A carded staple fiber nonwoven having a basis weight of between about 45 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 150 gsm, includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven is non-heat stiffened, has an air permeability of between about 100 m3/m2/min and about 500 m3/m2/min, and a pore radius mode of between about 60 μm and about 120 μm.