The best paper towels

Seventh Generation Unbleached Paper Towels are made from 100% recycled paper, so their use doesn't contribute to deforestation.

If you care about nature but still want convenience when you clean up spills, wipe down countertops, or wash the car, then using a roll of Seventh Generation Unbleached Paper Towels is the way to go. These paper towels are made entirely from recycled paper products, and thus don't use any virgin wood pulp from trees chopped down to make paper.

They are also made without the use of any dyes, ink, or fragrance, and as the name makes clear, they are not bleached. The absence of all such chemicals further reduces the effect these Seventh Generation paper towels have on the environment, both in terms of their production and their impact after they are thrown away.

We use several Seventh Generation products in our house, including baby wipes and dish soap, and we've used their paper towels many times. They are as durable as most more heavily processed paper towel options and are perfectly suitable for most cleaning tasks. I will tell you, though, that they are less absorbent than a number of other paper towels I've tried, though it's a tradeoff most people will gladly accept for the minimal impact the paper towels have on the planet.

With dozens of reviews posted, the Seventh Generation Unbleached Paper Towels currently have a 3.9-star average, with some buyers noting their middling absorbance. Most buyers, however, echo the sentiments of a buyer named Colin who called them "great paper towels" that are "very strong" and "never leave fuzz or lint behind."

A writer with Good Housekeeping called Seventh Generation paper towels a great choice for "environmentally conscious" consumers, but did note that they're "not very thick" and thus absorb less liquid than other options.

Pros: Made from 100% recycled paper, no chemicals used in processing

Cons: Less absorbent than other brands

Buy a 24-Roll Box of Seventh Generation Unbleached Paper Towels from Amazon for $50.63

Plenty Ultra Premium Paper Towels are about as absorbent and durable as any other major brand, but they cost less than the other choices.

There's nothing I can say about Plenty Ultra Premium Paper Towels that will wow you really. They're not 100% recycled and they're not free of bleach and other chemicals. They are, however, soft and absorbent and relatively durable, and they can be used to sop up spills, as napkins with casual meals or snacks, or to help you clean the bathroom or wipe down furniture... but so can lots of other paper towels.

So what sets these paper towels apart from the pack? They cost less, and that's pretty much that. But the fact that they are lower priced than most paper towel options while not being lower quality? That is worth noting, no? Also, all Plenty Ultra Premium Paper Towels are manufactured in either North Carolina or Pennsylvania, in case you value American-made products.

One self-professed "paper towel snob" called the Plenty Ultra Premiums "freaking awesome" and was thrilled by their "strength and softness." Another customer called their price "unbeatable" and their quality "great."

A review post from KitchenEm pointed out how soft the Plenty paper towels feel, calling them perfect for use "as napkins during supper" beyond their suitability for myriad "cleaning needs."

Pros: Low price point, soft to the touch, durable enough for scrubbing

Cons: Cardboard tube too narrow for some holders

Buy a 15-Roll Box of Plenty Ultra Premium Paper Towels from Amazon for $41.49

With a box of paper Kleenex Hand Towels, multiple people can share a bathroom without sharing their germs after hand washing.

Whether used in a home, school, or office during cold and flu season or in any public restroom any time of the year, a box of Kleenex Hand Towels is a great way to prevent the spread of germs after hand washings.

When people share a cloth towel after washing their hands, any residual germs not rinsed away or killed off during the washing can be readily transferred to the next person who uses the same towel. If you are responsible for a bathroom that does not have a built-in paper towel dispenser (or a hand dryer), then putting a box of these disposable paper hand towels beside the sink is a great way to help people keep their hands clean and dry and to keep their germs a private matter.

Kleenex Hand Towels are a great choice for use in the home, especially during an open house or dinner party when people outside the family are visiting, but as each box holds a generous count of 60 towels, they are also perfectly suitable for use in the bathroom of a busy office or a restaurant.

The angular design of the box allows it to be perched atop a towel bar for easy access, but the box can also simply be set on a counter or on the side of the sink, too. Also, beyond the fact that stopping the spread of germs is a plus, it's also just convenient to grab a fresh, dry paper hand towel after washing up, germ concerns or not.

The Kleenex Hand Towels enjoy a sterling 4.7-star rating on Amazon at the time of this writing. One satisfied customer says she "loves to use them all around the house for more than wiping [her] hands" alone," while another calls them "thick and soft" and "luxurious compared to [a] hard roll [of] paper towels."

A writer with The Impulsive Buy calls Kleenex Hand Towels "very absorbent" and "more hygienic than a communal hand towel."

Pros: Great way to stop spread of germs, convenient dispensing, absorbent and soft

Cons: Rather pricey for paper towels

Buy a 6-Pack of Kleenex Hand Towel Boxes on Amazon for $17.99