I have read many reviews of the wood paper towel holders on Epinions and because most of them have been negative, I decided to write the opposing view of this kitchen tool. We have had two of these and both were similar in design. The one I have now I don’t know the brand name (although it looks very much like the one on Epinions that has a brand name) and that is why I’m submitting this under the generic wood paper towel holder. I purchased it about four years ago and it still looks and works great.

The Holder

The holder is composed completely of wood. I have the oak wood variety because my kitchen cabinets are oak. It has a round wooden base that shows because it is larger than the roll of paper towels that you put on it. To assemble the unit, you need to screw in two cylindrical pieces. One is a cylinder that holds the paper towels and the other is a smaller one that keeps the paper towel rolls from opening up while it is not being used. These two items keep the towels contained while sitting on your counter. On the top of the larger cylinder is a decorator wooden knob. I screwed into place both of these cylinders and I’ve never had to screw them in again. I do want to say that the first holder that I owned was difficult to screw in these holders and that they didn’t last. My second one has been great. For choosing the second holder, I examined the unit first to make sure that it appeared sturdy. The manufacturer has intended that the user will (once assembled) put the roll of paper towels on the larger cylinder and then screw on the knob and you’ll be set to use the unit.

My Adaptation

While the knob looks nice, I found that it is a pain to put on and off. It is not hard to do; it’s just one extra step that made me not enjoy the benefits of the holder. For one thing, I use a lot of paper towels. I should own stock in Bounty (especially the select kind that lets you choose the size you want) as you tear them off. I have used other brands (when my husband goes shopping) and this unit fits all sizes from a regular to a jumbo roll. There is ample space between the paper towel cylinder and the small cylinder to allow whichever size you choose. By taking off the top knob, my job changing the rolls disappears and the unit still works properly. However, if you don’t use paper towels as often as I do, it looks really nice to have the knob on top of the unit when it’s sitting out on your counter. That decision can be yours to make as it works well either way.

Many reviewers have stated that it takes up counter space. In my house, I have more counter space than I do cupboard space. Everything is jammed into the cupboards and I don’t have room to keep a large roll of paper towels that I use constantly. I want them out and convenient to use. I could just not use a unit like this but then they are sometimes standing up and most of the time laying down taking up even more space. So this works really well for me; much more contained and convenient.

At first, I did not understand or fully appreciate the small cylinder that keeps the rolls from opening up. Now I do and I find it a really helpful and useful feature. When I’m tearing off a piece of towel, it holds the rest of the roll and allows me to do so easily. When it is just sitting there, the roll never unwinds itself. This is really terrific!

My advice when deciding what kind to get is to take a good look at it first. My first one was a bargain sale special and the wood was lightweight and it was poorly made. Half of the time when I wasn’t busy screwing the pieces back together it was tipping over on the counter. I didn’t even want a second one after the first, but the second one was a gift and it is nice oak wood, made well and balanced nicely. It never tips unless I do it accidentally. These paper towel holders are now made of various materials like marble, etc. and if they are made well, you can feel safe in purchasing any type that fits in with your kitchen décor.

So, do I recommend the purchase of this item? Yes! Enjoy the convenience.


Recommended: Yes