The Paper Towel Experiment
by hippie boy on Jul 08, 2007 with 106 Comments
What brand of paper towel is the most absorbent?
Experiment:
- Aim: To determine which brand of paper towel is the most absorbent.
- Hypothesis: I think that the v-shaped ripples on the viva paper towels will not make much difference in the amount of water absorbed.
- Equipment: 5 different types of paper towel; 250 mls of water; a tray; 50 ml syringe.
Method:
- Measure 50 mls of water into the tray.
- Put one square of one of the types of paper towel in the tray and make sure it has absorbed as much as I can.
- Remove the wet paper towel from the tray.
- Measure the water remaining in the tray and subtract that number by 50 to get the amount of water the paper towel absorbed.
- Repeat steps 1-4 with the other types of paper towel.
- Convert all the results into a column graph.
Results:
| Brand of paper towel | Cost of paper towel | Water left in tray (ml) | Water absorbed (ml) |
| Coles smart buy | $0.91 | 29 | 21 |
| Safe | $1.16 | 29.5 | 20.5 |
| Thick & Thirsty | $1.36 | 26 | 24 |
| Handee ultra * | $1.76 | 18.5 | 31.5 |
| Viva (Kleenex) * | $1.89 | 22.5 | 27.5 |
* Brands that claim to be the most absorbent.
Conclusion:
It has been determined that the most absorbent paper towel is “Handee ultra” it absorbed 32mls of water.
Discussion:
Although “Handee ultra” is the best paper towel for cleaning up liquid, they are probably not the strongest, it would take more experiments to confirm this.
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Published in: Consumer Information
Further results | Jul 9, 2007 | Reply
With your results, it’s easy to determine that the “Coles smart buy” are definitely a smart buy… they absorb the most water per dollar, at 23.08mL absorbed compared to 17.90mL per dollar absorbed by the Handee ultra. However, what about the strength of the paper towels… which one falls apart most easily after absorbing the water? Testing that would also be important.
me | Jul 9, 2007 | Reply
ur a genious, i never would have thought of it like that
rav321 | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
are u sure all the square pieces were the same size? the different brands may have different measurements…
me | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
yer one of the brands made there towels with one of the sides 0.5cm longer, so i just cut it off.
jandee | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
who cares? if they are the same size they are thicker or they have pockets or indents that make them different sizes even though you don’t see it. Hard it tell how much paper towel is in each piece, what are you going to do, iron them first. You can never be really sure.
n 2 the a 2 the t=NaT | Jul 22, 2007 | Reply
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pfjdejkdfjt | Sep 24, 2007 | Reply
wow !
amy | Sep 26, 2007 | Reply
hey i did this same experiment and handee ultra are definatly not the strongest paper towel a few minutes after i took it out of the water it was falling apart the two layers in the paper towel fell apart. While viva was by far the strongest after it was saturated it was still hard to rip
Marlana 0ct 03. 2007 | Oct 3, 2007 | Reply
This is avery good experiment, but you should try the shop brand paper towel it is the strongest out of my experiment. I like your experiment
nahsgdtevcomhg | Oct 17, 2007 | Reply
wow ur awsome
MIIMII | Oct 17, 2007 | Reply
UR LAME!
missjudypants | Oct 23, 2007 | Reply
this is a silly thing to do a project on.
autumn concho | Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
this page is so lame theres nothing on it
Naomi Ashley McClinton | Nov 11, 2007 | Reply
i’ve done the same experiment and i have much very different and larger estimates and answers than your experiment!
flaka | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
well i like ur experiment hopes it gets me an ‘A’in my science project!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Xx I 70V3 TIM! xX- | Dec 5, 2007 | Reply
GOOD EXPERIMENT!!! I’M GOING TO TRY THIS EXPERIMENT FOR MY SCIENCE PROJECT!:)
mcmeli valles | Dec 6, 2007 | Reply
no offense but i know a better way 2 do this expirement and the metod is dumb
Hello good by | Dec 12, 2007 | Reply
I think you just copyed this expirement from another website i also think that your just a phoney i aslso think that you juust copyed and pasted it from MY WEBSITE Howtodopapertowelexpermints.com
abcdefghijklmonp | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
i b doin mi on this
babyface | Jan 15, 2008 | Reply
ur all nerds
abcdefjkk | Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Very Good Expirement. i will try this one day
grandpajo | Jan 19, 2008 | Reply
we’re not nerds! my mom made me look up a project for my science fair…..
12345 keep it alive | Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
i like this expirement i will use it.
emliy | Feb 3, 2008 | Reply
hi im from hannah montana so can you put a little more idvice on this page for my friend thank you emliy
Fana | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply
this is my science fair question!!!!!!!!
monkey123 | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply
thx for the instructions for the science fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!luv u bye bye
ananomous | Feb 14, 2008 | Reply
i might try it
xoxo | Feb 17, 2008 | Reply
this is stupid
joy | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
hey emily r u really from hannah montana?
im watching the serve up justice episode
thanks joy
Ian Paton | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Im so doing it
JoeShmo | Mar 6, 2008 | Reply
nice, im using yor steps 2 do my project
Beshobo | Mar 23, 2008 | Reply
I have to do a similar experiment to this one at school. Your method is stupid. Mine is way better
marcus | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
you really don t know what you are talking about you loser and i wish you wouldnt do crap like that you nerd . your lucky i dont know where you live or i would come and beat you up you loser gerk
marcus | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
you really don t know what you are talking about you loser and i wish you wouldnt do crap like that you nerd . your lucky i dont know where you live or i would come and beat you up you loser gerk
marcus | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
you really don t know what you are talking about you loser and i wish you wouldnt do crap like that you nerd . your lucky i dont know where you live or i would come and beat you up you loser gerk
Zandy | Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
i have 2 do this for skool as a assignment
thanx u gave me sum ideas
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
nena from the hood | Apr 1, 2008 | Reply
im doing this experiment to show mmy hood that im doing something w/ ma life and entering 2008 science fair
awesome4ev | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
i love your experiment. im doing a science project on this and youre a big help. thanks a lot.
from,awesome4ev
Molly | Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
I did a project on this and I need research on the topic for the science fair. I think you should post some reasearch on the website.
President Bush | May 9, 2008 | Reply
Great experiment
I think you have made a difference to America.
Thankyou again From The Big Man Bush
ben | May 16, 2008 | Reply
thnx 4 the experiment was plannin 2 do same thing but droppin water on from above…
hope u dont mind if i use ur results
elizabeth | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
I have been using Handee paper towels for ever , but now I am about to buy another product why you may well ask ?
they have cut a quarter of an inch in width and the roll no longer fits in my spring loaded paper dispenser ! !
Talk about ”cunning” I will never buy them again !!!
jiggapop | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply
this was good, you helped me with my project.
thanks heaps. whats yur myspace I’ll add you
Poisonous Love | Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
Tyvm! u helped me sooo much! Cant express my happiness wen i found this sci proj! Again ty.
Peter | Aug 8, 2008 | Reply
i did the same experiment for my yr 10 project and found that the viva paper towel brand absorbed the most water. I cut each paper towel brand into 20×20cm peices and found that Viva absorbed 20.3ml compared to handee ultra with 18.5ml on average. ????? Is this websight bias ???
bob | Sep 2, 2008 | Reply
i don’t like cleaning
A MAN WITH A LIFE | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
yall r dumabasses for talking and researching about wat paper towels are the stronest..GET a FREAKIN LIFE
bogeyschmogey(: | Sep 11, 2008 | Reply
ahaha I’m doing the same experiment as you for my yr9 assignment :p
and I had to do some research and found this site (:
well hey, i got the same results.
but i think you should have measured the size of each paper towel so that you get fair results.
I cut out 10×10 of each and used a pipette. I kinda think that would have been easier. =w=”
bogeyschmogey(: | Sep 11, 2008 | Reply
Oh, and it would be good to do a few more trials, then average the results.
If you had not done that.
miley | Sep 20, 2008 | Reply
This is a gr8 experiment and if u r callin miley cyrus a nerd well im not a nerd and yes that was emily osment. and handee ultra is the most absorbent. i tried.
kelly | Oct 16, 2008 | Reply
is this experiment even right coz i agree with miley handee ultra is the most absorbent and yes i have done this experiment before
billy bob | Oct 16, 2008 | Reply
hahahhahahhahahhhahahha u all got it wrong
D'Anna | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
I thik that the experpent was pretty cool but
u should have done the experpent more than
once because if u would have done it twice u
could have got something different then
u would have to do it like five times well that’s what
people do when they want to get the real result
#60 Ty | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
This is cool am going to try it
angel and ce ce | Nov 6, 2008 | Reply
that was a good idea u help me alot thanks to you i got a 98% on my project ………………………
James | Nov 10, 2008 | Reply
This was a good experiment and mine is due very soon and this gave me a good idea. Don’t pay any attention to the retards sending you things that they wish they could do but are to dumb to even use the enternet. And if this person is such a nerd how did you fine the experiment you rejects.
soso1204 | Nov 17, 2008 | Reply
awsome
asf | Nov 17, 2008 | Reply
asfasf
Victoria | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
Bounty is the best because is the strongest!!!
Karl | Nov 30, 2008 | Reply
One problem it does not mention if the paper towel was taken out and the water allowed to drip out of it into the container it was soaking in and then placed into the other container. This would give you a more accurate idea of how much water it can hold.
bossmandevon | Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
dis is base on my prject this name i got is for my xbox360 if you have one add me to your friends. but this is a good explamation thx alot
kylie | Dec 8, 2008 | Reply
it was the best idia in the world
Bianca | Dec 12, 2008 | Reply
Thanks so much, im doing a project on this and it helped me so much.
hahahah but its soo easy to really find out, but goodd job
cynthia | Dec 15, 2008 | Reply
is stupid reality
ashley | Feb 22, 2009 | Reply
thank i got fith on the science fair! : ]
Leslie | Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
hey, am going to try this project for the science fair but with different paper towels…maybe we will get different results
asdfghjklpoiuytrewqzxcvbnmn | Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
omg hi your so smart but your lame!!
maria and cecy | Feb 26, 2009 | Reply
lame project but without so much headache
lala man | Mar 1, 2009 | Reply
cool?
ruby | Mar 2, 2009 | Reply
u suck dude u rock
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jo mamma | Mar 12, 2009 | Reply
u now boy, this site is sick dud . u know what i sayin player. yo hippie boy you got some real brains. maybe u should use dem brains for sometin people actually care about!
random | Mar 14, 2009 | Reply
uhhh comment #12, missjudypants, i begto differ. my classmate won the science fair in 6th grade last year with exactly the same project… and there were 158 projects present…
danielle | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
coooliooooo
gfgfgfgf | Mar 30, 2009 | Reply
could ya right some thing for kid to understand ps i love u
Jaelyn | Apr 15, 2009 | Reply
This a very good idea for a science project but you would have to say what your average amount of water absorbed also.
her | Apr 16, 2009 | Reply
hey thinks i just copied your copied this whole project and got a 100 on my science project, im a slacker and didnt feel like actually doing the project
justanotherstranger | Apr 17, 2009 | Reply
Hey there. This experiment was very interesting, my sister just did it for her science fair. But, I would prefar something more advance. Thanks for the help though, you gave me a way to help my sister get a good grade. =]
crazywomen4 | Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
dis is a very good experiment you did on the paper towels i will now use ya experiment for my science fair project
who gives? | May 7, 2009 | Reply
YEAY!!!! thnx alot that really helped! Im in the 6th grade and we had ta do it so i just searched it up!
B.T.W i am a girl and im not really smart, i get As Bs and sometimes Cs
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Jay-Jay | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
thank you u r a life saver me and my friend couldnt find a topic thank u man
kala bunga | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
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hey get out of my yard | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
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mileycyrus | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
hey yall thanks for givin me this idea for my science project once again i thank you
britney spears | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
mileycyrus | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
by the way i am Jay-Jay
lulu | Jun 15, 2009 | Reply
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comou | Jun 15, 2009 | Reply
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tayllaaahh | Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
hah thanks
you just helped me with my assignment
geena | Jul 13, 2009 | Reply
omg thank you so much this is a great help for me
blaaaaa | Sep 17, 2009 | Reply
boring u r not Q)
sunshine | Sep 22, 2009 | Reply
thankyou for this wonderful idea i dont care what everyone says your briliant thanks bunches
... | Sep 25, 2009 | Reply
thanks for this, im doing this for a school assinment you made it like ten times easier
thankyou !
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LOL NOOB | Oct 27, 2009 | Reply
too nerdy you are.
LOL NOOB | Oct 27, 2009 | Reply
At the top i mean.