My 5-year-old son doesn't like that toilet paper is white. He mentions it every time he uses it. But I have no idea if toilet paper comes in different colors. I'm curious, is there a specific reason why toilet paper is white?

Kids have a beautiful way of looking at the world. They notice the tiny, everyday details that adults take entirely for granted—like the fact that toilet paper is almost always white. If your five-year-old is lodging a complaint at every bathroom visit, he is actually asking a really great scientific and historical question!

Believe it or not, toilet paper hasn’t always been white, and yes, it absolutely does come in other colors (though finding them today takes a little bit of searching).

Here is the scoop on why our rolls are overwhelmingly white today, the colorful history of the bathroom, and how you can surprise your son with a pop of color.

Why Is Toilet Paper White? (The Science)

It seems like toilet paper is dyed white, but the opposite is actually true. White is its natural, processed state after it goes through manufacturing.

• The Bleaching Process: Toilet paper is made from wood pulp. Wood pulp is naturally a brownish-grey color due to a complex organic polymer called lignin, which holds wood fibers together. To make the paper soft and to prevent it from deteriorating over time, manufacturers remove the lignin and bleach the remaining wood fibers.

• Softness and Strength: This bleaching process (usually done with chlorine dioxide or oxygen-based bleaching agents) isn't just for looks. It actually breaks down the rough fibers, making the paper incredibly soft and absorbent.

• The Eco-Friendly Alternative: Unbleached toilet paper does exist! It's usually a tan or light-brown color. It skips the heavy bleaching process to be more environmentally friendly, though it tends to be slightly less pillowy-soft.

The Groovy Era of Colorful Toilet Paper

If you lived through the 1970s or 1980s, you might remember bathrooms that looked like a pastel wonderland. Back then, matching your toilet paper to your bathroom tiles was the height of home decor sophistication.

You could easily buy toilet paper in..... Please Head On keep  on Reading  (>) (◕‿◕)