I think we’ve all noticed that if you crumple up the paper towels as you pull them from the dispenser, you’ll need at least two of them to completely dry your hands. However, I’ve come to the conclusion (after much experimentation) that if you leave the paper towel flat while you’re drying your hands, you’ll only need one towel to finish the job.

Of course, the surface area of the towel is the same regardless of whether you crumple it or leave it flat, so this doesn’t seem logical. But it’s true, I tell you, and I believe I know the reason for this odd phenomenon.

When you crumple the paper towel, you’re forcing parts of it to become wet without even touching your hands directly, because the water will soak through one layer onto another. Therefore, more of the towel’s surface area becomes moist (and can no longer assist in the drying process). By leaving it flat, you’ll notice that it gets much wetter overall, but that you have enough dry area to finish drying your hands before the whole towel is wet.