Does Toilet Paper Expire? Know The Relevant Answer Here

I was shocked and confused when I first noticed that toilet paper expiration dates were accurate. But does toilet paper expire, or is it just a mere formality? After reading this article, you will confirm if toilet papers expire and what can affect it. 

Buying so much toilet paper is in everyone’s plans, including you and me. It saves you the stress of going to the grocery store frequently. 

However, the toilet paper expiration date is a mere formality. Keeping and storing the toilet paper properly will last longer than the said date and remain functional. 

The rest of this guide confirms if buying toilet paper in bulk can lead to expired toilet paper. Also, I’ll share a few tips on how to store toilet paper.

JUMP TO: Life Span of Toilet Paper | Factors Affecting The Life Span | Tips For Storing Toilet Paper |

What is The Lifespan of Toilet Paper?

Most toilet papers have an expiration date but don’t necessarily obey it. The expiration date remains a precaution as long as the toilet paper is stored properly. 

Traditional toilet paper lasts for months and even decades before it expires. If stored properly, the toilet paper will retain its quality for years and even decades. 

Now, it doesn’t mean that the life cycle of toilet rolls is forever. Toilet paper rolls will damage and possibly expire over time. But it’s very unlikely that you will buy such a bulk package of toilet paper that will last that long. 

The average American uses more than 140 toilet paper rolls yearly. That means if your family has four members, you’ll use more than five hundred rolls yearly. And it’s almost impossible to buy 500 toilet paper rolls at a go. 

Toilet paper products hardly expire but go bad because of poor storage. Some people buy toilet paper in bulk and store it in different places, like under a bathroom sink. If there’s a sink leak, it will make the toilet paper dissolve.  

Factors Affecting The Lifespan of Toilet Papers

When you buy toilet paper commercially, you expect it to last a particular period. However, putting toilet paper in weird positions will only cause damage. 

How you store your toilet paper is crucial to the lifespan of the toilet paper. Let’s check out some of the factors that will reduce the lifespan of your toilet paper rolls. 

Also Read: How to Tell if a Faucet Cartridge is Bad?

Water 

Toilet paper is a super thin paper that dissolves in the slightest contact with water. That’s why it is compatible with pipes since it can’t cause clogs. 

If you expose your rolls of toilet paper to excess moisture, it will dissolve before you even use it. If it stays in its pack, it will become messy when you try to cut any part of it. 

You can salvage it if you find your toilet rolls inside water by drying them immediately with a dryer. You’ll only fix a few rolls out of a large stock, but it’ll be better than nothing. 

If you find it early enough, you may restore it to look like a perfectly unused paper. Note that if it has stayed wet for a prolonged period, it won’t work. 

CAUTION: Using wet toilet paper on your skin can cause skin irritation if you have sensitive skin. 

Moist Conditions

Water doesn’t precisely have to touch rolls of toilet paper before it dissolves. An environment with excess moisture is enough to make the toilet paper damp. 

Of course, a wet locality isn’t the best for your toilet roll. But it doesn’t mean the hot environs are better. 

According to research, hot air holds more moisture than cold air. That means living in an area with dry heat and high temperatures will affect how your toilet paper lasts. 

A moist condition may not dissolve your toilet roll like water. Instead, it will influence the growth of mold and bacteria individually wrapped on the paper surface. 

TIPS: Wet conditions can make your toilet paper expire or at least look like it. 

Heat 

Where you store your toilet paper is essential to its lifespan. If you buy toilet paper in bulk and keep it in a location close to heat and sunlight, it will affect it. 

Remember, it’s a super thin paper, and exposure to dry heat can turn it into dust. Also, the same problem associated with high heat and humidity can affect this case. 

Rodents and critters 

It’s normal to assume you have expired toilet paper when it’s affected by heat or moisture. However, more apparent damage is caused by insects, rats, and other critters. 

You’ll notice clear signs of insect bites on your toilet paper. Most of these insects consume it hoping it’s food. But when they find out its not food, they turn it into a bed to sleep in. 

Source: homequicks.com

CAUTION: It only takes a few weeks for rodents to eat into toilet paper if stored incorrectly. 

Type of Toilet Paper 

There are many factors used to classify toilet paper. It could be based on thickness, size, source, and other factors. But broadly, there are seven types of toilet paper, including; 

• 1 Ply toilet paper
• 2 Ply toilet paper
• 3 Ply toilet paper Recycled toilet paper
• Unbleached toilet paper 
• Tree-free bamboo toilet paper
• Biodegradable toilet paper
• Recycled toilet paper

Each of these toilet paper types has its respective thicknesses and features. This makes them stronger. 

TIPS: This stronger toilet paper expires before the stronger one. 

Tips For Storing Toilet Paper Properly

If you don’t want to make your toilet paper, expire, you can choose other options. Toilet paper alternatives like facial tissue, adult wipes, or baby wipes come in handy. These baby wipes have more solid packaging, so it’s not prone to much damage. 

However, if you must buy toilet paper in bulk, you need to store it right. Toilet paper can last decades if you store it the right way. 

Let’s check out some storage space ideas to make your toilet paper last. 

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Maintain Original Packaging

The first step to properly storing your toilet paper is maintaining the original factory packaging. 

If you buy bulk toilet paper, you will most likely have a plastic package of between five and ten rolls per pack. This original plastic packaging is usually great for keeping the rolls in perfect condition. 

Air doesn’t get to the inner parts of the original packaging, so there can’t be any problem with moist air. From time to time, always check the packaging to be sure it doesn’t have any unwanted spaces or damage. 

Use Air-Tight Boxes 

The sealable bags that accompany bulk toilet paper work perfectly for air and moisture. However, this packaging isn’t immune to rodents and critter infestation. Once they eat through the packaging, it’s open to moisture. 

A better way to keep toilet paper safe is to have it sealed inside a plastic package. All you need to do is to find a watertight container to store your toilet paper. 

When you store toilet paper in a watertight container, you can keep the papers anywhere, including under a bathroom sink. That way, you can keep it away from moisture and rodents. 

TIPS: If you buy toilet paper commercially, you can keep the paper in smaller packages or containers to ensure its functionality.