I just think they are a waste of money.. lol. One of the major pros is that they can be placed on a paper towel rack and be pulled off in the same way. Especially good for when benches can get that stuck on bit of dunno-what. TIP: Keep a bunch of rags for dirty jobs like cat vomit, bathroom stuff, and oiling cast iron, write the name of the mess in a permanent marker of the rag so you can easily identify the right one for the job! Total Cost-Save: Going green with un-paper towels (DIY or purchased) can save anywhere from $25.00 to $81.64 annually! Old towels, t-shirts, flannel sheets, whatever you have around, cut them up and throw them into a basket. They clean everything, everywhere, inside and out the kitchen, bathroom, garage, patio, car, boat, and more! Each roll comes with 5x 9.5'' x 10'' sheets that are thinner than the regular KLIINs, making them a very close replica of the conventional paper towel. This fall I was getting ready to move to a new apartment. I find new, neer used washcloths, dishtowels and dishcloths at yard sales and thrift stores. You need to be a real pro at composting. Please reach out and share with us on Instagram, Facebook, or shoot us an email! Great post :)I'd happily not have kitchen roll but mum brings one every time she visits! Adding too much vegetable oil to compost slows down the composting process. This means seeking out products at thrift stores or slowly adding to your rag collection instead of throwing things away. Required fields are marked *. thank you for posting though. So, during my move I simply decided to not buy paper towels. I'm so glad to have read that others do n't use them either because my husband thinks I'm a freak! My kids help me clean. Tissue napkins are considered fancy! They will get stained so choose a darker color. Caboo tree-free household paper products are made from renewable bamboo and sugarcane not trees! I have been using cloths in the kitchen for years now. This is another Canadian company based out of Quebec. I don't think I will buy them anymore. So affordable. Hey! This comment has been removed by the author. If sewing is not your vibe, then you can make then with this no-sew method. Kelly, I have a friend who had done this and I was like, girl, you're crazy, but then I saw a similar product to the "unpaper towels" and thought how cute! We switched from paper tissues to hankies last year and it has been great! Choosing eco-friendly paper towel alternatives is better for your home, your pocketbook, and the planet. I'm inspired to try again. If it were only up to me, we wouldn't have any paper towels but we are also about half and half and to save the hastle of folding, I just have a drawer that I stuff the cloths into! They will take about 28 days to break down, and then you've got the perfect fertilizer for your garden! Environmental Cost: Paper towels are made from a combination of wood fibers and water combined to produce a pulp. So you won't even notice a difference. I didn't think I'd need one until I used it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for stopping by! Machines (powered by oil) are used to roll the pulp out, removing excess water and creating each ply of the paper towel. I'm sorry, I can't remember! I rarely use paper towels anymore but still buy them. The rag bag gets used if I step in dog or chicken poop and do not want to wash the rag. Occasionally, I do buy new ones, but I can afford to wait for deep sales.If there were children here, using washcloths for tp might be hazardous.People say I am eccentric. While I hope this article inspires you to live with less waste in one more aspect of your life, I hope you are kind to yourself in the transition process. We only share brands we truly believe in. They are perfect for bigger cleanups. I use a tiny bit of ALL along with 20 Mule Team Borax and Washing Soda in the washer. We keep a couple rolls around for just in case, but aren't missing them! With that said my mother in law came into town to help my husband out with our kids and went out and bought a whole package of bounty. Please check the browser console for more details. Hmmm, probably the grocery store? If you have lots of oil leftover, you will need to cool it completely then pour it into a compost bag and place it in the green bin. Love this idea - I also found that using rags vs. paper towels was a good choice. My rags smell very clean and we've never gotten sick. Thanks again! You can also wash these paper towel alternatives in the dishwasher or washing machine. These became super popular a few years back and can be used to clean just about anything. I love them because they are so durable. I'm almost 100% certain they do just fine without paper towel. Marley's Monsters is one of the biggest eco-friendly online zero waste shops. This post contains affiliate links. Lastly, as an AmeriCorps volunteer, budgets are tight and not buying paper towels every month gives me just a little extra money back in my pocket. Have at least 8.Rags. The content of this website belongs to me. Do you use it when cooking to absorb grease? While I did a lot to reduce my waste there were many times when convenience took priority. I keep my paper towel replacements color-coded: dark ones are for the kitchen and lighter ones for the bathroom. A Guide On How To Freeze Meat Without Plastic, A Step By Step Guide To A Zero Waste Pantry (with checklist). It's not recommended you wash these in the dishwasher or machine, but instead, hand washes them with a natural cleaner. Huck Towels are another really good substitute for paper towels. If you have a compost bin in your backyard you can put a little bit of oil into it and it must be either corn oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, or rapeseed oil. I have one of those bag dispenser things in my kitchen cabinet too - what a neat idea to put the reusable rags in that! All rights reserved. Then I wash all rags in hot water with tea tree oil and an extra rinse and I dry on high heat or in the sun. I use a piece of paper bag for draining bacon. If you have a huge family and use dozens per week, then you might have one extra load. Bar mop towels for everyday spills and messes. So without further ado Here are some quick tips for quitting paper towels! Use them to dry your pet's feet, take off your nail polish, wash your face, clean your kid's handsyou name it! I have also cut down paper towel usage. Keeping plenty of safe, accessible cleaning supplies on hand is part of providing a healthy cooking environment that allows you to spend less time worried about sticky surfaces and more time on experimentation with flavors and having fun! When we eat out, there are usually napkins put down for drinks, rolled flatware, etc. Make a bunch of cloth towels. I went to the thrift store for old towels and fabric and made them.
They are incredible! Not don't get me wrong: I know how challenging it is to make the switch. I was hooked right away. I'm so happy you're interested in eco-friendly living. Easy, simply sprinkle some baking soda onto the spill, it will absorb the grease and then you wipe it clean it using any of the alternatives I have mentioned above. Yep. My guests don't mind at all -- usually they comment on how civilized we are with our dinner linens! This post actually comes at a perfect time for me. We always get behind on laundry! Set yourself up for success, which means having the right tools to help you get the (cleaning) job done. Use a baking sheet that has a rack on top of it. Why? We use very little paper because we have a limited budget (one reason).I need to get some bar towels along with more Norwex clothes. :), I too grew up without paper towels and so never really got into using them. Thank you! These sponges have been a staple in Scandinavian homes for over 60 years. However, I just use a dedicated sponge for cleaning the bathroom and my rags are only used for drying. For more soiled, greasy cloths, I soak them in baking soda, then toss them in the wash! I had the chance to meet the owner, Marie-Pierre, a few years back at the Green Living Show, and she was kind enough to gift me some of her amazing cloths. I want you to move your roll away from where it's easily accessible. I've always used cloth napkins and have family members who insist I save the laundry and use paper. They'll have a nice texture and will be great for scrubbing pots as well. This keeps them away from clothes and allows me to do one massive load when the hamper is full. It's another reason why alternatives to paper towels are a better option! They are antibacterial, so I clean my floors, counters, cupboards, bathrooms, windows, doors, and anything else I can think of to clean with them. I suggested it before we got married and started his home to have a paper-free kitchen months before we married. I had never thought about the fact that we do this but apart from napkins we do use cloth for everything else. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated with latest articles and information about living an eco-friendly and sustainable life. And with stats like these, it's a no-brainer: I'd really love to hear from you. I've touched on two alternatives to using paper towels, Swedish sponges clothes and unpaper towels. In college I felt my life was busy and out of control. I think it was like 8 rolls or something. Hubby does like it too, but mostly we use cloths. Ten & Co. was founded by Christen, who takes sustainability into account in every aspect of her business. I have kitchen cloths, kitchen towels, bathroom cloths, bathroom towels, and then miscellaneous towels for other spills and such. I love cloth napkins! I haven't bought paper towels since before my daughter was born! These do come wrapped in plastic, which I don't love. Buy them in bulk and save some cash. Water and a cloth. Kelly, where did you get the cloths you use in your bathroom? Cut them up into sets of 12. Acnam Infotech. It's super convenient to have if you just need to wash one glass and dish. That sounds as silly as it is, but some people use paper towels to dry counters tops, or their hands and then simply toss them in the garbage. As I moved in, I made a few simple changes (outlined below) and found that I really never missed them.
Keeping a clean kitchen is essential for food safety and feeling comfortable while cooking. We switched from paper towels to cloth napkins for dinner about a year ago. Make sure to read to the bottom of the post for tips on how to break your paper towel habit, plus a breakdown of the cost of conventional paper towels vs. zero waste paper towel alternatives. The towels are SO useful and durable! Drop a note in the comments below.
That is a really good idea. just started reading and I love your blog! I respect the laws, traditions and teachings of these Indigenous Peoples, and the sacred nature of Treaties.
I didn't think about having a certain set for each job. Unpaper Towels are either smooth on both sides or smooth on one side and lightly textured on the other; making them a great dual-purpose clean-up cloth for your home. They are also very versatile, so you can use them in the bathroom or for washing windows or mirrors. We are using cloth for cleaning, and I would like to make the switch with napkins too.
Lucky for me, my amazing mother was getting rid of a bunch of t-shirt scraps and cut them up and to make a big basket of cloth rags. Resource Guide for Anti-Racism Food Systems Work, Resource Guide for Supporting Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Dont use nice tea towels or dish towels that you care about. We haven't used paper towels/napkins in our house for years. Paper towels! Over time, its product line has expanded, keeping with its mission to offer efficient, quality, eco-friendly products. I picked them up here and there at thrift stores and also pulled out all the good ones we never used because I'd been saving them for special occasions. If you are cleaning up plant-based messes, dirt, or water, then compost them. There is also something known as Unpaper Towel. Waste. Some people use a sewing machine to make nice edges or try to color coordinate their towels so they look nicer in a stack on the counter. I don't take napkins we didn't use, that's robbery and costly to other customers. The Original 100% Biodegradable Reusable Paper Towels. We've been paper towel free for a long time (4 years), but with two dogs, the kids getting older (and dirtier and busier) I've switched to part rags part paper towels. Are you using it to wipe up gross messes from kids and pets (hello fur ball)? I gave up all paper about 7 years ago. These are easy to wash, too simply place them in the washing machine or in the top rack of the dishwasher up to 300 times. For many years, managing my restaurant, Yes very efficient to used paper towels, but I do preferred used cloth towels, for many reason towels is more absorbent than paper towels that's the main one, then you can wash it then used it all over again. I had recently moved from New York back to my home state of Oregon and was eager to live in a way that reflected my values. You can buy three sizes: small, medium and large. When we leave, I carefully fold all the clean ones together (which would be tossed) and quietly carry them out. Have you broken up with a paper towel? Do you have another way that you are seeking to reduce waste in your kitchen? Browse through all the blog posts over the years. Rather than being necessary for keeping a clean cooking space, paper towels and Lysol wipes are just an easy convenience that companies have convinced us we need for clean spaces. #gross. soon!). Trust me you will not look back once you use these! Love your ideas! But it's better than buying tree paper in plastic though! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, your love for the Lord, and your wit and humor through life! I keep a small, mesh bag in the bathroom and place the dirty ones in there. We're a fully re-usable family here - except when it comes to toilet paper because no please and thank you. Dont have them around. We don't have a dryer. Okay yeah, you might do 2 more loads a month (if youre super clean) but paper towels require an extraordinary amount of water to produce, so by reusing cloth youre actually reducing your net water use. These Etsy reusable paper towels have soft cotton on one side and super absorbent terry cloth on the other. Because they are so soft and easy to use, you can actually end up replacing napkins, sponges, and even dish towels. I love that you can find these at places like HomeSense, Well.ca, and Whole Foods. I started to go this route when I found that my kids were using them to dry dishes. Make sure you check with your local municipality. I do keep napkins on hand for parties but I can buy them on sale and don't really follow any theme. No chemicals or cleaners needed. Try to choose natural fibers if you can. But, I hate wasting products. Know what to look for in buying the best towels. !The best part of Norwex microfiber? Keeping paper towels out of my life was so much easier than I thought when I had them on-hand all the time! I am giving this as an option because I know how hard it is to make the switch. While I tried to frame this change as easy everyones lives are different and it might be harder for you. When I came to the U.S. 7 years ago from Australia I was shocked at how much Americans rely on paper towels for everything.
They are incredible! Not don't get me wrong: I know how challenging it is to make the switch. I was hooked right away. I'm so happy you're interested in eco-friendly living. Easy, simply sprinkle some baking soda onto the spill, it will absorb the grease and then you wipe it clean it using any of the alternatives I have mentioned above. Yep. My guests don't mind at all -- usually they comment on how civilized we are with our dinner linens! This post actually comes at a perfect time for me. We always get behind on laundry! Set yourself up for success, which means having the right tools to help you get the (cleaning) job done. Use a baking sheet that has a rack on top of it. Why? We use very little paper because we have a limited budget (one reason).I need to get some bar towels along with more Norwex clothes. :), I too grew up without paper towels and so never really got into using them. Thank you! These sponges have been a staple in Scandinavian homes for over 60 years. However, I just use a dedicated sponge for cleaning the bathroom and my rags are only used for drying. For more soiled, greasy cloths, I soak them in baking soda, then toss them in the wash! I had the chance to meet the owner, Marie-Pierre, a few years back at the Green Living Show, and she was kind enough to gift me some of her amazing cloths. I want you to move your roll away from where it's easily accessible. I've always used cloth napkins and have family members who insist I save the laundry and use paper. They'll have a nice texture and will be great for scrubbing pots as well. This keeps them away from clothes and allows me to do one massive load when the hamper is full. It's another reason why alternatives to paper towels are a better option! They are antibacterial, so I clean my floors, counters, cupboards, bathrooms, windows, doors, and anything else I can think of to clean with them. I suggested it before we got married and started his home to have a paper-free kitchen months before we married. I had never thought about the fact that we do this but apart from napkins we do use cloth for everything else. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated with latest articles and information about living an eco-friendly and sustainable life. And with stats like these, it's a no-brainer: I'd really love to hear from you. I've touched on two alternatives to using paper towels, Swedish sponges clothes and unpaper towels. In college I felt my life was busy and out of control. I think it was like 8 rolls or something. Hubby does like it too, but mostly we use cloths. Ten & Co. was founded by Christen, who takes sustainability into account in every aspect of her business. I have kitchen cloths, kitchen towels, bathroom cloths, bathroom towels, and then miscellaneous towels for other spills and such. I love cloth napkins! I haven't bought paper towels since before my daughter was born! These do come wrapped in plastic, which I don't love. Buy them in bulk and save some cash. Water and a cloth. Kelly, where did you get the cloths you use in your bathroom? Cut them up into sets of 12. Acnam Infotech. It's super convenient to have if you just need to wash one glass and dish. That sounds as silly as it is, but some people use paper towels to dry counters tops, or their hands and then simply toss them in the garbage. As I moved in, I made a few simple changes (outlined below) and found that I really never missed them.
Keeping a clean kitchen is essential for food safety and feeling comfortable while cooking. We switched from paper towels to cloth napkins for dinner about a year ago. Make sure to read to the bottom of the post for tips on how to break your paper towel habit, plus a breakdown of the cost of conventional paper towels vs. zero waste paper towel alternatives. The towels are SO useful and durable! Drop a note in the comments below.
That is a really good idea. just started reading and I love your blog! I respect the laws, traditions and teachings of these Indigenous Peoples, and the sacred nature of Treaties.
I didn't think about having a certain set for each job. Unpaper Towels are either smooth on both sides or smooth on one side and lightly textured on the other; making them a great dual-purpose clean-up cloth for your home. They are also very versatile, so you can use them in the bathroom or for washing windows or mirrors. We are using cloth for cleaning, and I would like to make the switch with napkins too.
Lucky for me, my amazing mother was getting rid of a bunch of t-shirt scraps and cut them up and to make a big basket of cloth rags. Resource Guide for Anti-Racism Food Systems Work, Resource Guide for Supporting Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Dont use nice tea towels or dish towels that you care about. We haven't used paper towels/napkins in our house for years. Paper towels! Over time, its product line has expanded, keeping with its mission to offer efficient, quality, eco-friendly products. I picked them up here and there at thrift stores and also pulled out all the good ones we never used because I'd been saving them for special occasions. If you are cleaning up plant-based messes, dirt, or water, then compost them. There is also something known as Unpaper Towel. Waste. Some people use a sewing machine to make nice edges or try to color coordinate their towels so they look nicer in a stack on the counter. I don't take napkins we didn't use, that's robbery and costly to other customers. The Original 100% Biodegradable Reusable Paper Towels. We've been paper towel free for a long time (4 years), but with two dogs, the kids getting older (and dirtier and busier) I've switched to part rags part paper towels. Are you using it to wipe up gross messes from kids and pets (hello fur ball)? I gave up all paper about 7 years ago. These are easy to wash, too simply place them in the washing machine or in the top rack of the dishwasher up to 300 times. For many years, managing my restaurant, Yes very efficient to used paper towels, but I do preferred used cloth towels, for many reason towels is more absorbent than paper towels that's the main one, then you can wash it then used it all over again. I had recently moved from New York back to my home state of Oregon and was eager to live in a way that reflected my values. You can buy three sizes: small, medium and large. When we leave, I carefully fold all the clean ones together (which would be tossed) and quietly carry them out. Have you broken up with a paper towel? Do you have another way that you are seeking to reduce waste in your kitchen? Browse through all the blog posts over the years. Rather than being necessary for keeping a clean cooking space, paper towels and Lysol wipes are just an easy convenience that companies have convinced us we need for clean spaces. #gross. soon!). Trust me you will not look back once you use these! Love your ideas! But it's better than buying tree paper in plastic though! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, your love for the Lord, and your wit and humor through life! I keep a small, mesh bag in the bathroom and place the dirty ones in there. We're a fully re-usable family here - except when it comes to toilet paper because no please and thank you. Dont have them around. We don't have a dryer. Okay yeah, you might do 2 more loads a month (if youre super clean) but paper towels require an extraordinary amount of water to produce, so by reusing cloth youre actually reducing your net water use. These Etsy reusable paper towels have soft cotton on one side and super absorbent terry cloth on the other. Because they are so soft and easy to use, you can actually end up replacing napkins, sponges, and even dish towels. I love that you can find these at places like HomeSense, Well.ca, and Whole Foods. I started to go this route when I found that my kids were using them to dry dishes. Make sure you check with your local municipality. I do keep napkins on hand for parties but I can buy them on sale and don't really follow any theme. No chemicals or cleaners needed. Try to choose natural fibers if you can. But, I hate wasting products. Know what to look for in buying the best towels. !The best part of Norwex microfiber? Keeping paper towels out of my life was so much easier than I thought when I had them on-hand all the time! I am giving this as an option because I know how hard it is to make the switch. While I tried to frame this change as easy everyones lives are different and it might be harder for you. When I came to the U.S. 7 years ago from Australia I was shocked at how much Americans rely on paper towels for everything.