It 's an argument that has plagued most households at least once , but now the age-old question of whether toilet paper should sit under or over the roll has finally been solved . How ? By a 124-year-old patent from 22 December 1891 which clearly illustrates an 'over ' arrangement for toilet paper . Writer Owen Williams discovered the toilet paper patent online , and wasted no time in sharing his new-found information with his 8,000 followers on Twitter . The in-depth patent created by New York businessman Seth Wheeler clearly shows an 'over ' arrangement . The patent was created by the inventor of perforated toilet paper sheets , New York business man Seth Wheeler . Wheeler , who was also the owner of the Albany Perforated Wrapping Sheet Company , undoubtedly innovated the way toilet paper is created and used in this way . Included in the patent , are Seth 's declarations on his new product : 'Be it known that I , SETH WHEELER , of the city and county of Albany , and State of New York , have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toilet-Paper Rolls . ' Although there 's no specific mention of the 'over ' arrangement of the toilet paper , the diagram is a solid confirmation of the correct use . And it 's not just the over-under toilet paper debate that gets homemakers agitated ; it 's the state of the entire bathroom . Other key things to consider ? Cleanliness . Etiquette expert William Hanson said as well as making sure toilet rolls sit 'over ' , other bathroom tidiness is important : ‘ I very much judge a house , and the house owner , by the state of their guest bathroom . ‘ I would question the hygiene of the person 's kitchen if the loo wasn ’ t spotless upon arrival . Finally , the age-old argument about which way a toilet roll should sit in a bathroom has been resolved . ‘ My own facilities for guests are half bathroom , half temple . ‘ There ’ s no streaky chrome , or chipped wooden loo seats for heaven-knows what germs to fester . ‘ If a guest doesn ’ t come out the lavatory and comment on its condition then I feel I have failed as a host ; so many over-worry about their food , spending hours faffing with reproducing some stack , tower or jus they saw in an over-priced nouvelle cuisine joint , when really they should have spent the time having a whizz round with the Harpic . ’
The argument that usually divides households has been settled via Twitter . According to Seth Wheeler , the man who invented toilet roll , it 's 'over ' Writer Owen Williams found the 1891 patent and tweeted to followers .