Tissues: Best & Worst

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Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods........................................................................................................................................... 2 Results and Data ............................................................................................................................. 3 Criteria ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Recommendation ............................................................................................................................ 6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Index ............................................................................................................................................... 8

Introduction
Facial tissues are widely used in public places such as schools, churches, and doctor's offices. However, they are most welcomed during the cold, flu, and allergy season. These soft, absorbent, disposable papers are a lot more important than we realize. They are designed to assist with the removal of nasal mucus, appropriately, while being suitable for use on the face. Facial tissues are used on a daily basis, and they're even considered essential. The information below provides some basic information regarding facial tissue. The following information is important because it is the foundation upon which this recommendation report is based. Facial tissues can have either of the following features: scented or unscented one-ply two-ply three-ply with or without lotion

Facial tissues vary in size although a single tissue is usually about the size of your palm or pocket sized. They can be flushed; however, tissues with thicker ply need to dissolve slightly first to avoid causing a paper clog in a toilet. Facial tissue can be used as a disposable washcloth when slightly dampened with water; however, the tissue might shred rather quickly depending on the ply. Some other features may include recycled, chlorine free, and biodegradability. Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong, Puffs Plus Lotion, Kleenex Ultra Soft, Kleenex Anti-Viral, Angel Soft Facial, and Quilten Northern Ultra are just a few brands of facial tissues that are commonly used and widely available; there are literally hundreds of other brands to choose from as well. Specifically, this recommendation report will compare softness, ply, durability, and sheets per box.

Methods
The facial tissues I purchased from my local grocery stores and Amazon were all reasonably priced available in abundant quantities. Puffs and Kleenex were the two most expensive brands which is not particularly surprising. During my research, I discovered that the higher the ply, the lower amount of sheets per box. The logic behind this practice is that if a tissue is thicker, one person will not have to waste as many sheets to blow their nose or clear up their sinuses. The durability tests were conducted one week ago with myself and an assistant. We used an antibacterial sanitizer to clean our hands before testing the softness of each tissue. Kleenex was the best at leaving our noses and faces soft and did not lead to any redness or irritation. Another important factor that was taken into consideration before the results were calculated was whether or not any of the facial tissue brands left remnants/pieces on or near our nose after sneezing.

Results and Data

Kleenex (Ultra Soft) Kleenex performed well in most of the tests. The Kleenex brand of facial tissues were softest. In terms of quantity, they were also in second to Angel Soft, at 126 tissues per box. However, they cost $2.52 per box which makes them the most expensive and puts them last in terms of cost. Kleenex facial tissues are 4th in terms of durability. Puffs Puffs came in first in most categories. They were the softest, although the brand in second came close. Puffs contained 100 tissues per box. This is more than the second place brand. However, because of the number of tissues included, they cost the most per box at $2.29, though this still ties them for first in terms of cost per tissue, $.002. Puffs proved to be the most effective at absorbing moisture, by far. It also proved to be the most durable. Quilted Northern Ultra Quilted Northern Ultra did not perform very well in the conducted experiments. It was the roughest brand of the six tested facial tissues (tied with Angel Soft) and left our noses red and irritated. It contained the greatest tissues per box, 180, and it was the cheapest brand at $1.09, each tissue costs $0.006, placing it first for cost per tissue. It was dead last on average in durability tests, although the tissues from the box were fairly inconsistent in how much weight they could hold.

4 Tissue Brands Number of Sheets Durability Softness Per Box (Strength/Flexibility) 100 63.3 grams 5 Cost Ply

Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong Puffs Plus Lotion

2.29

72

50 grams

1.89

Kleenex Ultra Soft Kleenex AntiViral Angel Soft Facial

146

35 grams

2.52

78

41.6 grams

2.36

190

20 grans

1.75

Quilted Northern Ultra

180

15 grams

1.09

Criteria
The criteria for our recommendations have been sorted by the following hierarchy of importance: Cost Durability Quantity (Sheets Per Box & Ply) Softness

The softness of all six facial tissue brands were rated on a scale of 1 to 5: Extremely rough, rough, average, soft, extremely soft. For the durability portion of the experiment, 5 gram metal weights were used to determine how much weight the facial tissues could hold after use (on average): Durability Held tissue horizontally Placed metal weights on the tissue, each weighing 5 grams Recorded the number required to create a tear tissue Repeated tests twice for accurate results

The overall cost of the facial tissues was calculated by dividing the total cost per/by sheets in the box (Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong) Cost per box/Cost per tissue: 2.29/100 = 0.02 (Puffs Plus Lotion) Cost per box/Cost per tissue: 1.89/72 = 0.026 Kleenex Ultra Soft) Cost per box/Cost per tissue: 2.52/146 = 0.017 Kleenex Anti-Viral) Cost per box/Cost per tissue: 2.36/78 = 0.030 Angel Soft Facial) Cost per box/Cost per tissue: 1.75/190 = 0.009 Quilted Northern Ultra) Cost per box/Cost per tissue: 1.09/180 = 0.006

Recommendation
The final recommendation to the consumer would have to be Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong. Although the box did not contain the greatest number of sheets, each tissue was 3 ply which ensures the possibility of multiple use for one person and it held the highest amount of weight. The cost of Puffs was not too unreasonable and could be affordable for many people, especially with coupons available during cold and flu season. Placed 1st in the majority of categories/ criteria (3/5) Lead by a significant amount in 2/5 categories

Never placed 5th or 6th in any of the aforementioned criteria Puffs was the highest quality tissue without any additional cost

Conclusion
Ultimately, many of the test proved to be inconsistent and some were inconclusive. The effectiveness of one tissue brand might have fared better than another, but may have made up for it in terms of softness.

Index
Angel Soft, 2, 3 cost, 2, 3, 4 expensive, 2 Kleenex, 2 ply, 2, 4 Puffs, 2, 3, 4 Quilted Northern, 2, 3 tissues, 2, 3