Take the TP challenge

The problem of people hoarding TP to the point that stores have sometimes run out led me to thinking. I remembered my parents, who had more children (eight) than money, asking us to only use three sheets of TP at a time. I must have tried, at least to the point that to this day, I try to use TP in moderation (four or five sheets, at most). But, I use two-ply TP.

In the good ol' days of February, I visited my sister and noted that she used one-ply TP. Still, I used it in moderation and much to my surprise, in the same quantity, it worked almost as well as the two-ply I used at home. It wasn't quite as soft, but it was passable.

When I got home, I examined my two-ply. It wasn't tightly glued together, so it was easily pulled apart. It was still soft, just not as cushy or substantial feeling and a single ply was just fine. I suspect that some of the perceived softness has to do with tiny pockets of air between the two-ply sheets.

In this time of crisis, I challenge us all to take the TP challenge, whatever type or brand of TP your household purchases and use your sheets in moderation. Include your family and friends - even very young children can be taught that it's good to be frugal. The trees that are consumed by TP will thank us.

Cherryl M. Crouch

Arlington Heights