Toilet Paper & Facial Tissues - Didn't they used to come in Colors?!
By koalatbs
@koalatbs (2229)
United States
April 10, 2008 5:01pm CST
I am 38 years old and I remember when I was a kid that toilet paper & facial tissues came in colors, like blue, pink & green. I think those were the only 3 colors. Now, they only come in white. I assume it is because the dyes are not good for your little behind, but does anyone know for sure why? The only reason I thought of this was because I have a 13 year old son who came to me the other day and said "Mom, who put the green tissues in my bathroom?" I told him that when grandma was visiting the other day she said the box in there ran out so I gave her a new box. He said "Yea, I know. But, the TISSUES are green!" It was so funny. I never realized that my son at 13 has never see tissues or toilet paper in colors before! LoL! I told him about how when I was little they came in pink, blue & green. I told him "they didn't come in yellow though... I don't really know why?!" LoL ;) He said, "or brown!" ha ha ha
26 people like this
40 responses
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Apr 08
I sure do remember and when microwave ovens first started to come into popular use it was still hard to find plain white paper towels, and we were told that the dyes in the patterned ones would release into the food. I remember well when the TP and facial tissues both came in what they then considered designer colors and we bought whatever was cheapest, which was usually not the white. Then they started decorating the boxes instead and that is kewl. I prefer white for everything disposable anyway and always have, but the new designer boxes are terrific.
1 person likes this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
11 Apr 08
I like the decorative patterned boxes too that they have now for the facial tissues drannhh! Some of them are so pretty that I am disappointed when the tissues run out & I have to throw out the pretty little box... LoL! That just happened this morning actually! ;)
@ltmoon (1008)
• United States
26 Apr 08
[i]"I assume it is because the dyes are not good for your
little behind, but does anyone know for sure why?"[/i]
It has nothing to do with your butt!
Doesn't matter if it's a little butt or a big butt.
Dyes and perfumes have been mostly removed from tissues and TP for environmental reasons. They added more pollution than the toilet paper itself! Perfumes were also eliminated from tissues because of allergic reactions by some customers that triggered asthma type symptoms.
Paper products that are white have still been bleach processed. Typically natural paper products range from light brown to off-white - the same as unbleached flour. Also for the above reasons, more and more laundry detergent formulas are being changed to remove dyes and perfumes.
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
26 Apr 08
i assume this must be an American thing, we still get the full coulor ones here in England. Isnt it a little strange, Americans still like driving cars? lol
blessed be
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
11 Apr 08
This is an original topic, hehe. I have heard that the dyes were not good for private areas. I am not sure about the tissues, I would think they could still have colors for them. We used to make fake flowers with the tissues, we needed the different colors. I liked having the different colors to match the bathroom decor.
1 person likes this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Hi Polly1 - You know, I did think of that being a possible reason why they might have stopped making the colored toilet paper available here in the U.S. but then I thought, why in the heck would they care considering many companies don't care if "other" things are bad for their consumers. I talking about things like artificial sweetners, pesticides, etc. etc. etc. What do you think?
Jill
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Naughty boy!! LOL But he does have a sense of humor which is good but still naughty boy! LOL
I remember those days too and I remember getting yeast infections all the darned time and come to find out my doctor told me that I needed to get rid of all of my colored underwear and switch to all white 100% cotton which is a breathable fabric, and toilet paper that was white and unscented because the dyes and perfumes were what was causing my problem. So maybe that's why it's not around anymore, I don't know but I do know that it was MY reason for not using it anymore.
1 person likes this
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
11 Apr 08
I remember that! In the UK you used to be able to get different coloured toilet paper and then we used to get tissue paper that was three different colours on one pack.. I'm sure you can still get them (usually made by the big chain stores now rather than by an individual product). No you are right they never came in yellow - perhaps it reminded people of being jaundiced and brown, well that says it all really, donesn't it?!?!? thanks for sharing this with us!
1 person likes this
@mommyathome (98)
• United States
28 May 08
I do remember the colored tissues as I was growing up. Back then, when my aunts and uncles got married we would make colored flowers out of tissues. I never really thought about the tissues only coming in white until I read this discussion. I saw someone state that the FDA banned colored tissues, I did not know this, I thought maybe companies stopped because of allergies.
1 person likes this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
5 Jun 08
I completely forgot about making those pretty flowers with the colored tissues when I was younger! Some people say they stopped because of allergic reactions to the dyes used in making them and other people have said that they thought that they caused problems with septic systems. Who knows, maybe we'll never know for sure. Maybe it was due to both or neither! LoL! Either way, Kleenex brand is now making the colored facial tissues again... I've seen them in blue, green, pink & beige. Keep your eye out for them. They must have started making them with different dyes.
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
15 Apr 08
That is interesting gabs8513 that you can buy the colored toilet papers, etc where you live. What country is it that you live? I am in the U.S. I am 38 years old now and do not remember being able to buy the colored toilet papers & facial tissues since I was a child. So, as an adult I have only been able to buy the white. It is so boring but I am sure there has to be a logical reason why it is not available anymore here. What do you think?
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
24 May 08
Yes, I remember that too. At the time, I seem to remember news reports about the dyes used to color the paper were linked to colon cancer or was causing irritation. Something like that. Anyways I haven't seen it in ages.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
5 Jun 08
I heard too that the colors (dyes in them) caused irritation to a lot of people too, but I have never heard about possible colon cancer. I hope not! That would be awful. I am really trying to watch what I eat especially lately, trying more organic things. They are so expensive though so it is difficult when the finances are low.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
24 Apr 08
Yeah, thats what I heard too, that there was something in the dyes that weren't good for us. Even kleenex tissue is all white now.
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
11 Apr 08
Yes, they did. I don't know why they don't make colored facial tissues anymore but I know that the colored toilet paper causes yeast infections and so, that's probably why they stopped those. Yeast infections are awful, so, I for one am glad!
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
11 Apr 08
Oh goodness, my husband is allergic to latex as well. That's awful!
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I guess you really don't realize how many products are actually made with latex in them until you discover you are allergic to it. I am sure it is the same for other types of allergies as well. My sister as a dental hygienist is lucky that non-latex gloves are available now. My husband is a soon to be dentist (graduates in June!), so luckily he is not allergic to latex! But, I am sure there are many other dentists out there who are.
1 person likes this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Thank goodness I have never had one of those yeast infections. However, my sister is allergic to many things and used to get them all the time. She couldn't even wear disposable diapers as a kid. She is also allergic to latex and with her being a dental hygenist she has to get the non-latex gloves.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
11 Apr 08
Hi Koalatbs
I'm still laughing at alot of the responses.lol
i guess i'm one of the fortunate ones that had no problem with the dyes or perfumes..loved the ones with flowers.
I've tried them all and thankfully the ones like paper towels that are better for the environment aren't popular cause speaking of harsh..LOL
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
29 Oct 08
Oh yes Cudzoo... when I was a kid (and I'm 39 now), here in the U.S. toilet paper & facial tissues used to come in different pretty colors. But, they eventually stopped making it. Some people say that the dyes caused many people to have allergic reactions and other people say that it was a septic system issue and that it was also bad for our environment. Either way, they were pretty! It really brightened up the bathroom.
@magyarme (1)
• United States
9 Aug 10
So why can't we get toilet paper and facial tissue in colors today. I assumed it was because something in the dyes was bad for us, but we can buy colored paper napkins and paper towels with designs on them. Aren't those the same dyes that would be used on other paper products? What gives? Anybody have the answer?
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
9 Aug 10
Actually, lately I have been able to find facial tissues in colors now. The Kleenex brand makes it in pink, blue or green. Not sure about toilet paper though. Every once in a while I will see patterned toilet paper, I think by Angel Soft in the stores.
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
20 May 08
Hi lucy02 - Yes, it seems like many people used to get yeast infections from the colored toilet paper. I guess it is the artificial dyes they used to make it that caused the problem. It probably isn't good for the environment either. Glad you figured out why you were getting the infections without having to see a doctor.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
21 Sep 08
You are correct,My mom said that was the reason she wouldn't buy colored toilet paper, it is irritating.I guess many people thought the same.But we did buy colored tissues. I liked the blue.
@randomosity_prevails (1110)
•
20 May 08
You can still get different coloured toilet rolls. Many branded names do other colours, and most supermarket own brands do too. The only brands that I have seen that only offer white toilet paper are the value, basic brand.
The main colours seem to be lilac, mint green, pink, blue and peach. I like to have different coloured ones, makes the bathroom look a bit more interesting!
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
20 May 08
Hi randomosity_prevails - I see you live in the United Kingdom. Here where I live in California or anywhere else I have lived in the United States I just can't find the colored kinds of the toilet paper anymore. It was just recently that I found the colored facial tissues made by the Kleenex brand that I even remembered about how the TP used to come in the colors also. I even remember the kind with little flowers on them too. I have heard that you can buy it on the internet though.
@thedaddym (1731)
• United States
28 May 08
Yes they did. I believe they were blue, green, yellow, white, and pink. My wife used to buy the one that matched the bathroom the best.
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
28 May 08
Hi thedaddym - Tell your wife that the Kleenex brand is now selling colored facial tissues in the box. I have seen beige, green, blue & pink so far. We bought a few boxes. My 13 year old son is amazed. LoL! He has never seen colored tissues before! :)
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
29 May 08
How funny! I just started a discussion about tp because you can indeed still buy it in prints and colors. I am pretty sure you can still get colored tissues too, although I haven't bought any. It's possible that it's more expensive to make tissue or tp colored, or maybe there is no demand for it, so even though I know you can still find it, people are mostly buying white or whatever is cheapest. When there is a big sale on green tissues, check it out, everybody may suddenly have green tissues!
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
5 Jun 08
I usually just buy whatever is the cheapest also. I am sure a lot of people do. Everything is soooo expensive nowadays... it is crazy. We live in northern California and today our "cheap" gas station was selling their regular gasoline for $4.19! And, that is only the price if you pay CASH only... it is 7 cents more expensive if you pay with credit or debit.
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
22 Sep 08
I totally remember the colored tissues! I remember green, blue, and pink ones. I could see them not making yellow ones because then they would be the color of urine and would put people off? Maybe they don't make the colored ones as much anymore because a lot of people today are buying dye-free, scent-free, and additive-free products.
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
23 Sep 08
You are so right phoenix25... many people are now buying dye-free and scent free products these days. I just bought a box of fabric softener sheets in scent free. My son and my husband both have sensitive allergies so I try to buy scent free some of the time. I like the ones that are scented but oh well! LoL
