The Final Verdict: What History Tells Us
Now, let’s settle the argument with the ultimate piece of truth. If you want to know the truly correct way to hang toilet paper, we have to look back in time to the person who invented it.
Meet Seth Wheeler, an inventor from the late 19th century. On Business Date: September 15, 1891, Wheeler officially patented the toilet paper roll with perforations (the little dotted lines that allow you to tear the paper easily).
When inventors register a patent, they have to include a detailed drawing of how their invention is supposed to be used. Guess what Wheeler’s official 1891 patent drawing showed?
The 1891 Patent Proof
The original blueprint clearly shows the roll attached to the wall with the paper hanging over the top and down the front (Option 2)!
Seth Wheeler designed it this way because the perforated lines are much easier to pull and tear when the paper is hanging towards the user. If it hangs against the wall, the friction makes it harder to get a clean tear.
