The Best Paper Towels of 2021

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser The Kirkland Signature Create-A-Size Paper Towels are impressively strong.

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser The Presto! Paper Towels are tough and sturdy and capable of wiping up big messes.

How We Tested Paper Towels

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser We put each towel through its paces in practical tests.The Testers

I’m Georgia Kral, a journalist and mother of two young kids. As you might imagine, messes are pretty constant in my house! While I tend to use dish towels more than paper towels because of my dedication to creating less waste, there are certain jobs that paper towels are best for, so I always have rolls on hand. We all do. For this reason, I tend to be stingy when I use paper towels, so this testing was especially important to me on a personal level. I want paper towels that won’t fall apart, which would necessitate the use of another towel.

Kevin Oliver was the original tester and writer of this buying guide. He tested and reviewed all sorts of products for sites like Reviewed, BGR, Freshome, and TechRadar.

The Tests

We put each towel through its paces in practical, around-the-house tests that would best reflect the average consumer’s use of the product.

Our first trial was a simple wiping test. We put a teaspoon of tomato sauce on a common kitchen countertop and tried to clean the mess with one swipe of a paper towel. We documented any smudging or smearing, while also taking into account each product’s ease of use.

Next, we swiped each dry towel over a dusty surface to find their cleaning ability without the aid of water or spray.

We also tested the strength of each paper towel in both a dry and wet state. Using just one piece of paper, we attempted to pull it in half while dry and while wet. Next, we rubbed each wet paper towel against the rough surface of a floor rug to test the durability of each towel.

Last but certainly not least, we paid attention to the smaller, subjective details that make certain paper towels more enjoyable to use than others. This includes ease of tearing (because everyone loathes that piece at the bottom after an uneven tear), texture, softness, and overall ease of use.

What You Should Know About Paper Towels

While it may seem like all paper towels are the same, that’s actually not the case. There are a few considerations for the consumer that will help determine what to buy.

Cost

The first factor to consider is the sticker price, which incorporates the actual dollar amount but also the question of reusability. In our testing we wet the towels and then allowed them to dry and then used them again. This helped us determine which towels were strong and absorbent and the most durable.

Thickness & Absorbency

The thickness of each paper towel must also be considered. How sturdy the towel feels in your hand is important, but thickness plays a role in absorbency, which of course is one of the most important criteria when it comes to paper towels. But it’s not always the case that the thickest towel cleans up the biggest mess or stays the strongest when soaked through. In our testing, the thinnest towel was the Viva, but that towel proved to be quite durable when wet.

Other Paper Towels We Tested

More Articles You Might Enjoy

Checking our work.

We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process.

Shoot us an email

Source link