Toilet paper is among the essentials in life’s personal-care products, yet it is not really given much thought as far as comfort and quality go. And while there are different uses of toilet paper, hardly any of us ever really stop to think about the materials or process followed in order to render them soft and comfortable. But what actually makes toilet paper soft?
In this blog, we are going to discuss what is softness and comfort in toilet paper and what does it mean by significance as well as the science behind toilet paper softness.
What is Softness and comfort in toilet paper?
It basically refers to a smooth-surfaced toilet paper with a gentle texture, which makes it easy on the skin and comforts the user during the usage of the toilet paper. Softness is an important factor in toilet paper, considering it meets the comfort of users and guarantees the return on investments. A gentle or soft toilet paper will avoid the risks of abrasion, infections, and irritation to sensitive skin. Comfort and softness are considered great attributes if toilet paper is able to provide them; thus, it is often associated with high quality and affects consumer preference and brand perception.
This can be achieved through various materials and techniques which will be explained hereinafter, thus:
Selection & Processing of the Fibre
The base ingredients in soft toilet paper are a combination of natural and synthetic fibres, such as wood pulp, cotton linters, and polyester. Newly cut trees are the source of fresh wood pulp, and so the length and flexibility of the fibres are much greater than those from recycled pulp. It is these longer flexible fibres that create a softer and smoother texture for the soft toilet paper.
A processing treatment is conducted on the fibre to enhance the natural essence of the fibres without changing its original form. The Fibres are firstly refined to improve its flexibility by helping them to break it into smaller pieces. This process is then followed by bleaching of the fibres with the aim to increase the strength and softness by removing the impurities. This fibre is finally treated with the help of enzymes or chemicals in order to reduce its stiffness and make them more flexible.
Manufacturing Process
The pulp goes into processing that turns into a slurry of cellulose fibres which helps to treat the impurities and create a smoother or softer final product of toilet paper. This slurry undergoes yet another controlled process known as sheet forming and creping, which shapes them into sheets by pressing it lightly to remove excess water while avoiding making the texture coarse. Finally, embossing is done- it involves the creation of small air pockets and patterns on the toilet paper that aid adding to the comfort.
Softness Enhancers
Toilet paper comprises additives that help enhance its softness, quality, and feel altogether. It is also mixed with conditioning agents, added to the fibres for softener purposes, in order to make the surface area smooth. These are useful in enhancing toilet paper’s texture and reducing friction. Quilting can be done for extra padding texture. Lotion or coating infusions are not needed, but it can be added to further enhance the softness quality for sensitive skin since it’s designed to be gentle and hypo-allergic to skin.
Product Testing and Quality Control
The product is tested along with quality control to ensure that the product meets the set standards by the company. Tactile assessing through a panel of testers evaluates the softness of the toilet paper. The toilet paper is further tested for durability under different conditions of use. These tests’ feedback helps in making changes to ensure comfortability and softness. Now these companies can understand the preference of others, and they can improve the toilet paper where they can and achieve excellence. The softness of toilet paper is, in conclusion, a creation of blended materials, years and years of research, innovative processes, and scientific techniques that is designed to provide us with softness and comfort.
Each step of the process contributes to giving a product with softness and strength to a valuable customer. The next time you reach for that soft toilet paper, either to purchase or to use, there will be something different: a little appreciation for the science behind its making. Consumers would now be enlightened enough with this knowledge to make informed choices towards ultimate comfort in life.
Here at Kingsoft, we strive to provide toilet paper that blends our toilet papers’ softness with reliable services. Take your time and go through what we have in stock, and experience our life-changing products.