Facial tissues are soft and disposable paper products designed for personal hygiene, cleaning and skin care. They are commonly used for blowing the nose when someone has a cold or allergies, removing makeup, wiping away sweat or tears and cleaning up small spills. They’re great to keep in your backpack or handbag, on your computer desk, around the office and at home.

When choosing facial tissues, match the ply count, material and features, like lotion-infused or fragrance-free options, to your skin sensitivity. For softer tissues, look for 2-ply or 3-ply options and choose lotion-infused ones for a cold, stuffy nose or allergies. You can choose from individual tissue boxes or bulk packs. For colds and allergies, shop for cold medicine and allergy medicine.

Facial tissues should be kept in high-traffic areas, meeting rooms, reception desks and breakrooms in a workplace to help reduce the spread of germs. They should also be placed near garbage cans so they can be thrown out immediately after they’re used. To also help prevent germs from spreading, stock up on hand soap and hand sanitizer to keep everyone’s hands clean.

Facial tissues are great to have in classrooms because they help reduce the spread of germs and keep students, teachers and staff comfortable when dealing with colds and allergies. They also help limit classroom distractions by reducing how often students need to ask to leave. For teachers, tissues can come in handy as makeshift erasers for dry-erase boards, chalkboards and as a tool for quick cleanups.

Yes, empty cardboard tissue boxes are recyclable. Flatten the box before placing it in your recycling bin or recycling bag. Individual facial tissues are not recyclable and should be placed in the garbage or compost. Tissues can be placed in compost bins if they’re plain, unscented, lotion-free and only used for wiping noses. They can’t be composted if they are soaked in cleaners, chemicals or lotions.