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This post is part of my popular toilet paper review series. No one likes to throw money down the toilet by spending more than necessary on toilet paper! This series helps you check out the cheaper toilet paper options and save some money. This post is a review of Willow toilet paper from Aldi. If you’d like to read more, check out my full guide to cheap toilet paper.
You may think of Aldi for cheap snacks, eggs, or milk, but have you ever tried their paper products? In this post, I look at Aldi’s toilet paper options.
Aldi Willow Toilet Paper Options
Aldi stores seem to carry either 3 or 5 options of toilet paper. All stores carry:
- Willow 1000 Essential (not reviewed in this post)
- Willow So Soft
- Willow Soft & Strong
Some Aldi stores also carry these additional options:
- Willow Ultra Soft
- Willow Ultra Strong
Which Toilet Paper Brands Do Willow Compare To?
All of the types of Aldi Willow toilet paper have “compare to” brand names on the package. When I tested the Willow toilet paper, I also tested the comparable brand names, so I could see how they REALLY compare. Here are the corresponding brands to the Willow generics:
- Willow 1000 Essential = Scott 1000
- Willow So Soft = Angel Soft
- Willow Soft & Strong = Quilted Northern Soft & Strong
- Willow Ultra Strong = Charmin Ultra Strong
- Willow Ultra Soft = Charmin Ultra Soft
Pros and Cons: Willow Toilet Paper from Aldi
I put all of the Aldi Willow toilet papers (and their corresponding brand names) through the same scientific toilet paper experiments that I’ve used in previous reviews. I rated each of them on these factors:
- Strength: the amount of weight can it hold before ripping.
- Softness: how soft does it feel on the skin (opinion).
- Thickness: thickness, based on how it looks and how it feels.
- Absorbency: the amount of water can it absorb.
- Comfort: my personal opinion on how nice it feels.
- Lint-free: how well it avoids leaving lint around the bathroom and on your behind.
- Dissolvability: speed of dissolving into little pieces in cold water.
- Price: number of sheets per dollar, as compared to the name brands.
Willow So Soft Toilet Paper Review
I did not enjoy Willow So Soft toilet paper from Aldi. It’s thin, scratchy, and uncomfortable. It definitely feels like “bargain toilet paper”.
Willow So Soft PROS:
- Dissolvability
- Lint-free
- Value for the price
Willow So Soft CON:
- Strength
Willow Soft & Strong Toilet Paper Review
Willow Soft & Strong is a great value for the money. If you’re not looking for ultra plush toilet paper, I think it’s a good choice. Overall, I’d give it a “not bad” as far as comfort.
Willow Soft & Strong PROS:
- Strength
- Dissolvability
- Value for the price
Willow Ultra Soft Toilet Paper Review
Willow Ultra Soft really is pretty soft and comfortable. It is a bit of a linty mess, though.
Willow Ultra Soft PROS:
- Dissolvability
- Softness
- Thickness
- Comfort
Willow Ultra Soft CONS:
- Very Linty
Willow Ultra Strong Toilet Paper Review
Willow Ultra Strong is not quite as soft as I prefer, but it seems like a pretty good quality. For those who like the “strong” types of toilet paper, I think it’s a fair-priced option.
Willow Ultra Strong PROS:
- Strength
- Dissolvability
- Thickness
How Does Willow Toilet Paper Compare To the Name Brands?
Whenever I see “compare to…” on a generic package, I’m also curious how it really compares to the brand name. I tried out the Willow toilet paper side-by-side with their “compare to” brand names to see for myself.
Willow So Soft Vs. Angel Soft
Let me start this by saying that I think brand-name Angel Soft is pretty terrible toilet paper. There is nothing soft or “angelic” about it! With that said, I think that Willow So Soft toilet paper is BETTER than Angel Soft.
As you can see in the chart, Willow So Soft tested lower than Angel Soft for strength, but higher for thickness and absorbency. If I had to choose between the two, I’d choose Willow So Soft, but even if my budget were super-tight, I’d pass on both. I think Willow Soft & Strong is a better budget option.
Willow Soft & Strong Vs. Quilted Northern Soft & Strong
Honestly, the fact that Aldi says Willow Soft & Strong is “comparable to” Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong is just silly. They’re completely different things. I feel like Willow Soft & Strong is pretty nice for a budget toilet paper. Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong is a luxury toilet paper. Willow Soft & Strong is nothing like Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong. The most immediate difference I noticed is that Willow Soft & Strong makes a crinkly noise like a cheap facial tissue. Quilted Northern Soft & Strong feels luxuriously soft and quiet. The chart below the test results of Willow Soft & Strong vs. Quilted Northern Soft & Strong.
While I think Willow Soft & Strong is a good budget toilet paper, if you’re a fan of Quilted Northern Soft & Strong, you’d be very disappointed with the Willow version.
Willow Ultra Soft Vs. Charmin Ultra Soft
Charmin Ultra Soft is different from other toilet papers because it’s extremely soft and very absorbent. While it’s not an exact match, Willow Ultra Soft is the closest generic I’ve found to Charmin Ultra Soft. Willow is not quite as soft and absorbent as Charmin, but it’s close. I don’t personally love Willow Ultra Soft because it leaves so much lint everywhere, but Charmin Ultra Soft has a similar problem. Here’s how Willow Ultra Soft compared to Charmin Ultra Soft in my testing:
As you can see, Willow Ultra Soft has a few pros compared to Charmin Ultra Soft in addition to a cheaper price. Willow dissolves much better and is stronger than Charmin.
Willow Ultra Strong Vs. Charmin Ultra Strong
Willow Ultra Strong is definitely “comparable to” Charmin Ultra Strong. They feel pretty similar. The main difference I notice is that Charmin is more flexible, while Willow is more stiff feeling. Overall, though, if you like Charmin Ultra Strong, you should probably give Willow Ultra Strong a try. I would certainly save you some money and help your plumbing.
As you can see by the chart Willow Ultra Strong is softer and easier to dissolve than Charmin Ultra Strong. I wrote more about cheaper alternatives to Charmin Ultra Strong in my ultimate guide to cheap toilet paper.
Is Willow Toilet Paper Safe for Septic Tanks?
All of the types of Willow toilet paper from Aldi say that they’re safe for septic tanks on the package. My dissolvability test confirmed that they all dissolve into little pieces in water very quickly. They dissolve MUCH easier than all of the brand names I tested. I would say that all varieties of Willow toilet paper are a good choice for those with septic tanks.
Is Willow Toilet Paper a Good Price?
Willow So Soft and Willow Soft & Strong are both EXCELLENT prices. They are cheaper than almost every other 2-ply toilet paper out there. The only brand that is slightly cheaper is Kirkland Signature from Costco. I talk more about this in my post about the best value in toilet paper.
Willow Ultra Strong and Willow Ultra Soft are both moderately good prices. If you don’t want to buy toilet paper in warehouse club sizes, they’re one of the best prices for a high-quality toilet paper.
Summary: Aldi Willow Toilet Paper Review
If you’re looking for a decent toilet paper at a great choice, I think Willow Soft & Strong is a good option. If you’re looking for quality higher than most generic toilet papers, I think Willow Ultra Soft or Willow Ultra Strong are good options. They are a good value compared to other options that you can buy at grocery stores, but they are not as good of a value as the warehouse club options. Check out my post about the best value in toilet paper for more about the warehouse club options. For thoughts on another good quality generic toilet paper, see my review of Amazon Presto toilet paper.
Bottom Line: Would I Buy Willow Toilet Paper?
I will definitely finish the packages of all the varieties of Willow Toilet Paper I have now.
Willow toilet paper from Aldi is not my first choice, but I would be open to buying the ultra varieties on occasion. It is a good value for a toilet paper that is available in local stores without buying a huge quantity. For me, though, it doesn’t quite measure up to the quality and price of my current favorite, Member’s Mark toilet paper from Sam’s Club.
“On a Roll” with Toilet Paper
Be sure to check out the rest of my toilet paper series, especially my ultimate guide to cheap toilet paper.
Carly Guiness says
I have been using Willow ‘So Soft’ for several years and have been very satisfied, until several months ago. For some reason the manufacturer is now using way too much glue making it a frustrating process to get a new roll started. I have to shred through several layers of paper, leaving pieces of paper on the floor, before the paper will roll smoothly. I will look for another product soon.
Cindy says
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Silena Tigar says
This tissue paper was very thin and actually I used more because of the thinness. Will definitely not buy it again. Very disappointed.
Cindy Scott says
Which one? There are a variety of Willow toilet papers. The “ultra” varieties are definitely not thin.
Debra says
so glad i found this website. at aldis i bought willow strong and plush 3 ply this week and: it takes 2 hands to tear the paper off and even then it’s a bit of a tug. if i use one hand, it doesn’t tear off and a stream of it falls on the floor. i have never had this problem in my whole life. i will return to willow so soft classic 2 ply.
Cindy Scott says
I hope you find one you like! Aldi at least has a great return policy!
Greg says
Just bought the 18 roll pack of so-soft. What a waste. It takes 2-3 times the paper for the same job. I have used angel soft for many years and think it is the best value in TP. I will try to take this back to Aldi.
Greg says
And, it is ultra thin
Cindy Scott says
No doubt that Angel Soft is a great value! Sorry the So Soft didn’t work out for you.
William Thornton says
l have used willow soft for serval years but the last two mega rolls packages have been very disappointing they are. Very rough and not soft. You need a quality check
Cindy Scott says
I wonder if it has changed. Interesting.
Karen says
Which Member’s Mark toilet paper do you use? I have been to Sam’s Club twice and the first time I thought they had 2 different grades of TP but the last time I went they only had Ultra Premium which is more per sq ft. than the So Soft.
Cindy Scott says
The Ultra Premium. I didn’t know Members Mark came in different varieties.
Rose says
I Bought willow essential because it was the only thing on the shelf, I will never make that mistake again, I would be better off using newspaper. What a waste of money. A lesson learned the hard way. I’ll stick with cottenell.
Barbara says
I didn’t see the Willow strong & plush mentioned. I really liked it & then when the rush on TP came w/ Covid-19, it was not available until recently. I was really glad to see it on my Aldi’s shelf. However my excitement was quickly gone when I started using it. It was thinner & soft on one side but rough on the other. I plan to return it for a refund & go back to Charmin or Northern!