Where did all the colored toilet paper go?
Jul 16, 2009
RIP Pink Toilet Paper, Cherished Friend, Companion, and Always There When You Needed It Most; 1950-?
Think about it for a second – When was the last time you reached for some TP and saw anything but the standard white roll? Probably around the same time tie dyed t-shirts and Birkenstocks were still in style, right?
30 years ago colored toilet paper wasn’t the rarity it is today. Introduced in the 50’s and popular throughout the 70’s, many manufacturers produced a variety of colors including pink, blue, yellow, lilac, tan, and black. Homeowners loved matching the color of their toilet paper to the color of their bathrooms (it was the 70’s after all!). So besides the obvious reason that what was hip in the 70’s isn’t anymore, where did all the colored TP go?
According to the King of Toilet Paper, two major events occurred which hurt sales and thus led to the downfall of the colored toilet paper reign:
- Doctors started warning colored toilet paper could lead to skin irritation. As pretty as we once thought it looked, no one wants to deal with that!
- Ecologists also began warning the dye in the colored toilet paper rolls was harmful to the environment.
With an increased cost of production (it costs more to produce colored than white toilet paper) and a decrease in sales, manufacturers began to produce less and less. Up until 5 years ago, Scott was one of the last remaining manufactures to still produce our old friend in beige, blue, and pink. However, they have since cut production all together.
RIP Colored Toilet Paper – From the bottoms of our bottoms, we thank you for the service you have provided us over the years. We’ll miss you.
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Er, well actually, Scott does still, in 2009, seem to make colored toilet paper in their sandpaper 1000-sheet roll versions — but for some odd reason they are only marketed for the Hispanic market. They are marked “Suave Colores” and are available in pink and blue and maybe beige. They come in 1-roll and four-roll packs. I was shocked to see them in a local grocery store the other day and bought a roll of pink for 89-cents (10-2009). Who knows, I may start a trend! I forgot how rare these things have become.
Gee, i scored some from an old estate, kept it stored for 10yrs now, Wow, i can’t believe the the talk on toilet tissue. Do you think it would sell on E-Bay.??
That’s a very interesting observation. However, I will point out that there are still colorful details or pictures on TP still, along with other paper towels.
In a move which should be universally condemned, Scott has discontinued its colored toilet paper products as of December 2009.
They were the last major producer of colored toilet paper in the United States.
No more.
just last week, scott in colors appeared at my wegman’s–99 cent per roll. i was very excited–no beige yet but all other colors…green was lovely for the holidays
me again–commenting on Spectors observations–i went back to Wegmans and lo and belold the colored toilet paper says “Suaves colores” on the wrapper–they have it in pink, blue and green. Does this mean they haven’t discontuned it or is this just one last case of the stuff??
On their last cases. Stock up while you can — and even better, call Scott and complain about them discontinuing the colored versions. Frankly, if it wasn’t for the colors and the nostalgia factor, I wouldn’t be buying that lousy TP. Scott should be trying harder to retain me as a customer. Keep the colors!
I do not trust that colored tissue paper, it seems that it has bad effect to our skin.
its looks like a paper hey..