How to Test Paper Towels Absorbency

Manufacturers of paper towels perform tests on their products to determine the absorbency and strength. As a consumer you can do the same thing with various paper towel brands to provide yourself with the best product for overall spill cleaning. With a few tips, you can perform an absorbency test and thus determine the most absorbent brand of paper towel.

Things You'll Need

• Data sheet (4 rows, 3 columns)
• Pen
• 4 equally shaped pieces of paper towel from different brands
• Medicine dropper
• Water
• 2 assistants

Instructions

1. Record the name of each brand of paper towel on the data sheet in the first column.

2. Ask two assistants to hold each corner of the first paper towel.

3. Secure water inside a medicine dropper enough to nearly fill it.

4. Drop one drop at a time onto the paper towel until it tears from the water. Be sure to refill the dropper.

5. Record the number of drops the paper towel could withstand, and move on to the next piece.

6. Record your results. The brand that ripped with the least amount of drops, will receive the rating of 4 as the least absorbent.The brand that ripped after the maximum number of drops have been placed upon it will receive a rating of 1 for most absorbent. Continue testing and recording the rest of the brands until you know which is the most absorbent.

References

• Tappi: Paper towel test