The humble paper towel has a lot to live up to. Not only does it have to fit neatly in its dispenser, but also dry hands as safely, efficiently, and softly as possible. At a time when hygiene and sustainability are of utmost importance, a customer’s experience in a washroom can make or break a review. Guests expect as few points of contact with surfaces as possible, and paper towels in public washrooms are no exception.
Take interleaved paper towels; crisply pleated and simply stored, they conveniently unfold when pulled out of a dispenser one sheet at a time – meaning there’s no cross-contamination with other sheets and no fibres clinging to damp hands. High-absorbent paper towels dry hands fast, meaning washroom visitors reach for fewer sheets, saving resources and money.
“High absorbent paper dries hands fast. so, washroom visitors reach for fewer sheets, saving resources and money.”
Paper towels with high absorbency can have luxuriously embossed patterns, such as circles, swirls, or squares – the ridges and grooves from these patterns help pull water in. The fibre arrangement in highly absorbent paper towels quickly draws water in, too, as well as helping increase its structural strength. Once wet, lower-quality paper towels will disintegrate in the hands – providing a poor guest experience. Premium paper towels are often mechanically treated so that the fibres weave together, meaning that they remain strong even when wet. When visitors pull one sheet, they don’t end up with a broken, wet corner in their fingers.
Another important consideration when choosing a washroom hand towel is the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification. The FSC® is an internationally recognised organisation that certifies whether products come from responsibly harvested forests, recycled materials and/or FSC®-controlled wood.
Employing good-quality paper towels is also a crucial consideration within the HACCP framework. In a HACCP plan, the choice of reliable paper towels is a vital critical control point – paper towels with strong absorbency and durability contribute to effective cleaning and drying procedures, helping to maintain a sanitary environment and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
The quality of your paper towel can also reflect on the reputation of your establishment, with a growing majority of consumers (60%) valuing well kept washrooms so much that they’re willing to spend more money when they encounter one, according to the 11th annual Healthy Hand Washing Survey. Stocking your washroom with high-quality and absorbent paper towels can help increase your business reputation, and provide an overall better guest experience.
