LastTissue vs Kleenex: An Honest Comparison

The World's Most Famous Tissue vs. Its Reusable Alternative

Kleenex is so dominant in the tissue category that its name has become generic — in the UK, "Kleenex" is often used to mean any facial tissue, regardless of brand. It is the benchmark against which any alternative is measured. Here is an honest, feature-by-feature comparison.

Softness

Kleenex: Tissue softness is achieved through a combination of short, fine fibres, embossing, and in premium lines (Ultra Soft, Balsam), added lotion or aloe vera. Kleenex Balsam in particular is designed for raw, irritated skin during heavy colds.

LastTissue: Organic cotton jersey is inherently soft. It does not require lotion additives because the fabric itself does not create the micro-abrasions that paper fibres can produce during repeated wiping. For everyday use, the softness is comparable. For heavily chapped skin during a bad cold, cotton may actually be gentler than paper.

Verdict: Comparable for everyday use. LastTissue has a slight edge for very sensitive or irritated skin; Kleenex Balsam has an edge if you specifically want lotion on the tissue.

Convenience

Kleenex: A box of 80–100 sheets is available everywhere, fits on a side table or in a bag, and provides a large supply that lasts weeks. Single-use means no thought required after use.

LastTissue: Six cloths in a case fits in a pocket or bag. Requires weekly washing with laundry. Holds fewer tissues at once — useful for daily carry but not for "tissue box on the coffee table" use.

Verdict: Kleenex wins on convenience for home use where you want a large supply readily available. LastTissue wins for on-the-go — it is significantly more portable than a tissue pack.

Hygiene

Kleenex: Single-use, discarded immediately. No recontamination risk.

LastTissue: Separate clean/used compartments prevent cross-contamination within the case. Machine washing at 40°C sanitises the cloths. The cloth sits in the used compartment between use and washing — not ideal for someone who wants immediate disposal.

Verdict: Functionally equivalent for everyday use. Kleenex has a marginal edge for heavy cold/flu use if you are concerned about accumulating used cloths.

Environmental Impact

Kleenex: Virgin or recycled wood pulp, cannot be recycled after use, significant water use in production, cardboard and plastic film packaging.

LastTissue: Organic cotton, reusable ~520 times, replaces 520 boxes over its lifetime. Zero ongoing waste after initial purchase.

Verdict: LastTissue is dramatically better environmentally — this is not a close comparison.

Cost

Kleenex: ~£2.00 per box of 80 sheets → ~£14–£20/year for typical UK household

LastTissue: ~£18–£25 one-time → £0/year ongoing after payback

Verdict: LastTissue is cheaper within 1–3 years. Over a decade, the saving is £120–£175 or more.

Side-by-Side Summary

For a full overview of reusable tissue options beyond LastTissue, see the complete guide to reusable tissues.