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With stay-at-home orders still in full effect in many states, the toilet paper shortage of 2020 is not yet in our rear view. Many of us still can’t find TP on the grocery store or pharmacy shelves. The one-per-customer limits mean that even when you can find it, you can’t stock up. So, within a few short weeks you’re facing an at-home shortage again. And since the demand has shifted from commercial rolls (like the ones used in offices) to individual rolls, suppliers just can’t keep up. It’s a real issue.
So–what are the super sleuths doing to make sure they can always find toilet paper? We spoke to shopping experts about the best tips for finding rolls when you need them:
READ MORE: The Secret Hacks People Are Using To Get Lysol Wipes When They’re Sold Out Everywhere
Use Instok.org
Websites that check stock and compare prices might be your best bet for finding toilet paper in the crisis. "Monitor Instok.org for updates on the inventory at various stores in your area," says CJ Legare of Functional Girl. "You can compare prices and also sign up for notifications to help you track when the product you're looking for becomes available. Just remember to call the store to confirm before rushing out."
Trader Joe's
The company struck a deal with an unnamed national hotel chain at the start of the crisis to buy their excess supply of toilet paper. This has allowed them to maintain a stock of TP throughout the pandemic as other stores were completely out. They often keep it behind the customer service counter, though, so you might have to ask for it if you don't see any on the shelves.
Office Supply Stores
"When toilet paper first began to sell out a couple of months ago, office supply stores were some of the last holdouts because it wasn't the first place many thought to check," consumer analyst Julie Ramhold with DealNews.com tells us. "That may still be the case now, so if you're having trouble, check your local Staples to see if they have any in stock."
Check W.B. Mason online for the commercial stuff, or Staples stores.
Buy Industrial
The toilet paper industry caters to two types of TP--the commercial kind you'd find in your office or place of business, and the at-home kind. The reason that there was a shortage during the COVID-19 crisis what that the demand shifted unexpectedly from the former to the latter. There's nothing you can do about this, except learn to live with commercial rolls that are a plenty. They won't fit on your bathroom roll, but industrial toilet paper will still do the trick.
Torn Packs
"When things are hardly available, being choosy is not a wise option. Almost every store keeps the damaged things out of their racks and dumps them in a different corner," Silviana Barbu of Don't Pay Full tells us. "In this crisis period, some stores are selling their damaged things from a different counter. Among these damaged stock, toilet paper rolls can be found with torn outer cover or slightly punctured packs. Those damaged rolls of toilet paper are as useful as the fresh rolls. Search for the toilet papers in the damaged stock of the retail stores and don’t hesitate to pick up if you find any. After all, torn or fresh, we all know where toilet papers are used."
