Healthy Bathroom Habits and Preparations

Going to the bathroom is one of the most mundane activities in a person’s life. Exactly what a person does behind that closed door is a personal matter. But with any mystery comes a little intrigue. How does your bathroom routine measure up with everyone else’s? Are your habits completely average or do you spice things up on your porcelain throne? We ran the numbers and asked the tough questions. Here’s everything you need to know about how other people use the bathroom.

There are a number of pre-bathroom routines that help people get in the right mindset to go at home. Some of them focus on hygiene, while others focus on making any sounds others may hear if they are in earshot of the bathroom while doing their business.

Not all TP is created equal. To have an enjoyable bathroom experience, you have to consider the type and quality of toilet paper you are using. It’s best to choose a strong, absorbent toilet paper that is also soft – and can seriously put in work. Pairing toilet paper with a flushable wipe is also a great way to up the ante on your bathroom routine, leaving you feeling fresh and clean.

At home, be sure to stock up on Cottonelle® Brand Toilet Paper for all the bathrooms in your house. Keep spare rolls under the sink, in a toilet paper holder, on the back of the toilet tank or in a basket nearby, so it’s always on hand for you and your guests.

Choose from two strong and absorbent Cottonelle® Toilet Paper options: 1-ply Cottonelle® Ultra CleanCare® Toilet Paper – our soft, strong and effective toilet paper that delivers a confident clean, or our 2-ply Cottonelle® Ultra ComfortCare® – our softest, thickest and most absorbent toilet paper for a superior clean. We suggest pairing your dry toilet paper with Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes for a refreshing clean*.

You probably fall into one of the three styles listed above. These different techniques can be a point of pride for some, and you’ll find supporters for each claiming their superiority.

When it comes to wiping, there are two main techniques that basically everyone uses: a front to back or a back to front motion.

While wiping back to front may feel easier than wiping front to back, the latter is recommended as the motion moves away unwanted residue from your more delicate parts.

Read our article on wiping your butt properly to learn more about these techniques, among other hygienic practices!

While toilet paper is the most common product used during one’s toileting routine (more than 4 in 51 of all toileting occasions use toilet paper only, nothing else), a number of other products do make an appearance.

After a bowel movement, there are also a number of things people do at home¹:

Not surprisingly, people prefer to go in the comfort of their own home. But when nature calls and you’re not at home, where are people most likely to go?

Statistics¹ show that the most popular place to go to the bathroom other than your own home is at work, with nearly half the remaining toileting occasions happening there. After that, we find school, someone else’s house, followed by restaurants, retail stores, gas stations, church and other public spaces such as parks.

¹Burke Incorporated: 2020 Toileting Dairy Fact Book
^†per sheet vs. leading value brand
^*vs dry alone
^**when used after toilet paper vs. using toilet paper alone
^***loses majority of strength within 30 minutes of flushing