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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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Charmin Ultra Soft is the best of both worlds - it's soft and strong. You'll feel comfortable and won't have to worry about a mess on your hands. Read More
This roll is a nice balance of soft and sturdy for its price point. The only downside we could find is that it took a while for a square to dissolve. Read More
This single-ply toilet paper is surprisingly thick and comfortable. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it tears quite easily, though. Read More
You can't go wrong with Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong. Just like its name implies, this TP is both soft and strong. Read More
If you value the integrity of your TP, then this definitely meets the mark. It leaves no residue behind, though it does sacrifice some softness. Read More
Toilet paper may not be the flashiest purchase, but anyone who's ever bought a low-quality roll of the stuff can tell you that it's worth putting some thought into what you get. But is there a way to ensure you buy the best toilet paper roll possible without going through a potentially uncomfortable trial-and-error process? Glad you asked. That's where we come in.
After days of research and weeks of practical testing, we’re confident we’ve found the absolute best toilet paper brands money can buy. Our favorite pick is Charmin Ultra Soft (available at Amazon) , thanks to a balance of unmatched comfort and impressive durability. However, it's not the only great option and after reading our list of best bath tissue you’ll be sure to find a winner of your own.
Feels soft against the skin
Surprisingly thick for a single-ply
Tore significantly against a rough surface
Very comfortable
Held up well in stress tests
Some piling against coarse surfaces
Very sturdy
Left no residue behind
Not as soft as some others
Luxuriously comfortable
Didn't hold up well against coarse surfaces
Took a long time to dissolve in water
Breaks apart easily in water
Thin for a double-ply
Not that comfortable
Passable if looking to save a few bucks
Only modestly comfortable
Broke apart on coarse surfaces
Rubbing a single square of toilet paper over a cast iron pan helped us test for strength and durability.
To find the best toilet paper, we started with extensive research and purchased every popular brand—that's 17 different types of toilet paper that I tested, compared, and narrowed down to the 12 products in this review.
Testing had a number of components. First, I tested toilet paper the old-fashioned way: by using it regularly over the course of multiple weeks. This kind of subjective testing allowed me to develop a less clinical opinion about the durability and comfort of each roll. I wanted to be sure that any toilet paper we recommended would be reliable and comfortable over time.
I also ran the rolls through a number of objective tests to score them for strength and durability. To accomplish this, I rubbed one square of each roll against coarse surfaces, including a cast iron skillet and rough outdoor carpet. I took note of any piling, residue, or tears that were caused by a normal amount of pressure against the coarse surfaces.
Finally, I placed a square of each roll in a container of water and swirled the paper until it dissolved to determine how long each brand would hold up when wet. However, I also paid attention to any toilet paper that took too long to dissolve, as those rolls are more likely to lead to plumbing issues.
Testing also included seeing how quickly the toilet paper would dissolve while submerged and swirled around in water.
One of the most common sizes for a sheet of toilet paper is 4.5 x 4.5 inches. That said, the size of a sheet of toilet paper is shrinking, and you can now frequently find them up to a half-inch shorter.
On average, a one-ply roll of toilet paper provides 1,000 sheets per roll. For two-ply, you can expect roughly 500 sheets per roll. However, the reduction in toilet paper sheet size from 4.5 x 4.5 to 4 x 4 is allowing companies to quietly raise the cost per unit of toilet paper, which has increased by upwards of 2%. Ultimately, the environment and consumers themselves may get the most benefit from this as the narrower rolls are proving more effective for saving money as well as trees.
A single roll of toilet paper can last up to 5 days in an average-sized household. Most consumers use 8.6 sheets, per use. This adds up to 57 sheets, per day, and 20,805 sheets, per year. Each person in your home will use an average of 42 two-ply rolls per year or 21 rolls of one-ply.
Popular brand Charmin recently came up with “the Forever Roll,” a gigantic roll of toilet paper the company claims can last up to 2 or 3 months. The Forever Roll is likely designed for people who rent and live in tight spaces, as it is advertised as a “space saver” and is sold in two sizes: the 12-inch multi-user roll and the 8.7-inch single-user roll. Despite being touted by Charmin as a “space saver,” we found that the Forever Roll and its accompanying kit make an apartment bathroom feel crowded, and recommend simply buying in bulk for a traditional household.
Kevin Oliver is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.
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