A paper towel is a piece of paper that can be used as a washcloth and then thrown away after just one use. The most widely used type is the kitchen towel, which are perforated rolls of products that are mounted on a cardboard rod a little longer than the width of the roll. Most people think that kitchen paper is the only type of wipe available, but there are actually many different types that do not come on a roll. These non-rolls are distinguished by the fold of the wipe. These include C-fold, multi-fold, single-fold, and single-fold wipes. But what are these various types of roll-free paper towels, and how do they really differ?

C-folded products are large pieces that are approximately 10 inches by 12 inches in sheet size that fold to approximately 10 inches by 4 inches in “C” size. The folding of these larger wipes makes dispensing and storing much easier and more convenient. These wipes are made to be loaded into a C-fold dispenser for dispensing one at a time. C-fold towels are available in 1 or 2 layer strengths, depending on absorbency needs. These C-fold products are made by manufacturers and brands such as Windsoft, Boardwalk, Tork, Kimberly-Clark, Kleenex, Scott, Georgia-Pacific, BigFold, and Acclaim.

Multifunctional wipes are products that have a different shape than C-fold towels and are folded in 3 layers, like an accordion. These 1-ply wipes have a sheet size of approximately 9.2 inches x 9.4 inches from manufacturers such as Kimberly-Clark, Scott, Georgia-Pacific, Windsoft, and Boardwalk. The multifunctional products are available in white or natural (brown) paper. These large pieces are thick, strong, and more absorbent, so you wear less.

Scottfold products are 1-ply paper towels and typically have 12.4-inch long sheets. These towels fold in half, thus differing from C-fold and multi-fold towels that fold in three. Scottfold towels are sold as a replacement for C-fold and multiple towels as a cost-saving substitute with an estimated cost savings of 10%. Scottfold towels are available from manufacturers such as Kimberly-Clark Professional.

Single-fold towels are towels that also fold in half, but are larger than Scottfold towels. These towels come ready to load into dispensers, but they also come in a pop-up box to dispense one at a time. Like Scottfold towels, single-ply towels are ideal for areas that require an inexpensive line of bath products. These high quality towels are thick, strong and absorbent. Single-ply towels also come made with recycled content. These towels can be purchased in white, brown and blue from the same manufacturers that produce Scottfold towels.

If you need unrolled towels, whether it’s C-fold towels, multi-fold towels, paper-folded towels, or single-fold towels, the easiest way to explore the different types of paper towels is to shop online. You can examine the different types of paper towels and decide which type suits your needs. Join the savvy shoppers ordering their cleaning supplies online and find out why buying roll-free paper towels online makes perfect sense!