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Release date 11/02/2009
Though Bounty Extra Soft ($4.15 per 100 sq. ft.) topped the Ratings, store brands from Walgreens ($2.50 per 100 sq. ft) and CVS ($2.90 per 100 sq. ft.) cost roughly one-third less than the price of Bounty, and scored very good in Consumer Reports’ tests of 21 paper towel products. Very good and even less expensive than the drugstore offerings are the Kirkland Signature (Costco, $1.48 per 100 sq. ft.) paper towels sold in the East (those sold in the West did slightly worse) and Up & Up (Target, $1.77 per 100 sq. ft.).
The testing process
Paper towels come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are embossed on one or both sides, perforated to create half-sheets, or “green”—made of 100 percent recycled paper with some post-consumer content. Most are two-ply.
There are also differences in number of sheets, sizes of sheets, and numbers of rolls per package so it’s difficult to compare costs. Consumer Reports leveled the playing field by calculating cost per 100 square feet.
To measure absorbency, Consumer Reports saturated a sheet of each paper towel in water and determined the weight of the water it held per square foot. Testers measured scrubbing strength by wrapping a wet sheet around a sponge. Then testers had a machine move the covered sponge back and forth over ceramic tiles and counted the number of scrubs before the sheet tore. For wet strength, technicians measured how much lead a wet sheet could hold before it tore apart.
Testing results
After rigorous tests, Brawny proved the most absorbent of all. One square foot held more than 2½ fluid ounces of water on average, compared with about one-half fluid ounce for the least absorbent products. Other findings include:
Some paper towels can cost three times as much as others and may not get the job done. For the complete ratings on paper towels, check out the December issue of Consumer Reports, on newsstands on November 3 and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2009 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2009 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.