Toilet paper is usually white for a surprisingly practical reason. It begins as wood pulp or recycled paper fibers, which naturally have a beige or brownish color. During manufacturing, the pulp is cleaned and brightened—often using oxygen-based or chlorine-dioxide bleaching processes—to remove lignin and other compounds that can make paper darker or cause it to yellow over time.

White also became the standard because people tend to associate it with cleanliness and hygiene. Manufacturers discovered that bright white paper looks fresh and sanitary, which matters for a product used in the bathroom. Keeping toilet paper one neutral color also simplifies large-scale production because companies don’t have to add extra dyes or create separate colored batches.

Colored toilet paper definitely exists, though. Pink, blue, peach, green, and other shades were much more fashionable decades ago, especially when people wanted bathroom products to match their décor. Some specialty brands still sell colored rolls today, but they’re much less common. Added dyes increase manufacturing costs, and many consumers now prefer products with fewer unnecessary fragrances and colorants.

There’s another practical advantage to white paper: it makes it easier to notice unusual discoloration after wiping, which can sometimes alert someone to bleeding or another issue worth paying attention to.

So your son isn’t stuck with white forever—colored toilet paper can still be found. But white became dominant because it’s simple to manufacture, looks clean, matches every bathroom, and doesn’t require extra coloring chemicals.