It’s the cause of a lot of arguments in households around the world: should the toilet paper roll face the user (under) or face the wall (over)? Now, a scientist has settled the debate once and for all. Dr. Primrose Freestone, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at University of Leicester in the UK, says the “under” orientation is safer and more effective. She points out that the “over” method requires a second hand to touch the toilet roll, which increases the risk of the paper being contaminated before it reaches the body. That, in turn, means greater risk of infection. When you enter the bathroom, both hands are immediately exposed to high-touch surfaces potentially teeming with harmful bacteria, such as the doorknob and the toilet seat. Using just one hand instead of two, you are at best halving the risk of bacterial transfer from the hand to the toilet paper that you’re about to use. Especially for women, accidental transfer of bacteria from the hand to the nether-regions can risk getting an infection. Regardless of scientific research, polls still show that a whopping 82% of people prefer the over position.
