Is There a Right and Wrong Side to Toilet Paper?

June 12, 2025, 3:45 am | Read time: 3 minutes

Orderly or wherever there’s space? The debate over the “correct” way to load the dishwasher divides families and couples just as much as the question of whether there’s a “right” or “wrong” side for toilet paper. This also directly leads to the dispute over how the toilet paper should hang on the holder.

If you take a closer look at standard toilet paper, you’ll immediately notice that the front and back sides of the paper are distinctly different. The question is, does this affect its use? In other words, can someone wipe “incorrectly”? myHOMEBOOK explains whether there is a “right” and a “wrong” side to toilet paper.

The Structure of Toilet Paper

Modern toilet paper consists of multiple layers that are glued or embossed together. The manufacturing process affects the structure. One side of the toilet paper has a smoother surface, while the other side appears rougher, making it seem more absorbent.

Anyone who searches the internet will quickly find that the smooth surface results from these sides coming into contact with the metal rollers of the paper machine. The back is not only rougher when the sheets have embossing but also because it is processed differently. The difference is also noticeable to the touch.

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Does One Side Absorb Better? What Does Science Say?

The textured surface of the rough side of toilet paper offers a larger contact area with the skin, supposedly allowing for more effective cleaning. The microscopic ridges and grooves act like tiny sponges that can absorb and retain liquids. This argument for the rough side being better seems plausible at first glance.

Unfortunately, there is no scientific proof for this. There is indeed a study that examined the question of embossing and absorption behavior. When it comes to the cleaning properties of toilet paper, however, the time it takes for the paper to absorb liquids is more crucial. And here, the study’s result is clear. There was no significant difference between embossed and non-embossed papers.

The only difference was in the volume that could be absorbed, notably under laboratory conditions. In everyday life, however, this difference is unlikely to matter. Moreover, the study did not differentiate between the front and back sides.

In other words, while embossed paper can absorb more liquid, this can be physically explained by the structural differences in the paper’s construction. However, this does not imply that one side is better or worse. A major toilet paper manufacturer stated in an interview with The Washington Post that the companies’ research focuses more on improving perforations or usability. The question of the side does not matter.

Alleged differences regarding dermatological irritations concern the material used. People with already irritated or damaged skin in the anal area may be more sensitive to toilet paper made from recycled paper. This could be due to chemical residues from the manufacturing process, as another study found.

In summary: In everyday use, using the front and back sides of the paper does not matter.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.