How much space does toilet paper really take up? (5 Viewers)

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Oct 21, 2021
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So, on some toilet threads people say they bag the toilet paper.
We always just let it go down the hole into the cassette.
How much space does it really use?
It dissolves pretty quickly.
Has never been an issue for us and we only empty every 3 or 4 days when we are moving on. (not always near full)

Just wondering is all. :unsure:
 
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Oct 12, 2009
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If you use your hand, then wash it, the water goes in the grey tank which is much bigger, so lasts longer - apparently.

G-RMPS As you know I trained at your home airfield Scone/'Balbeggie International'.

The Engineering students, mostly Middle Easter, shared a toilet block near the canteen. If we had to use it, rarely, it was always awash, because of the habit you describe.

Not a nice memory.
 
Sep 3, 2012
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A full roll takes up the space of a full roll , less the cardboard tube volume.
If you buy the cheapo rolls with the biggest tubes you won't fill the cassette up too much with the paper, dissolved or not it still takes up the same volume as the roll.( OK less the air pockets)
(y) :rofl: :rofl:
 
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A full roll takes up the space of a full roll , less the cardboard tube volume.
If you buy the cheapo rolls with the biggest tubes you won't fill the cassette up too much with the paper, dissolved or not it still takes up the same volume as the roll.( OK less the air pockets)
(y) :rofl: :rofl:

I am surprised it has taken to post #13 to get to the obvious right answer.
 

DBK

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A full roll takes up the space of a full roll , less the cardboard tube volume.
If you buy the cheapo rolls with the biggest tubes you won't fill the cassette up too much with the paper, dissolved or not it still takes up the same volume as the roll.( OK less the air pockets)
(y) :rofl: :rofl:
Your "OK less the air pockets) is the key. A loo roll is about 90% air although this does vary a lot. There is a thing called "absorption rate" which is how much water each gram of loo paper can absorb. This can vary from as low as 5g of water to 1g of paper to a high approaching 20g.

The deduction from this is the volume taken up by the paper in water is only a fraction of the volume of the dry roll.

But this question does really need some experimental evidence for a definitive answer to be found. :)
 

JockandRita

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I am surprised it has taken to post #13 to get to the obvious right answer.
I don't think so Geoff. ;)

The deduction from this is the volume taken up by the paper in water is only a fraction of the volume of the dry roll.
That's more like the obvious right answer for me. (y)
As another example, washing powder tablets take up a fraction of the space when dissolved, than when solid. It's a no brainer. 🤷‍♂️

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
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Your "OK less the air pockets) is the key. A loo roll is about 90% air although this does vary a lot. There is a thing called "absorption rate" which is how much water each gram of loo paper can absorb. This can vary from as low as 5g of water to 1g of paper to a high approaching 20g.

The deduction from this is the volume taken up by the paper in water is only a fraction of the volume of the dry roll.

But this question does really need some experimental evidence for a definitive answer to be found. :)

The volume of the liquid was already in the cassette before the paper was deposited, so has not increased. Whether the liquid is absorbed or in free float does not change the volume of liquid present. The only substance which has increased the volume of the cassette contents is the paper.


I don't think so Geoff. ;)


That's more like the obvious right answer for me. (y)
As another example, washing powder tablets take up a fraction of the space when dissolved, than when solid. It's a no brainer. 🤷‍♂️

Cheers,

Jock. :)

See my response to DBK above.
 

JockandRita

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The volume of the liquid was already in the cassette before the paper was deposited, so has not increased. Whether the liquid is absorbed or in free float does not change the volume of liquid present. The only substance which has increased the volume of the cassette contents is the paper.




See my response to DBK above.
Sorry Geoff, I'm just not convinced, ie, if I get an open plastic box the same size as a cassette and fill it with dry toilet rolls to the top, (minus the cardboard inserts), there wouldn't be room for anything else. If I then add some water with a chemical or detergent type additive, eventually the toilet rolls would break down, creating a liquid volume far less that that of the initial volume.

I refer back to my previous example of a washing powder tablet too.

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
Jan 2, 2017
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So, on some toilet threads people say they bag the toilet paper.
We always just let it go down the hole into the cassette.
How much space does it really use?
It dissolves pretty quickly.
Has never been an issue for us and we only empty every 3 or 4 days when we are moving on. (not always near full)

Just wondering is all. :unsure:
Very little.

Can be verified experimentally. Fill a glass container/measuring jug up to a certain level with water. Now add a sheet of dissolving loo roll. Check increase in volume.
 
Oct 12, 2009
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Sorry Geoff, I'm just not convinced, ie, if I get an open plastic box the same size as a cassette and fill it with dry toilet rolls to the top, (minus the cardboard inserts), there wouldn't be room for anything else. If I then add some water with a chemical or detergent type additive, eventually the toilet rolls would break down, creating a liquid volume far less that that of the initial volume.

I refer back to my previous example of a washing powder tablet too.

Cheers,

Jock. :)

Because the initial volume contained air trapped between the sheets of paper which has now dissipated.

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