With apologies to all of you who have the potato / potahto song in your head, we thought it would be fun to explore the great debates of modern history.
No doubt the biggest and most obvious great debate is the toilet paper “over or under†question. Countless spats have been caused by the incorrect placement of toilet paper. But what is incorrect? According to a Cottonelle poll, a whopping 83% of respondents say that “over†is the only correct way to place the paper. And the 1891 patent for toilet paper even includes an illustration with the paper in the “over†position. So that should settle that, right? We doubt it. And seriously, there was no toilet paper before 1891?
Next up is the placement of silverware in the dishwasher. If you are the type who opens the dishwasher door and randomly throws your forks, spoons, and knives inside, you probably have no idea that there is a so-called correct way. Some people argue that you must place your silverware with the handles down otherwise they just really won’t get clean. Others say it is much safer to place the handles up, especially if you have children. It’s hard to argue with that. And then there is This Old House who says the absolute best way to make sure your utensils get clean is to place some up and some down, and leave a good amount of space in between. It’s another great debate that we won’t settle here.
You probably haven’t thought about how to tie your shoes since you were five. Most people tie their shoes using either the “around the tree†or the “bunny ears†method. And then there are those who swear by the IAN. What’s the IAN? Google it. Watch a video. It will change your life.
One debate that has a definitive answer is brushing your teeth. And if you are brushing up and down, keep reading. Back in the day, some incorrectly believed that brushing up and down was good for your gums. Maybe that was before 1891 as well? The correct way to brush your teeth is to work one section at a time, using small circles. Make sure not to brush too hard, but do brush for 2 – 3 minutes at least twice a day. And try to avoid brushing side to side because that has the potential to damage your teeth and gums.
Probably not. Some things just come down to personal taste and the “that’s just the way I do it†factor. Brushing however truly does have a right and wrong way. And when it comes to your health, it is best to just do it right! Happy brushing.
