we think about these methods, every civilization and every class of people in those valued one thing – Cleanliness.

True Toilet Paper Pioneers

We all know China invented paper somewhere near 100 AD. By the 6th century, Emporer Yandgi’s court records show that he used 15,000 sheets of paper annually, just for his personal hygiene!

Early Chinese toilet papers were made from rice straw, hemp, and bamboo. They boiled the material, churned it into a pulp, flattened and dry it, and then cut into shape before using it. By 14th century, the imperial court enjoyed “Perfumed paper sheets”. Records show that the royal family alone used almost 0.75 million sheets yearly!!

However, not everyone was happy with this invention. Traveling Muslim merchants described the Chinese practice as “Haraam” (foul), they always preferred using water.

The West Catches Up

Western toilet paper development took longer. Sir John Harrington invented the flushing toilet in 1596, though it would not become common for centuries. By the 1700s, newspapers became a popular bathroom staple.

The commercial breakthrough came only in 1857 when American entrepreneur Joseph Gayetty found a way for the commercial production of toilet papers. But at that time it was sold in another name – “Medicated Paper for Water-Closet”. He sold it 500 sheets for 50 cents. Only then the use of “Toilet papers” really arrived in the West.

Rolling into Modern Era

Later in the 19th century, manufacturers found the best and most economical way to produce and store toilet paper – as “Rolls” like we see today. Seth Wheeler of Albany patented perforated wrapping paper in 1871. and the first modern perforated toilet paper roll came out in 1891, making the “tearing” much easier – literally and figuratively! 😀

That was the same time home plumbing was improving a lot which resulted in having the toilets inside the home itself. With that, the consumption of toilet paper rose – first as a vanity symbol and later as a common addition to the shopping list.

Big Business in Bathrooms

Brothers – Clarence and Edward Irvin Scott founded Scott Paper Company in Philadelphia in 1879, initially cutting and packaging toilet paper for retailers to sell under their brands. The company grew after 1896 when Arthur Hoyt Scott joined. They started mass-producing their brand of toilet paper. By 1910, they had built the largest paper mill in Chester, marking the industrialization of toilet paper production.

Meanwhile, that old paper made of concoction in China became popular there by the 16th century.

From Luxury to Necessity

We humans always run behind an unknown “comfort”. The story of toilet paper is also not so different from that. Imagine using the pottery fragments in place of that “plush quilted ultra-soft scented bathroom tissues”. This everyday item we rarely think about represents centuries of innovation and cultural evolution.

Next time you pull a pack of tissue papers from the back aisle of Costco, spare a “thanks” for your ancestors and their corncobs, sea sponges, and pottery fragments.

And maybe soon, you might be “Zapping” to buy tissue papers.

Final Thoughts

The COVID-19 pandemic time gave us some lessons as well as some “FailArmy” videos. One of those videos was people fighting over the last available toilet paper pack in some shop. After the pandemic, there has been a surge in American homes installing Bidet faucets in their bathrooms. A bit late, but the West is now catching up again with the East! 😀

Let me know if you liked this article – leave a reaction/comment. Cheers.

Have you ever felt like you needed food or sleep more than anything else in the world? Or perhaps a sense of belonging with friends felt crucial? Even people who lost their loved ones still have some needs and they will continue to fulfill, no matter how sad or disturbed they are. These feelings point to something fundamental about being human: we have different kinds of needs, and some are more urgent than others.

This is the simple idea behind Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – a theory created by Abraham Maslow in 1943 that explains what humans need to be happy and fulfilled.

Think of it like a mountain, where you need to climb each elevation before you can reach the next. And if the mountain is weak with loose rocks at it’s bottom, climbing up is difficult to impossible.

The Five Levels of Needs

Maslow’s theory shows human needs as a pyramid with five levels:

1. Basic Physical Needs or Physiological needs: Food, water, shelter, sleep, cloth.
2. Safety Needs: Security, stability, freedom from fear.
3. Love and Belonging: Friendships, family, romantic connections.
4. Esteem: Respect, recognition, feeling valued.
5. Self-Actualization: Becoming your best self, reaching your potential.

Maslow’s Theory in Real Life

If I just put the 5 levels of needs in a set of bullet points and a drawing, it just looks like a mere theory. But there are many places in our real lives where we can “see” Maslow’s theory.

In August 2018, the quaint South Western Indian state of Kerala saw a catastrophic flooding across the state (It was similar to Hurricane Sandy). It was so devastating, all international news media covered the flood and relief efforts. It was later made in to a movie also – I just wanted to emphasis the severity of this flood. Over a million people were displaced and hundreds died. Entire villages were submerged.

Level 1: Physiological Needs

Families stranded on rooftops waiting for rescue helicopters; with no access to clean water, food or sanitary facilities. People collected rainwater and drank it in many places. Indian military forces airdropped food and water. “Nothing else mattered at that time; except finding food and escaping the water to safety.“, said affected people.

There is it – first and foremost, one need to breath, eat, drink and sleep – to survive.

Level 2: Safety Needs

Indian Navy and Air Force operated rescue bots and choppers to move people from flood affected areas and brought them to relief camps which were set up in schools in high-grounds. Once flood receded, families returned to their homes only to discover the homes were filled with mud from ground to roof. These mud and water had spoiled the structural integrity of buildings. Also, wherever it was not muddy, water-borne diseases were spreading like wildfire.

Government as well as some good samaritans set up more relief camps to let the affected people stay in a safe place until the homes are inspected and certified worthy. Pop-up hospitals were set up to take care of the ill; and efforts to contain contagious diseases were put in place.

All these for ensuring the safety and security of those affected.

Level 3: Love and Belonging

Kerala has always been known for strong community bonds. As basic survival and safety needs were met, maintaining these connections became crucial for emotional recovery.

Relief camps became temporary communities. People shared cooking duties, watched over each others’ children, and comforted those who lost their loved ones. Technocrats helped scattered families reconnect.

The floods destroyed many homes, but the same flood showed them that their real home is people around. In the relief camp, strangers became family. That connection and feeling of being loved gave each other strength to push forward.

Level 4: Esteem

As recovery progressed, “People Power” emerged. Volunteer groups coordinated massive clean-up efforts. Young people organized suppy chains using social media. The “Kerala Model” of community based disaster response gained international recognition.

Leaders came from the most unexpected corners of the world. Many homemakers created self support groups and mobilized food drives, helping young women to rebuild their seemingly lost life, funds to rebuild homes, etc.

While many of these were done not for attention, they got the recognition, respect and esteem as life changers. This in turn inspired the generations which followed.

Level 5: Self-Actualization

In the years following Kerala floods, many survivors found new meaning and purpose for their lives. Fishermen who had rescued hundreds during the floods formed community disaster response teams. Environmental activists started new initiatives to protect the Western Ghats (the mountain range spanning through the west coast of India) and prevent future floods.

Many IT professionals quit their jobs to work on climate resilience projects. Many Kerala communities rebuilt with sustainability in mind. Many Kerala communities rebuilt with sustainability in mind. Traditional wisdom about water management gave way for innovation with modern technology. The tragedy led many to discover their potential as Changemakers.

Before I wrap-up

While we must aspire to reach self-actualization as our final destination, we need to focus on meeting the needs at each moment and fulfill them first. This ensures that when we move to the next level, nothing pulls us back to the previous one.

By recognizing which level of needs people are focused on, communities can provide appropriate support at each stage of their lives. Misunderstandings often happen when someone gives free (unhelpful) advice to others at the wrong stage of their recovery. Don’t be that “ungle.”

And remarkably, many people find that the difficult climb leads them to heights of purpose and self-understanding they might never have imagined possible.

I am sure there are theories that challenge Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Many call it “a socialistic utopian” idea. But, it is a good place to start our mental exercise around this. And challenge our understanding with new learnings.