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Frame from How to use one paper towel | Joe Smith | TEDxConcordiaUPortland Plays via YouTube's privacy-enhanced embed

How to use one paper towel | Joe Smith | TEDxConcordiaUPortland

49 videos recommended on HN
YouTube
3 HN users recommended this talk3 months2016–2025 score 3.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN treats it as a tiny practical life hack some adopt for good, while others mock it as peak TED.

A short TEDx talk by Joe Smith teaching how to dry your hands with a single paper towel. It shows a simple technique for cutting waste.

“I actually improved my hand drying technique after the TEDx on it” (HN, 2021)

1 strong recommendations · 2 recommendations · 1 citations · 1 critical · Talks

5 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@leto_ii Nov 2019 Recommends
on HN thread Ask HN: What's the most valuable thing you can learn in an hour?
Two quick things from back when TED talks were actually interesting/useful: 1. How to tie your shoes the right way (so the knot doesn't come undone): [link] 2. How to dry your hands with a single paper towel (so that you prevent unnecessary waste): [this video]
Teaches drying hands with a single paper towel to cut waste.
@Someone1234 Apr 2021 Recommends
on HN thread The “Granny Knot”
People are very negative about these kinds of TED talks, but I actually improved my hand drying technique after the TEDx on it: [this video] That and using the back of my hand/arm to push off the water from my body after a shower keep our towels much dryer and nicer.
Improved the commenter's hand-drying technique.

Citations, criticism and jokes

@minikites Feb 2016 Pushes back
on HN thread We Are Now at Peak TED
This banned TED talk is all you need to know about TED and where their motivations are: [link] Peak TED is actually this video on how to use one paper towel when washing your hands: [this video] . You mean if you shake your hands and fling water all over the bathroom then you don't need as much paper to absorb the remaining water? How revolutionary.

Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.

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