Two camps have always competed in silence in the bathrooms around the world. Those who place the roller of toilet paper “cut forward”, and those who believe that the cut must be behind (is caught from below). But a British microbiologist is now ending the debate.
A microbiologist at the end of the roller?
Since the filing of the official patent in 1891, the legend has it that the inventors themselves have decided: the cut must hang forward, clearly visible, ready to use. This is not the opinion of Primerose Freestone Professor, clinical microbiologist at the University of Leicester, who today comes to “throw a paving stone in the bowl”. According to her, the real hygienic posture would be the one that the purists consider as heretical: the cut turned towards the rear, against the wall. Real utility or simple spirit of contradiction?
A question of place left to bacteria
His argument is actually simple and “bacterial”. When you pull paper with the cut forward, you have to use two hands: one to prevent the roller from turning, the other to tear the leaf. Manual gymnastics which, according to the researcher, promotes contamination of the roller by bacteria present on the hands.
With the rear turned cut, everything becomes more fluid: one hand is enough. We plate the sheet against the wall and presto, tear with your finger. Less contact, and therefore less microbes.
“In the low position, the risk of contamination of the entire roller is less”she explains.
According to the expert, it is not just a matter of comfort. The Freestone professor insists: this difference in manipulation can be crucial for women, in whom the transfer of bacteria to the genitals is more risky, especially in public places.
Handwashing, the most important habit
According to Professor Freestone, following his advice is even more important in public toilets, where there may be several sites of strong fecal contamination on the door, cabin and toilet seat.
“This is why it is so important to wash your hands after having gone to the toilet, and not to eat, drink or use your phone in the toilet”she concludes. Because beware, in front or behind, the cut of toilet paper is not everything and does not ensure the lack of contamination. What important after a passage to the little corner, is more the treatment with which you wash your hands, than the direction of rotation of the roller at hand.