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I have been surprised how many people actually ponder the question.  In fact, do a quick Google search and you will find many a post (at answers sites) wanting to know what people do.  The interest is striking.  So the question is:

Do you fold the toilet paper after doing your business, or do you wad it up?

I know you may not (or you might) bring it up in a conversation with your future in-laws, but after you get to know them I’m sure it can come up.  I have found most people think that the split between who fold and who wads is pretty distinct.  Theories include that men are wadders and women are folders.  Also, middle class and higher are folders while lower classes wad.  I doubt there is any credibility to those conjectures.  But I have an idea. 

First let’s start with definitions.  I’ve heard a couple different scenarios on how the toilet paper is prepared before wiping, and I still believe that they all fall into these two categories.  Some people say they don’t fold, they roll it around their hand in preparation.  This is just another style of folding.  You then have the standard fold, the accordion, and the common wad (or sometimes called the crumple).  So there’s a few types of folding and the wad.

The second thing is the efficiency between the two.  I honestly believe that the fold is much more efficient.  It is easier to get completely clean with a fold.  There is also the danger of a “breakthrough” with the wad that makes it less desirable, but sometimes that’s easily avoidable by packing on more paper.

Lastly, my theory.  I have found in my own experience that the decision of whether or not to fold or wad comes directly from the type of toilet paper.  The regular 2-ply that any person will buy for their house is easily formed into a folded pile.  Nice toilet paper can roll easily and fold easily to no time.  It’s almost just as fast to fold as it is to grab and wad up.  But the crap (as in style of toilet paper) they put in public restrooms and buy for the office is terrible.  I normally have such a hard time getting enough of the stuff I’m forced into wadding it up.  So that bad paper gets wadded.

It’s as easy as that.  No classes, cultures, genders, or species.  It’s the toilet paper’s fault.

I’m just saying.