Consumer Reports puts tissues to the test

This year's record-breaking pollen season has been a real assault on our senses, or more accurately, our sinuses. A good tissue can really help see allergy sufferers through. Consumer Reports has partnered with 7 On Your Side to test more than a dozen tissues to see which ones you can rely on.

When you need a tissue, a tough one can make all the difference. Consumer Reports evaluated 18 tissues from the major players and store brands.

"With tissues we wanted to test what was important to consumers, so we tested for strength of the tissues and also the softness of them," said Leigh Druckenmiller. Consumer Reports.

First up - the Instron test. Although the machine can apply test forces of up to 10,000 pounds, today it's set to a much more delicate setting to measure the force at which a tissue tears. And because who wants to use a scratchy tissue -- Consumer Reports' trained sensory panelists test for softness in a humidity-controlled room. The test conditions are nothing to sneeze at.

"Each tissue has to be assessed under the same conditions because moisture can change how a tissue feels," said Druckenmiller.

Testers found you can't necessarily go by a name. Walgreens' Ology Soft and Strong tissues were anything but, earning the lowest overall rating. But the top-rated tissues, Puffs Ultra-Soft and Strong, did deliver on its name. In fact, these two-ply tissues were the strongest of all the tissues tested -- blowing away all the three-plies. The next best tissue was Kleenex Lotion Aloe and E -- can save you a little money; in fact, these were named a Consumer Reports Best Buy.

No matter which tissue you choose, Consumer Reports finds tissues don't need to have lotion added for them to be soft. However, all the tested tissues that did have lotion rated well for softness. But a word of caution, don't use tissues with lotion to clean your eyeglasses, you'll only end up with more smudges.

Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.

(All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2011. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

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consumer reports, 7 on your side, michael finney

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