# My new paper towel question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807 "2024-08-16T21:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/21 "2024-08-17T08:22:06Z")
That’s another thing. Water usage. I’m on well water. I have a septic system. We use too much of both. A washer full of cloths, clean up towels and drying towels(I never washed sponges, when they’re bad they are tossed) isn’t alarming, but it would be with out some use of paper. I tried the wet ring on the roll. Did absolutely nothing. Seemed like it was like you said would keep the paper moving. But it was still damp. After the first few sheets it didn’t show up any more. So, nope. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/22 "2024-08-17T10:05:33Z")
I go through one roll of paper towels every, dunno, six months. For the last forty years my system has been based on flannel sheets. Which we sleep under year round. When they wear out – we get about five to seven years out of them – I tear them into rags. These are the ‘first tier’ rags, unblemished and pretty. They go to be kitchen dishrags, nose wipes, etc. Later in their lives they become shop rags, and finally, they get composted. Flannel rags are better than paper towels in every way, except that they must be laundered. Since I air dry all my wash, it is only labor. For larger clean ups, we have a big stack of what we call Dog Towels – bath towels past their prime. When the dog towels have become too raggy to use whole, which takes ten or twenty years, they get torn up for shop towels, and finally … composted. The only thing I regularly use paper towels for is washing my goat’s udder before milking. I hate disposable modern life and the enormous waste stream it creates. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/23 "2024-08-17T13:47:37Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > He took the roll of paper towels and pressed it, where the seam was, against the kitchen faucet and made a wet circle on the roll. > Put them in the holder. My WAG is that the water makes the sheets stick together somewhat, even after drying (like water spilled on a newspaper or magazine), which then acts as “brake” against pulling multiple sheets at once and thus makes the roll last longer. Especially in a household with kids who just grab a towel and let 'er rip. No idea if this is accurate but it’s the only thing I could think of for making a wet ring on the seam before hanging on the holder. Granted, you’d need a lot of water to penetrate far enough down to make a difference so maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/24 "2024-08-17T17:16:31Z")
Once, a few years ago, when the house only had me(it was for brief time before the pandemic hit) I acquired several rolls of that thin brown paper. The kind you see in public restrooms to dry your hands with. Boy that stuff was great for house cleaning and pet use. One roll lasted forever. I wanna think a few months. I had a rigged up roll holder inside the under sink cupboard. It composted great. Imma get me some more. Wonder where I could buy that? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/25 "2024-08-17T17:49:47Z")
This stuff? > **[Amazon.com: Tork Paper Hand Towel Roll Natural H21, Universal, 100% Recycled...](https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Natural-Universal-Recycled-RK8002/dp/B0BQQH71MM)** > > Buy Tork Paper Hand Towel Roll Natural H21, Universal, 100% Recycled Fiber, 6 Rolls x 800 ft, RK8002: Paper Towels - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/26 "2024-08-17T18:09:10Z")
In my view, at least for my lifestyle, paper towels are absolutely essential, but I do my best to ration their use. I always buy the ones that let you tear off half sheets (Bounty calls it “Select-a-Size”) and for some purposes I often tear those in half crosswise. I can’t even begin to list all the things I use paper towels for, though always trying to minimize quantity. I keep my non-stick fry pans in top condition by just rinsing them in hot water and rubbing down with a paper towel. I use paper towels to clean the crap off my glass-top stove. I wrap breakfast sausage that I’ve pre-cooked and frozen in a quarter-square of paper towel when microwaving a pair of them (to prevent spatter and absorb grease). I could go on forever. There is no substitute. How did people ever survive without paper towels? Well, I guess the same way that people survived without electricity. Life sucked. Now things are better. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/27 "2024-08-17T18:17:37Z")
Yeah baby! Ordered. Arrived Weds. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/28 "2024-08-17T18:27:46Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Wonder where I could buy that? I’m still trying to train myself that, whenever I (or someone else) have this question, the first answer should always be, “Have you checked Amazon?” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807/29 "2024-08-17T20:54:40Z")
I always go to Amazon. I was just thinking out loud. Luckily it was handled for me. Yay! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-paper-towel-question/1005807.md?page=1)