Ask Margaret
Over the years, I have been asked the
same questions by several readers that I
have not yet answered. Some I avoided
because the subjects just didn’t seem to
fit our Tampa Bay Magazine image. Others,
I put off, for various reasons. I have now
decided to share two of them with you.
I have the feeling that most of us
simply automatically position the toilet
paper roll to mirror whatever manner it
was placed while we were growing up.
There is also a good chance that most
of us never gave it even the slightest
thought. The fact that I’ve received
numerous questions about it makes me
think that toilet paper placement is a
question worth answering.
by Margaret Word Burnside
Years ago, when I was pulled into a
discussion about it, I realized that since
my mother had placed the rolls so that
they fed from the underside of the holder,
I was automatically carrying on the same
family tradition. I used this method of
placement, even though I couldn’t think
of a single good reason why.
I have since been told by friends that
feeding the paper from beneath the
roll is the preferred method for people
who have cats and/or toddlers that
apparently can’t seem to resist unraveling
most, or the entire roll from its too easily
accessible and tempting top. Since I was
one of four children, my mother may
have had a good reason for positioning
the toilet paper to be accessible from
underneath.
Although there is no real right or wrong
answer to this question, positioning the
roll so that it dispenses from the top is
probably the best choice. There are two
reasons for this. In the days of printed
toilet paper, rolling from the top would
have let the pattern show from its top,
not the under side. In addition, rolling
140 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
from the top allows you to fold the top
corners under to make a point, as seen
in many hotels and other places, where
someone magically appears to perform
this task and where there are no cats or
toddlers with which to concern yourself.
If you have any questions about the
people, places or things in the Tampa
Bay area, please send them to
“Ask Margaret” at Tampa Bay Magazine,
2531 Landmark Drive, Suite 101,
Clearwater, Florida 33761.
We regret that not all questions
can be answered.
What is the correct
way to place a roll of
toilet paper on a wall
dispenser?
The toilet paper can
be finished off with
a clean pointed end
when dispensed
from the top.