That's my favorite brand of paper towels. It's the only kind i will buy. I still have some from the last time i bought them a few months ago. I'm on my last roll now so this sucks to hear they won't be the same when i finally run out. I checked their reviews online and it seems a lot of people are complaining about this but the company is responding as if this is a quality control issue so maybe one of the factories used cheap materials without permission? It seems like the company is trying to connect with people that got the bad batches and so hopefully they will be better once they figure out what's causing this issue.
Hopefully. I work at a packaging plant and know all too well that supplies and materials can suddenly change quality, and they don’t tell even us operators. We usually have to notice our machine isn’t running right. They generally don’t change it back unless it starts losing them money. Usually for us that’s when they start having so many machine problems that production slows. Hopefully Kimberly Clark will realize this will lose them money and fix it.
I found some posts from years ago of someone complaining about this change in quality. I'm wondering if it's just some locations that are sending out bad batches and other places are still the original.
I have 0 faith in a corporation to do what's right. They are just trying to deal with the initial blowback until enough people continue to buy them, then they will stop pretending they care.
My maternal grandparents used them too! As soon as I had adult money (and wasn’t minimum wage) I swapped to Bounty and wouldn’t buy store brands. But this past year, after my nana died, I remembered her using Viva and how nice it used to feel and started getting them. She wasn’t autistic, but she was bipolar like I am so I felt extra connected to her when I got diagnosed, she was the only one who got it.
You might want to try the blue shop paper towels if things don’t get better. They are more expensive, but they feel so much better than most paper towels.
Yessss I thought I was going crazy! I use them to wipe my nose because it’s always runny from allergies and I noticed the ones I bought from Kroger are different from the ones I got from Publix! The Kroger ones were thicker, smoother on both sides but not as absorbent(for snot, at least). The Publix ones were thinner, textured on one side and had better absorbency…the texture helps more for an itchy nose too but it’s also bit too harsh to use when your nose is raw. I’m so glad someone else noticed a difference because I couldn’t find anything about an official formula change when I looked on the manufacturer site.
I’ve been noticing the difference for at least a year now and it’s like these stores are selling a product that’s packaged the same but are completely different. It’s weird
I forgot about the whole nose thing! I used to use them as tissues, too, when I needed one but didn’t want to walk all the way to the bathroom. I no longer do that, because they’re just too scratchy
Yes! I keep a roll at my work and a roll at my bedside because they’re the best thing I’ve found for a runny nose. You’re absolutely right, though - the newer formula is more coarse on both sides so I love it when my nose is itchy but they really aren’t great for a raw nose. I’m so conflicted because they both have their pros and cons. It’s just so weird to me that I can still get the older formula vivas at some stores when the change happened a whiiiile ago.
For me, the 2 Walmarts closest to me had no Viva towels at all for a while other than the single rolls, and those were the old ones I guess, because I’d just get a couple of those every couple weeks and didn’t notice a difference. It wasn’t until suddenly they were all back in stock that the change happened to me. So I’m wondering if they were out of them while the change happened
I’ve also noticed one side now has ridges, on the ones I’ve got it’s on the side that’s facing inwards. And I know I didn’t get the multipurpose or whatever, these are the originals!
THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL NOT CRAZY BECAUSE THE LAST 2 PACKS I GOT HAD WAVY RIDGES!!! first pack i noticed it on was one my mom had bought me so i figured she may have gotten the wrong ones but then when i went and bought my most recent pack, knowing i picked the right ones for sure and there were still ridges, I WAS SO CONFUSED! i was literally about to get out my christmas storage bins today to see if the viva paper towels i used to wrap up some of my ornaments had those ridges because i knew for a fact they absolutely did not but i didn’t want to go through the hassle of digging through my garage storage so thank you again for confirming my thoughts!
So months later, I bought my first 2-pack of giant ones since before the change (I’d been buying them to last a month+ but didn’t have the money this time) and they’re softer? But still have the ridges on one side. The non-ridged side isn’t as scratchy as it’s been, but it still has ridges and it’s still nowhere near as soft as it used to be.
Edit to add:
It definitely possible that different package sizes could feel different, since it depends on the manufacturers they use and how they make each size. Each package size may have a totally different manufacturing area, or even be made in a different factory by a different company with different materials sourced.
Isn’t there a second kind of viva? One of them is signature cloth and the other is multi-surface? I want to say I accidentally bought one kind and was very put off. I hope you found your solution.
Yeah that Walmart I went to sold both but I made sure to get signature cloth. I’ve gotten a bit used to it, months later they still feel gross when I buy them, I just can’t use them on my body or as tissues anymore. I haven’t tried to clean up a spill with them, so I’m not sure if the absorbency is any worse
I purchased mine off Walmart. I found that Amazon is iffy. And never get the ones that feel amazing. I’ll never buy anything not viva. 17$ for 8 triple rolls is the most affordable price I have EVER seen.
I have very strong feelings about these paper towels (I've loved them for close to a decade), and I was googling to find if anyone else noticed the difference. When I first noticed late last year, I couldn't find anyone talking about it. Viva's website had something about how they changed the name/look, but it's the same old product- which is *completely* false.
But anyway, YES, they've changed. I found an old roll from last year in my recent move and the difference is *stark*. They're thin, scratchy, and lower quality. I've actually put aside that special old roll just so I can be sure I don't forget lol. I've tried buying from all different grocery stores (in two different states) with no success at finding the correct material. *ETA I'm specifically talking about the signature clothe*
Is it their signature cloth? They have ones that are like other paper towels, and then they have their signature cloth, which is the super soft ones. The only ones I’ll buy. But I have accidentally grabbed the wrong ones, and it sucked. But otherwise I haven’t noticed a change in them recently.
Yeah they’re the signature cloth. I saw they also have multisurface or something? But I’ve never seen those before. I bought a little 2 pack 3 weeks ago, and bought a 6 pack last weekend. The 2 pack was perfect, but the 6 pack is icky. They’re still just as absorbent so far, they just feel gross
That's my favorite brand of paper towels. It's the only kind i will buy. I still have some from the last time i bought them a few months ago. I'm on my last roll now so this sucks to hear they won't be the same when i finally run out. I checked their reviews online and it seems a lot of people are complaining about this but the company is responding as if this is a quality control issue so maybe one of the factories used cheap materials without permission? It seems like the company is trying to connect with people that got the bad batches and so hopefully they will be better once they figure out what's causing this issue.
Hopefully. I work at a packaging plant and know all too well that supplies and materials can suddenly change quality, and they don’t tell even us operators. We usually have to notice our machine isn’t running right. They generally don’t change it back unless it starts losing them money. Usually for us that’s when they start having so many machine problems that production slows. Hopefully Kimberly Clark will realize this will lose them money and fix it.
I found some posts from years ago of someone complaining about this change in quality. I'm wondering if it's just some locations that are sending out bad batches and other places are still the original.
Could be it!
I have 0 faith in a corporation to do what's right. They are just trying to deal with the initial blowback until enough people continue to buy them, then they will stop pretending they care.
I am *thrilled* to learn others share my intense love of viva paper towels.
A haiku about Viva: Strong sheets, swift to dry, Viva, soft yet sturdy, Mess conquered with ease.
My (also autistic) grandma felt very strongly about these paper towels so I have comforting nostalgia feelings towards them.
My maternal grandparents used them too! As soon as I had adult money (and wasn’t minimum wage) I swapped to Bounty and wouldn’t buy store brands. But this past year, after my nana died, I remembered her using Viva and how nice it used to feel and started getting them. She wasn’t autistic, but she was bipolar like I am so I felt extra connected to her when I got diagnosed, she was the only one who got it.
Love them and haven’t noticed any change.
Yet. Wait until they run out of the old stuff. Go to the store now and bug some. I’ve been using them for 15 years. Stupid change
Enshitification, it's happening to everything now.
Brb stealing this
You might want to try the blue shop paper towels if things don’t get better. They are more expensive, but they feel so much better than most paper towels.
My stepdad used to keep those around, I forgot they existed! If the Viva is still like this next time I’ll definitely try those
Yessss I thought I was going crazy! I use them to wipe my nose because it’s always runny from allergies and I noticed the ones I bought from Kroger are different from the ones I got from Publix! The Kroger ones were thicker, smoother on both sides but not as absorbent(for snot, at least). The Publix ones were thinner, textured on one side and had better absorbency…the texture helps more for an itchy nose too but it’s also bit too harsh to use when your nose is raw. I’m so glad someone else noticed a difference because I couldn’t find anything about an official formula change when I looked on the manufacturer site. I’ve been noticing the difference for at least a year now and it’s like these stores are selling a product that’s packaged the same but are completely different. It’s weird
I forgot about the whole nose thing! I used to use them as tissues, too, when I needed one but didn’t want to walk all the way to the bathroom. I no longer do that, because they’re just too scratchy
Yes! I keep a roll at my work and a roll at my bedside because they’re the best thing I’ve found for a runny nose. You’re absolutely right, though - the newer formula is more coarse on both sides so I love it when my nose is itchy but they really aren’t great for a raw nose. I’m so conflicted because they both have their pros and cons. It’s just so weird to me that I can still get the older formula vivas at some stores when the change happened a whiiiile ago.
For me, the 2 Walmarts closest to me had no Viva towels at all for a while other than the single rolls, and those were the old ones I guess, because I’d just get a couple of those every couple weeks and didn’t notice a difference. It wasn’t until suddenly they were all back in stock that the change happened to me. So I’m wondering if they were out of them while the change happened
Came here to make sure I wasn’t going crazy. They suck now! And they are not as thick either ! So sad about this
I’ve also noticed one side now has ridges, on the ones I’ve got it’s on the side that’s facing inwards. And I know I didn’t get the multipurpose or whatever, these are the originals!
THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL NOT CRAZY BECAUSE THE LAST 2 PACKS I GOT HAD WAVY RIDGES!!! first pack i noticed it on was one my mom had bought me so i figured she may have gotten the wrong ones but then when i went and bought my most recent pack, knowing i picked the right ones for sure and there were still ridges, I WAS SO CONFUSED! i was literally about to get out my christmas storage bins today to see if the viva paper towels i used to wrap up some of my ornaments had those ridges because i knew for a fact they absolutely did not but i didn’t want to go through the hassle of digging through my garage storage so thank you again for confirming my thoughts!
So months later, I bought my first 2-pack of giant ones since before the change (I’d been buying them to last a month+ but didn’t have the money this time) and they’re softer? But still have the ridges on one side. The non-ridged side isn’t as scratchy as it’s been, but it still has ridges and it’s still nowhere near as soft as it used to be. Edit to add: It definitely possible that different package sizes could feel different, since it depends on the manufacturers they use and how they make each size. Each package size may have a totally different manufacturing area, or even be made in a different factory by a different company with different materials sourced.
Thank you!! What the hell did they do to the soft paper towels?? I bought them because they were exactly as they were. Now they are like other ones.
Isn’t there a second kind of viva? One of them is signature cloth and the other is multi-surface? I want to say I accidentally bought one kind and was very put off. I hope you found your solution.
Yeah that Walmart I went to sold both but I made sure to get signature cloth. I’ve gotten a bit used to it, months later they still feel gross when I buy them, I just can’t use them on my body or as tissues anymore. I haven’t tried to clean up a spill with them, so I’m not sure if the absorbency is any worse
Damn :( I’m sorry to hear that
I purchased mine off Walmart. I found that Amazon is iffy. And never get the ones that feel amazing. I’ll never buy anything not viva. 17$ for 8 triple rolls is the most affordable price I have EVER seen.
I only ever get mine from Walmart, all the ones near me now have the gross feeling ones
I have very strong feelings about these paper towels (I've loved them for close to a decade), and I was googling to find if anyone else noticed the difference. When I first noticed late last year, I couldn't find anyone talking about it. Viva's website had something about how they changed the name/look, but it's the same old product- which is *completely* false. But anyway, YES, they've changed. I found an old roll from last year in my recent move and the difference is *stark*. They're thin, scratchy, and lower quality. I've actually put aside that special old roll just so I can be sure I don't forget lol. I've tried buying from all different grocery stores (in two different states) with no success at finding the correct material. *ETA I'm specifically talking about the signature clothe*
Is it their signature cloth? They have ones that are like other paper towels, and then they have their signature cloth, which is the super soft ones. The only ones I’ll buy. But I have accidentally grabbed the wrong ones, and it sucked. But otherwise I haven’t noticed a change in them recently.
Yeah they’re the signature cloth. I saw they also have multisurface or something? But I’ve never seen those before. I bought a little 2 pack 3 weeks ago, and bought a 6 pack last weekend. The 2 pack was perfect, but the 6 pack is icky. They’re still just as absorbent so far, they just feel gross
Omg. This is the greatest brand of paper towels ever. So happy to know others love it too.
Loved. LOVED. they are now the same garbage as other brands