Look, I’m not proud of this, but I’ve dropped my phone in the toilet twice. TWICE. And both times could’ve been avoided if I had somewhere safe to put it while doing my business.
So yeah, that’s how I ended up buying a plastic toilet paper holder with a phone shelf. Not my most glamorous purchase, but honestly? Best twelve bucks I’ve spent in a while.
The Backstory (aka My Bathroom Disasters)
My bathroom is tiny. Like, “you can touch both walls while sitting on the toilet,” tiny. The toilet paper holder that came with the place is one of those basic metal rod things mounted way too high on the wall. And there’s literally nowhere safe to put your phone except balanced on the edge of the sink, which is how I learned that phones don’t float.
After the second phone-drowning incident (RIP to my old iPhone’s speaker), my roommate was like, “Dude, just buy one of those toilet paper holders with a shelf.” I thought she was joking, but apparently these things exist, and people actually buy them.
Finding This Thing on AliExpress
I started looking around and found this YANKE toilet paper holder thing. Honestly, the name is weird, and the product photos looked kind of cheap, but the reviews weren’t terrible, and it was only $12. Plus, it said “no drilling required,” which is important when you’re renting and your landlord is… particular about wall holes.
The listing was one of those classic AliExpress descriptions that tries to sell you on EVERYTHING, including a toilet paper holder! Phone shelf! Kitchen towel storage! Seasoning bottle holder! I was like, “Okay, buddy, let’s see if it can handle toilet paper first.
Getting It Set Up
It took about two weeks to arrive, which is pretty normal for AliExpress. Came in a beat-up cardboard box with Chinese writing all over it. Inside was the white plastic holder (I picked white because my bathroom is white and I’m not creative), some adhesive strips, and instructions that were… optimistic about my handyman skills.
But honestly? Installation was stupid easy. You just clean the wall, stick on the adhesive, wait like 15 minutes, and slap it on. I was paranoid it would fall off in the middle of the night and scare the crap out of me, but it’s been stuck solid for like four months now.
I put it on the wall next to the toilet where I could reach it easily. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes, including the waiting time.
Living With It – The Good Stuff
The phone thing actually works. This was my main concern, and yeah, it holds my phone just fine. The little shelf has raised edges so it won’t slide off, and it’s the perfect height to reach from the toilet. No more phone swimming lessons.
More storage than expected. I thought it would just hold toilet paper and maybe my phone, but I’ve got hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and even a small air freshener up there. It’s like a tiny command center.
Looks decent. For a $12 piece of plastic from China, it doesn’t look terrible. It’s obviously not high-end, but it’s clean and simple. Matches my white bathroom fixtures fine.
Actually holds toilet paper properly. The roll spins freely and tears off normally. I was worried it might be wonky, but it works like any other toilet paper holder.
Easy to clean. Just wipe it down when I clean the bathroom. No weird crevices where gross stuff can hide.
The Not-So-Great Parts
It’s clearly cheap plastic. Like, it works fine, but you can tell it’s not expensive. The finish isn’t super smooth, and there are a few imperfections from manufacturing. Whatever, it was twelve bucks.
Can’t move it once it’s up. The adhesive is serious business. If you stick it in the wrong spot, you’re probably going to damage the wall getting it off. Measure twice, stick once.
Size limits. Don’t try to store heavy stuff on it. I put a glass bottle of lotion up there once, and the whole thing started sagging. Stick to light bathroom stuff.
Only fits one roll at a time. This is obvious but worth mentioning. You can store backup rolls on the shelf, but only one goes in the actual dispenser part.
Weird Ways I’ve Used It
Backup charging cable. I keep a short charging cable on the shelf so my phone doesn’t die while I’m scrolling through Instagram.
Reading glasses. Yeah, I’m getting old. Sue me.
Small snacks. Don’t judge me. Sometimes you need a granola bar.
Hair ties. My girlfriend leaves these everywhere; now, at least, they have a designated spot in one bathroom.
Four Months Later
It’s still stuck to the wall. Still holding my phone. Still not falling apart. The plastic has gotten a tiny bit yellowish, but you’d only notice if you were looking for it.
I’ve gotten used to having everything right there within reach. It’s one of those things that seems silly until you have it, and then you wonder how you lived without it.
My roommate ended up buying one for her bathroom, too, after seeing mine. Now we both have dedicated phone shelves and feel very fancy.
Should You Buy This Thing?
If you’ve ever dropped your phone in the toilet, yes. If you have a small bathroom and need more storage, yes. If you want to spend $12 to make your bathroom slightly more organized, yes.
If you’re looking for high-end bathroom fixtures or have plenty of space already, probably skip it. This is a practical solution to practical problems, not a design statement.
The Real Talk
This plastic toilet paper holder with a phone shelf isn’t going to change your life. But it solved a specific, annoying problem I had (where to put my phone) while also giving me a bit more storage space. For twelve bucks, that’s a win.
I’ve recommended it to friends who have small bathrooms or who are also phone-droppers. Most of them bought one and seem happy with it. It’s not exciting, but it works.
Bottom line: If you need what it does, buy it. If you don’t, don’t. Pretty simple.
Would I buy it again? Yeah, probably. Might try the gray one next time to see if it hides bathroom grime better.
Biggest surprise? How much I use the extra shelf space for random bathroom stuff.
Biggest disappointment? The plastic quality could be better, but again, twelve bucks.
That’s it. Nothing revolutionary, just a cheap plastic thing that holds toilet paper and keeps your phone from drowning. Sometimes that’s enough.
