How to choose and compare the best paper hand towels
Paper hand towels: essential hygiene!
Choosing disposable paper hand towels means prioritizing hygiene above all else. How important is hygiene and limiting the transmission of winter viruses to you in your establishment today?
Single-use hand towels are available in various qualities and formats to suit different locations and traffic levels. The different types of hand towels are primarily flat-folded, either in cartridge form for use in a dispenser or in a round roll format for use in an automatic cutter dispenser or a center-pull roll dispenser .
Folded paper hand towels
These are rectangular hand towels folded inside each other. You can find all the folded hand towels and their prices at this link. They come in various fold types, widths, lengths, and qualities. These are the most common in public spaces, particularly in restrooms , airports, train stations, schools, etc., because they are easy to use.
The range of folded paper hand towels is very large and between the folding shapes , the size of the hand towel, its composition in terms of wadding , its weight ...etc it is sometimes difficult to compare.
In addition to this, there are now certifications such as Ecolabel, FSC, PFC , food contact or not...
Dimensions and folding of hand towels
Let's begin by clarifying the concepts of formats (dimensions) and folding of products on the market. Folded paper hand towels come in various formats and folding styles. The format of the paper hand towel, which corresponds to the usable surface area for drying, is indicated by two dimensions: for example, 23 x 23 cm, 23 x 25 cm, 22 x 34 cm, etc.
This dimension needs to be specified and gives an important indication that will determine the framework for the use and destination of the hand towel, but also consequently the consumption.
The smaller a hand towel is, the more consumers will tend to pull more heavily on the sheets and thus increase consumption.
A long hand towel will be preferred by medical and paramedical professionals because in addition to the hands, it will also be necessary to be able to dry the forearm, for example.
Generally, the first dimension of the hand towel corresponds to the width and the second to its length.
The second element concerns the folding of the paper hand towel.
We must then distinguish between:
- interfolded paper hand towels with a fold similar to a "W" or "Z"
- hand towels folded in a zigzag pattern, the fold of which is close to a "V" shape
- hand towels folded in a C shape .
Use the appropriate dispenser to avoid waste!
Each type of paper towel requires acompatible dispenser ; otherwise, the user may end up dispensing multiple towels at once instead of one sheet at a time, or the cartridge may not fit the dispenser. Our advisors are available to help you ensure compatibility.
The main manufacturers of paper hand towels are Kimberly Clark Lotus (now part of the SCA group) Tork , Lucart.
Paper hand towels in rolls
These are primarily roll-fed products intended for automatic but manually operated (autocut) dispensers or fully automatic devices such as the Lotus Enmotion dispenser, a pioneer in this field, the Tork H1 dispenser, or the Kimberly-Clark Roll Control dispensers. These dispensers are mainly found as an alternative to folded hand towel dispensers and therefore in restrooms.
The other standard involves central or external dispensing dispensers with internal or external roll dispensing of hand towels. These products are primarily found in kitchens or industrial settings, which are high-traffic areas.
Roll paper towel dispensers
Automatic cutting reel dispenser "autocut" manual
"Autocut" type hand towel dispensers that automatically cut the hand towel each time the user pulls on the roll.
Lotus Professional had developed the Lotus Nextturn dispenser system, which is now discontinued following the acquisition of Lotus Professional by Tork SCA, part of the Essity Group. Consumables are still available while stocks last, but if you currently have a dispenser of this type, it is best to replace it with an equivalent Tork H1 dispenser, which is the benchmark system.
You can also opt for a Kimberly Clark Slim Roll and Kleenex dispenser which will offer sheet-by-sheet dispensing with a choice of quality Kleenex or Scott hand towels.
The other option is to go to a "standard" autocut dispenser that accepts standardized hand towel rolls from several manufacturers in various lengths, widths, and thicknesses. In this case, you will need to pay attention to the dimensions and compatibility.
Automatic contactless cut-off reel dispenser
The no-touch roll hand towel dispenser represents an evolution because it is a contactless distribution system, thus reducing the risk of contamination.
The user waves their hand in front of a sensor that triggers the automatic dispensing of a hand towel of adjustable length. This type of system, like the Lotus Professional EnMotion, ensures impeccable hygiene since there is no contact between the user and the dispenser. With Lotus now having integrated SCA Tork, the still widely used EnMotion system has evolved into the Tork H1 system.
These dispensing systems also allow for greater control over hand towel distribution . Indeed, folded paper towels are often not suited to the dispenser and the width of the dispensing window , resulting in erratic dispensing with several sheets at once . This is why it is essential to choose a dispenser for folded paper towels that is perfectly adapted to the consumable.
Center-unwind reel dispensers
This is the most economical format, often used in kitchens, food processing plants, and industrial settings. It's a less aesthetically pleasing dispensing system compared to autocut dispensers or folded hand towel dispensers, but it prioritizes functionality.
Withcenter-pull paper hand towel rolls , we are clearly in a high-volume market where consumption is so high that there are multiple offers. It is therefore important to check the length , number of sheets , height, and paper weight of the roll to make a fair comparison .
Hand hygiene starts with using single-use hand towels!
Hand hygiene has become essential, even before discussing the cleanliness and disinfection of surfaces, objects, or floors. Indeed, it is through hand contact that viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens spread. Recent epidemics such as the H1N1 influenza, Coronavirus, SARS, MERS, or simply classic flu epidemics demonstrate this.
Is an electric hand dryer a single-use alternative to paper towels?
Several alternatives exist for wiping and drying hands.
-> The classic electric hot air hand dryer
-> The "Dyson" type electric hand dryer
-> Disposable single-use paper hand towel
Paper towels remain the gold standard in terms of limiting the spread of germs because they are single-use. While electric hand dryers with high-velocity air have made significant progress with the integration of UV technology, the hygiene advantage still lies with single-use paper towels.
Now the question is what level of hygiene is desired!
If you are operating in a hospital setting or if you are passing through a train station or airport, the hygiene issue is not comparable.
The conclusion is that we must choose the solution best suited to the level of hygiene desired and expected by the users.