Resource 17

Why toilet paper?

A cartoon of someone sitting on a toilet
What is the best toilet paper on the market? How do you judge what is 'best'?

In this activity you will be asked to devise a number of tests that could be used to measure the quality of different brands of toilet paper.

  1. As a starting point, brainstorm with others and decide on the important characteristics of 'good' toilet paper.
  2. Devise a number of tests that you use to test the quality of toilet paper. (Possible tests might be to measure strength, thickness and ability to breakdown.)
  3. Choose a number of different brands of toilet paper (you might want to include newspaper) and conduct the tests.
  4. Write a report outlining the characteristics of 'good' toilet paper, the tests you have devised and the results you obtained from conducting the tests.

Extension

TV advertisements for toilet paper are common. Review one and describe the characteristics of the toilet paper they are promoting. How does it relate to your own views on 'quality' toilet paper?