Before paper towels, we the people used cloth towels to both dry our hands and clean up our messes. The idea for the paper towel originally came from brothers z in 1879. They had created a thinner version of the towel we know and love today. It was first created to be used for medical reasons, as a light toilet tissue.

Then one day, in 1907, Irvin’s son Arthur had an issue. A tissue issue, if you will. A truckload of toilet tissue arrived at his factory, which was waaaay too thick for their very delicate product they’d become known for.

Instead of sending it back and wasting the product (an inventor after our own hearts), he found another use for the tissue. He’d heard a story from a local teacher who would give sick children pieces of paper to dry their hands so they wouldn’t contaminate the communal washroom cloth towels. That’s a smart lady!

Inspired, he had the accidentally thicker tissue reformed into towel-sized sheets and sold it as disposable paper towels instead of cloth towels to dry hands in washrooms. The invention was accidental, sure, but a medical success! It would help stop the spread of colds and diseases. No more communal cloth towels contaminated with teeny tiny germs.

The first paper towel was named Sani-Towel and was sold to restaurants, hotels, and railroad stations and distributed in their washrooms. Lavatories? Dunnies? Whatever you want call them.

Then in 1931, Arthur had another lightbulb idea. He introduced the Sani-Towel to the kitchen, which was when the concept of the paper towel as we know it truly came to life. At first, people were hesitant to use this unfamiliar product. It took years for behaviours to change and for paper towels to be accepted with open arms and dirty dishes.