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Paper towel

technology Maturity 7-9 Next article →

A paper towel is a soft, absorbent towel made of paper.

Paper towel
Paper towel

These are disposable, so you use them only once. People use them for many jobs. You might use them to dry your hands. You can also wipe windows or dust surfaces. They are great for cleaning up spills.

Nibroc
Nibroc

In some places, people call them kitchen rolls or kitchen towels.

Paper towels soak up water because they are loosely woven. This means the fibers have space between them. Water can travel through these spaces easily. This happens because of the capillary effect. This effect lets water move even against gravity.

EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser
EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser

To make them stronger when wet, makers sometimes use resin size. Some towels are also bleached to make them look lighter. They might even have colorful pictures of flowers on them.

People have been making these for a long time. In 1907, the Scott Paper Company made the first restroom tissues. They sold them as Sani-Towels to help with hygiene. Later, three men worked on new ideas. William E. Corbin, Henry Chase, and Harold Titus studied paper towels in 1919. They worked in Berlin, New Hampshire. By 1922, Corbin made a product called Nibroc Paper Towels.

Nibroc
Nibroc

This name was just Corbin spelled backwards.

Paper towels come in different types for different places. Some are for homes, and some are for big buildings. In North America, homes use about two-thirds of all paper towels. The Scott Paper Company started making kitchen rolls in 1931. Many brands exist, such as Bounty, Viva, and Kirkland. Some towels are made from new wood or recycled paper. Some are even made from bamboo because it grows very fast.

Today, people use paper towels in many ways. You can find them in rolls or in stacks. Many public bathrooms use dispensers for these towels. Some people think they are cleaner than electric hand dryers. There is a big debate between towel makers and dryer makers. Both sides fund studies to show their way is better. Using paper towels is very common in wealthy countries.

EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser
EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser
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File:Paper towel.jpg
Paper towel.jpg
File:EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser.jpg
EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser.jpg
File:Nibroc.jpg
Nibroc.jpg
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