The nation's loo habits revealed

15:05 13 July 2010

It is estimated that in our lifetime we spend up to three years on the loo, using an average of 110 rolls each year, but new research has delved deeper to uncover the toilet habits of the nation.

As it unveiled its new and improved Shades toilet roll range, Asda, polled shoppers to get to the bottom of how we spend our time in the bathroom.

The survey looked at everything from technique to differences between the sexes, but one of the biggest questions dividing the nation in the survey was "Do you scrunch or fold the loo roll?".

According to the research, 68% fold their toilet paper before wiping and only 15% of us scrunch it.

And the results backed up the traditional belief that women are more likely to scrunch while men are more likely to fold, but only by a bit; one fifth of women admitted to scrunching their toilet paper compared to 10% of men, whereas three quarters of men admitted to folding against 63% of women.

Age is also an interesting factor, as the results showed that the older a person gets the more likely they are to fold their loo roll - which could come down to them having a little more time to spend a penny.

Only 57% of 18 to 24-year-olds admit to folding before wiping, whereas three quarters of those over 55-years-old claim to do the same thing.

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Meanwhile, men like to have something to read on the loo, 59% compared to just 43% of women. The reading material of choice is newspapers (45%), books (33%) and magazines (46%) ,whereas some of us are more high-tech reading mobile text messages (21%), internet pages on phones or laptops (17%) with others simply looking to take life less seriously, as 4% read joke books.

When it comes to waste, women are worse than men as 86% use up to 15 sheets of toilet roll every time they go to the toilet compared to 74% of men. However, 3% of men do admit to using over 25 sheets per visit which would be sure to block most toilets.

Toilet roll marketing manager at Asda, Phil Wilkinson, commented: "Loo roll is something we use every day and it's fascinating to hear all the different routines people have – who'd have thought that the toilet could be such an eventful place. All that remains to be said is do you scrunch or fold?"

Many of those aged between 25 and 34-years-old are clearly still mummy and daddy's little angel, as 12% admitted that their parents still purchase their toilet roll for them.

And girls who live with their boyfriend should watch their supply, as the research shows 0% of boyfriends will replenish the stock if it runs out.

The toilet habit poll was conducted by Asda for the re-launch of the Shades toilet paper across all UK stores which is calling it's "best ever toilet roll".

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The new range will deliver a number of 'firsts' to the toilet tissue market, principally its easy start technology which means new rolls can be started without having to tear off several layers before you get going.

Asda Shades is also claiming its best ever softness and a fragranced odour neutralising core to banish bad bathroom smells.

According to Asda, an independent study has shown that 780 out of 1000 mums prefer Shades to the leading toilet roll brand.

Wilkinson added: "Customers don't need to buy expensive branded loo roll to be kind to their bottoms. Our Shades Best Ever range is officially the best, beating leading brands in independent preference tests."