Choosing the best paper towels for a commercial building is about much more than selecting the lowest-priced case in a distributor’s catalog. The right paper towel should match the type of building, the number of people using the restrooms each day, the dispensing system already installed, and the expectations of the people walking through the door. When those factors are considered together, businesses often reduce waste, simplify maintenance, and create a cleaner, more professional environment without increasing their operating costs.
Every commercial building is different, which is why there has never been one paper towel that works best for everyone. A medical office serving patients throughout the day has different needs than a warehouse operating multiple shifts. A professional office where clients regularly visit has different expectations than a manufacturing facility where durability and efficiency may be the highest priorities. We have found that the businesses that are happiest with their paper towel program are not necessarily buying the most expensive products or the least expensive products. They are buying products that fit the way their buildings actually operate.
Since 1978, we have helped businesses throughout western Iowa and eastern Nebraska find practical solutions for their facilities. From Council Bluffs, Omaha, and Lincoln to Sioux City, Des Moines, and the communities between them, we work with office managers, commercial property managers, medical offices, dental practices, schools, restaurants, manufacturers, and countless other businesses that want dependable products backed by knowledgeable service. After decades of helping customers compare products, answer questions, and solve everyday maintenance challenges, one lesson continues to prove true. The best purchasing decisions almost always begin with understanding the building rather than comparing prices.
Every Commercial Building Uses Paper Towels Differently
One of the first questions we ask customers is what type of building they manage because that answer tells us much more than simply asking which paper towel they are interested in buying. A 50-employee accounting office creates a completely different pattern of restroom traffic than a large distribution center. In contrast, a dental office may have patients arriving steadily throughout the day and a school may experience heavy restroom use during only a few short periods. Those differences affect how quickly dispensers empty, how often maintenance staff refill supplies, how much inventory should remain in storage, and ultimately which products provide the greatest value over time.
Many purchasing decisions are made by looking only at the price printed on a case of towels, but experienced facility managers understand that product performance often matters far more than the invoice. A towel that absorbs water quickly may require only one sheet, while a less absorbent product may require two or three. That difference may seem small until thousands of people use the restroom every month. Over the course of a year, using fewer towels per visit can significantly reduce product consumption while also decreasing the number of times dispensers need to be refilled.
The Lowest Price Does Not Always Save Money
Almost every business wants to control operating expenses, and paper products are no exception. It is natural to compare prices between brands, but focusing only on the purchase price often overlooks other costs that affect the overall budget. Maintenance labor, product waste, emergency deliveries, customer complaints, and employee satisfaction all become part of the equation whether they appear on an invoice or not.
Imagine two office buildings with similar occupancy. One purchases the least expensive paper towel available because it lowers the cost per case. The other chooses a towel that costs slightly more but dispenses one sheet at a time and absorbs more effectively. If employees consistently use fewer towels while maintenance staff refills dispensers less often, the second building may actually spend less over the course of a year despite paying more for each case. Looking at the entire picture instead of a single number usually leads to better purchasing decisions.
Your Dispenser May Be the Real Problem
One conversation we have regularly begins with a customer saying they are unhappy with their paper towels. After asking a few questions, we often discover the towels are not causing the frustration at all. The dispenser may dispense too many sheets, jam repeatedly, or fail to present the next towel correctly after each use. In those situations, replacing the paper towel alone rarely solves the problem because the dispensing system continues creating unnecessary waste.
Before changing products, it is worth evaluating whether the current dispensers are still meeting the needs of the building. As occupancy changes, tenants move in, businesses grow, or facilities are renovated, older dispensing systems may no longer be the best fit. Choosing a paper towel and dispenser that work together often improves both user experience and maintenance efficiency.
Different Industries Have Different Expectations
Medical offices, dental practices, and other healthcare facilities often place a strong emphasis on presentation because patients notice the condition of waiting areas and restrooms. Professional office buildings frequently want products that reflect the image of the businesses they represent. At the same time, commercial property managers often look for consistency across multiple buildings so inventory is easier to manage. Restaurants need dependable products that support both customer restrooms and employee work areas, while manufacturing facilities may prioritize durability and efficient product usage over appearance alone.
These differences explain why there is no universal recommendation that works for every customer. Instead of asking which paper towel is the best, a better question is which paper towel is the best for your building. That conversation usually produces much better results because it focuses on how the product will actually be used rather than simply comparing specifications on a package.
Paper Towels Are Only One Part of Maintaining a Professional Facility
Keeping a commercial building clean involves much more than stocking paper towel dispensers. Most businesses also need restroom tissue, hand soap, sanitizers, cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, trash liners, dispensers, waste containers, and a wide variety of Janitorial Goods to maintain a clean and welcoming environment. Restaurants often purchase Restaurant Disposables at the same time, while medical offices and dental practices frequently order Disposable Gloves, Latex Gloves, and other everyday supplies that support patient care and routine cleaning.
Many customers appreciate working with a single supplier because it simplifies purchasing, reduces the number of vendors they manage, and makes it easier to keep essential products in stock throughout the year. Rather than placing multiple orders with different companies, they can consolidate many of the products their facilities use every day into one dependable source.
Experience Makes Purchasing Easier
One advantage of working with a commercial distributor that has served the region for decades is having access to people who have seen many of the same challenges before. Buildings grow, staffing changes, occupancy increases, budgets tighten, and product availability shifts over time. Those situations rarely have identical solutions, but experience helps narrow the options and identify products that have consistently performed well in similar environments.
Since 1978, we have built lasting relationships by listening first and recommending products that fit our customers rather than simply promoting whatever happens to be on sale. That philosophy has allowed us to serve businesses throughout Council Bluffs, Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux City, Des Moines, and surrounding communities for generations, and it continues to guide the way we work with new customers today.
Choose the Right Paper Towels With Larsen Supply Co.
Choosing paper towels should never feel like guessing. Since 1978, Larsen Supply Co. has worked with businesses across western Iowa and eastern Nebraska by helping customers compare products based on how their facilities actually operate instead of simply recommending the lowest priced option. Whether you manage a commercial office building, medical practice, dental office, school, restaurant, warehouse, manufacturing facility, or multiple commercial properties, our experienced team can help you select paper towels and other products that support your day to day operations.
Beyond paper towels, we proudly supply the highest quality restaurant disposables, Paper & Janitorial Goods, including restroom supplies, cleaning chemicals, soaps, sanitizers, liners, disposable gloves, latex gloves, and hundreds of other commercial products trusted by businesses throughout the region. Browse our selection of commercial paper towels or contact Larsen Supply Co. to speak with our team about finding the right products for your facility.
