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Paper towel

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A paper towel is an absorbent and disposable towel made from paper.

Paper towel
Paper towel

Unlike traditional cloth towels, paper towels are intended for single use only. They serve many practical purposes in daily life. People use them to dry hands or wipe down windows and surfaces. They are also effective for dusting and cleaning up liquid spills. In Commonwealth English, these products are often called kitchen rolls, kitchen paper, or kitchen towels.

The ability to soak up liquid comes from the way the paper is constructed. Paper towels are loosely woven, which creates small spaces between the fibers. This structure allows water to travel through the material via the capillary effect. This physical process enables water to move through the fibers even against the force of gravity. To ensure the towel does not fall apart when it gets wet, manufacturers sometimes use resin size. This substance is added to improve the wet strength of the paper. During production, the paper may also be bleached to lighten its color or decorated with images like flowers.

Paper towels are categorized into two distinct classes: domestic and institutional. Domestic towels are intended for home use and are usually sold in rolls of perforated sheets. Some are also sold in stacks of pre-cut and pre-folded layers. Institutional towels are designed for use in public facilities, such as schools or shopping malls. These are often used in paper-towel dispensers. These dispensers are frequently chosen because they are considered more hygienic than shared cloth towels or hot-air hand dryers.

The history of the paper towel began in the early 20th century. In 1907, the Scott Paper Company of Philadelphia developed the first restroom tissues. They marketed these as Sani-Towels to promote personal hygiene. Later, in 1919, William E. Corbin, Henry Chase, and Harold Titus began experimenting with paper towels. They worked in the Research and Development building of the Brown Company in Berlin, New Hampshire. By 1922, Corbin perfected the product for mass production.

Nibroc
Nibroc

He produced them at the Cascade Mill under the name Nibroc Paper Towels, which was "Corbin" spelled backwards.

In the commercial market, the use of paper towels has changed over time. In North America, household consumer usage accounts for approximately two-thirds of total consumption. The remaining one-third comes from commercial usage. The growth in the commercial sector is partly due to a shift from folded towels to roll towel dispensers. This change helps reduce the amount of paper used by each person. In the forest products industry, paper towels are a major part of the tissue market. They are second only to toilet paper in total consumption.

Global consumption patterns vary significantly by region and wealth. In the United States, Americans are the highest per capita users of paper towels in the home. This consumption rate is 50% higher than in Europe. It is also nearly 500% higher than the rate in Latin America. Use is generally higher in wealthy countries and lower in developing countries. For example, people in the Middle East often prefer reusable cloth towels. In Europe, many people prefer using reusable cleaning sponges instead.

Modern technology has introduced new debates regarding hand hygiene. In the 21st century, electric jet-air dryers have become a common alternative to paper towels. There is no clear scientific consensus on which method is more hygienic. Consequently, the paper towel industry and hand dryer manufacturers, such as Dyson, often compete. Both sides have funded studies to support their products, which sometimes leads to sensationalist headlines.

EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser
EnMotion brand paper towel dispenser

While paper towels are useful, they also present environmental challenges. Most paper towels are non-recyclable, though some are made from recycled paper or fast-growing bamboo.

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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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