In discussing toilet paper, there are several things to consider:
1. A claim of being “septic safe” or “sewer safe” means very little to an RVer. TP in septic systems has a much longer time to dissolve than in an RV black tank. And, of course, “sewer safe” means it will not clog a sewer system, a consideration of little interest to an RVer, given massive amounts of flush water in a sewer-connected toilet.
2. Many makers or marketers of TP have several different products, often with similar sounding names. Walmart, for example, has two on their site. The most recent (May/2012) Consumer Reports test rated Walmart’s “White Cloud 3 ply soft and thick” at the top of their test chart, but it seems to be missing from their site. It was the only TP in the test rated Excellent for strength. It is totally beyond my comprehension why the WM geniuses would drop a top-rated product. A top rating on CR testing is the Holy Grail of marketing, and these guys kicked it to the curb. ..........“White Cloud soft and thick” rated considerably lower on their testing. “White Cloud Ultra Comfort” is on the WM site but was not tested by Consumer Reports. The CR report also has WM “Great Value Ultra Strong” on their ratings, but it does not appear on the WM site. As a matter of interest, that paper is rated only average in strength. Even when we talk about a main line company like Northern, Scott, Charmin, etc, there are different models with similar names and different placing on the test ratings..
3. House brands change on a regular basis. WM, for example, does not have a TP factory, and subcontracts to have their product made. These contracts, as well as their specifications change regularly, as do shortcuts taken by subcontractors. This is done with no notice to the consumer, and often without the knowledge of WM. In a recent (3/1/13)
ARTICLE, WM said they will upgrade the White Cloud toilet paper it sells.
4. When Consumer Reports rates TP on softness, strength and disintegration, there can be a conflict. We all want soft, but softness can take away strength. We all want disintegration, but not while using it. Strength can reduce disintegration.
5. The commonly cited jar test has us shaking the jar to test disintegration. The winner of that test would make me a little wary of it disintegrating before it goes down the drain. If I were water jar testing, I would favor a paper that did not disintegrate right away, but would still disintegrate in my black tank.
