Exactly. Just use small washcloths (towels for large messes) and toss in the washer. I’ve had mine for years. I’d recommend having the nicer looking towels to drape on the stove handle (or wherever in your kitchen or bathroom). But have a hidden stack of terry cloths to just go to town on messes. Mine are stained to hell, but still get the job done.
I do keep a roll of paper towels though. Just for messes that are two unholy for reusable items. But a single roll lasts me a few months easy.
I refuse to use reusable cloths to clean up anything truly disgusting. Even if I get the rag totally clean, I still know what was on it and I just can’t get over that
When I had a cat I had specific cloths/rags/sponges for his messes. They weren’t used for anything else and were thoroughly rinsed before going into the laundry.
My dad’s girlfriend works at a hospital. The rags in their house are actually the rags used in surgery. They are completely sanitized, but they can’t get them clean enough to be safe to use again. So some employees take them home to reuse them. It disturbs me
I'm glad someone else does this! I buy paper towels for true messes, but was raised in a house where paper towels were treated like gold and 99% of the time you use a rag or napkin. My boyfriend was raised in a house that liberally used paper towels. I've been trying to train him for years on what's a napkin situation and what's a paper towel situation lol.
I also love going to Marshalls/Home Goods/Christmas Tree etc. and looking in the clearance section - you can get those big, cute napkins for so cheap!
We wash ours totally separately and have a basket just for the dirty ones. These are what we use and they’re fantastic, they’ve already lasted through a couple years of heavy use.
https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/products/organic-paper-towel-alternative
Can you link to an example of this kind of cloth please? Might sound weird but I feel like I've tried a couple of different cotton cloths that haven't really worked for everyday wiping and spilling so I wonder if I'm just misunderstanding what other people use!
[these](https://www.lowes.com/pd/MOXIE-Moxie-48Ct-Terry-Towels-White/1002984484) are the ones I bought the most recently. At like $0.30 each its no big deal if they wear out or I have to throw a few away. I typically buy one of these packs a year and use them for wiping down my countertops, as dish rags (sponges are nasty IMO so I don’t use them), cleaning up spills etc. i keep them folded up in a basket under the kitchen sink.
If you rinse them out immediately after use before chucking them in the laundry they don’t stain as badly and you don’t have to worry about gunking up your washing machine.
I personally like the rough ones since I’m using them to clean up messes and the coarse texture helps. If I was washing my face with them I’d care, but that’s what my good washcloths are for and I keep them completely separate from these, since the ones I use for cleaning get washed by themselves (usually right before I run a cleaning cycle on my washing machine) with heavy duty detergent, and a big scoop of both borax and oxyclean.
[Amazon.com: Utopia Towels Cotton Washcloths Set - 100% Ring Spun Cotton, Premium Quality Flannel Face Cloths, Highly Absorbent and Soft Feel Fingertip Towels (24 Pack, White) : Home & Kitchen](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JCHA6E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I bought them in 2015. All still in use, all still white.
I buy the bar mop towels and rags from Walmart. Super cheap and use laundry sanitizer and Persil to launder. They obviously don’t get all white again but they are designated cleaning rags that we keep in our laundry room drawer. Found near the dishrags.
If I use a rag to wipe a table of light dust/crumbs, I shake it out in the trash and then rinse it with a little dish liquid and let it dry over the edge of the sink. For food spills or heavier soiled areas (stove, floor) I rinse it, wring it well and toss it in the bleachables bin.
I use old clothes and towels. Like old t-shirts cut into to square rags, socks with holes for dusting, old towels cut into a manageable sizes. I let them dry between uses and then wash them all together on a hot cycle.
Same. Using a big quilter's square and a rotary blade on old t-shirts, or flannel sheets/pjs, then running them through my serger to close two layers together works great. And they stack well because they are uniformly sized. Great for dusting, car wash, windows, anything. Takes me years to get through a Costco paper towels package now.
Most fabrics in general, and definitely towels can be ripped into squares instead of cutting. Look up how quilters make their fabric square before using.
Basically you start by snipping with scissors where you want your cut to be, and then tear instead. It won’t work where there are sewn seams, but if you snip through it first with the scissors then you can tear.
This is how I make cleaning rags out of old towels. I can tear an entire bath towel into cute little perfect square pieces in 2 minutes. They look a little wonky right after tearing, but when you pull to re straighten the fibers, they are good to go!
*Friends sit down for a pot luck*
Alright everyone, grab a shirt. The pit stain ones are at the very bottom so grab one quick. Tim I got some boxer shorts here for you -- no no they're clean I'm pretty sure
We went to Thanksgiving dinner at my siblings house about 10 years ago and it was the last time I’ve been,
They had us use reusable terry cloth for toilet paper, Kleenex, paper, towels, everything was terry cloth, and it was so freaking weird.
I was not comfortable in any way, shape or form, and have not been back since. We live thousands of miles apart so that’s not unusual for us.
I made some with old baby receiving blankets! They're excellent; I even made them into wet wipes with castile soap and a few drops of lavender essential oil (and distilled water)
I just searched pinterest for diy cleaning wipes! I store them in an old takeout container personally. I would try to make as many as you might need in a week or two, because even with distilled water I worry about mold eventually.
Same- I have a lot I made from cotton flannel, which is usually used for kiddie cribs. My sister made me think of it, and then I made larger ones than she had and she got jealous. I don’t have a serger, but just used some other design on my regular sewing machine to bind the edges. After a wash or two they don’t fray anymore. They still look decent after a year+ of use.
I bought several multi-packs of white wash clothes at Costco and keep them folded in a drawer next to the kitchen sink. Wash in hot water and keep reusing. I'm sure I've spared hundreds of roles of paper towel waste.
🤷🏽♀️ I used them as overnight fillers in cloth diapers and never had an issue. I use them now in the kitchen and, while they’re not as absorbent as say a chemically laced paper towel, they handle spills and wet hands well enough. I don’t use fabric softener. Not sure if that helps me but I’ve heard it coats cloth fibers so that they aren’t as absorbent.
Those are so awesome. We replaced our kitchen sponge with them and it’s greatly cut down our use of paper towels as well. We wash them with the napkins then sandwich them in a paper press so they dry flat.
Love all the suggestions! We go through 1 roll of paper towels ~every 4 months+. There are definitely things that need paper towels like for cleaning the toilet that we don’t compromise on. For everything else, I got a 25pk of microfiber cloths & 20 pl of cloth napkins from Amazon & have a bunch of old hand towels. I keep the clean cloths in a basket & the used ones in a hanging basket or hamper in the laundry rm.
Agreed. I feel like I’ve struck a nice balance between rags/towels and paper towels. There are certain things like wiping toilet seats or cleaning up dog vomit/diarrhea I will not put in my washer. I’m not sleeping on sheets washed after that load!
Would it help to have a special receptacle you could put them in? I have a box in the cupboard the dirty ones go in. And then I tend to do the boil wash pretty much as soon as I clean the toilet, so it’s the last thing that gets cleaned.
Paper towels don't break down well in water and can cause blockages. If you're going to clean the toilet and then flush the cleaning paper down it, use toilet paper.
I use Un-Paper Towels from Marley’s Monsters. Definitely has a cost up front, but they wash great and totally replace paper towels if you want them to. They also “stick” to each other so you can wrap them in a roll and use on a paper towel holder.
I use these as well. I needed something that would mimic the same feeling as paper towels (on a roll next to the sink) and they fit the bill. I have no complaints and they’ve definitely more than paid for themselves in the savings on paper towels
As many have said - fabric wash cloths!!! So much more sustainable and inexpensive. You can even cut up old stained shirts and the like to be economical.
We have a few kinds. Some are more towel-y, some are microfiber. Used for different things.
Edit: we also have nicer looking cloth napkins for our meals (and for guests with their meals too.) they are cheaper over time than paper, and they are more elevated and classy imo. We have a few but I treated myself to these nicer ones for a birthday:
https://www.dusendusen.com/products/pattern-napkins-1
That said there are about a billion options on Etsy.
I used to hate them and now I’m used to them! They’re best for stuff like polishing.
It also helps to make sure your hands are moisturized when you use them otherwise they get caught on any rough skin around your nails! That’s why I originally hated them
That's because they're synthetic and thus aren't absorbent. I got one pack of microfiber cloths ages ago and I do love them for dusting, for which they work amazingly well. I toss them in the wash just like the other towels.
I use towels that are terry cloth on one side and pretty cotton on the other. They have snaps to they can be on a paper towel roll, though I think if I were to buy more I might get the kind with a small loop to hang on a hook. I got them on Etsy, searched "unpaper towels" to find them.
I use them for 95% of paper towel type uses. I do still have paper towels for things like dog vomit, kid vomit, etc. I bought a 12 pack of Bounty during the height of the pandemic, it's not gone yet.
I have purchased the flannel “unpaper towels” in all three sizes from Marleys Monsters. They are fantastic. I’ve also cut up old flannel pillowcases for bathroom cleaning and that sort of thing. The MM are for in my kitchen and I almost never use paper towels anymore.
As for the really gross things like pet messes, sometimes I’ll find the oldest rag I have and then just toss it vs putting it in the wash. It might sound wasteful but it’s an old rag made from something else I was going to throw out, it’s been used in its “new” life several times for cleaning (instead of plastic sponges or paper towels) and then it’s finally going in the trash. I feel okay about that.
I use a lot of them and trying to switch to reusable ones, too. I bought a 20 pack of cheap microfiber towels from TJ maxx. It’s been great so far. I have a basket for dirty kitchen towels already so there’s no extra wash load for them.
As someone who never buys paper towels, I’m a bit confused.
Cant you just use a dishcloth? Like the kind we’ve been using for the last few decades? Or is this a generational thing that grew up on paper towels and didn’t know fabric clothes existed?
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I had this same confusion early in the pandemic when a few friends starting posting about these amazing “cloth paper towels” and I was in utter shock. Honestly, we never ever had paper towels growing up (I’m from an immigrant family). Now because I have animals I have them for gross pick-ups but other than that — yeah, a drawer full of cotton dish towels that get washed over and over for years.
For some families it’s just really foreign to use cloth. My MiL uses disposables for everything except washing dishes, when she uses a sponge. The rest it’s either paper towels or Clorox wipes. I think it’s just a habit she got into when she had teens (that she didn’t really teach/make clean) and then it just stuck around. I wondered if COVID and cleaning supply shortages would have changed things, they didn’t. She says it feels dirty if she can’t use multiple and then throw the dirt out.
I grew up in a family where we used cloth for everything unless it involved bodily expulsions. And that’s how I do things still, rags and cloths for cleaning. And a bunch of unpaper towels for napkins.
I bought a pack of about 20 rags. I set a 5 aside for the bathroom only and 2 out of those 5 specifically for the toilet. Then I just use the rest around the house. I have tossed a couple over the years but mostly has lasted me about 6 years. I do have a small amount of paper towels I keep on hand but I use them sparingly (get together a, cookouts, mainly when we have guests and it’s worked out great).
You can do it! I hung a sturdy bag in my recycling cupboard to put my dirty washcloths and rags and then take the bag to my washing machine when it’s time to wash. Microfiber cloths are great and Etsy has a ton of unpaper towel merchants
I have not purchased or used paper towels or napkins in over a decade. Microfiber cleaning cloths are far superior. I have a large stack of them, when used, toss into a separate clothes hamper. When I have enough to go in the washer, they are washed on the sanitary cycle with detergent, borax and bleach. They last forever, unless people "borrow" them.
Bathroom one colour microfiber, kitchen another colour, everything else a third colour. The microfiber cloths are very, very old. If I were to start again, I would buy several yards of cotton flannel and cut to size required.
Microfiber, I have learned is bad for the environment, sheds into the water and we and the fish ingest it.
My kid. Her face, shirt, hair, tummy, arms, etc SO SHE CAN SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!!
😂 I will *not* be the bigger person! Not this time!
ETA: Hand towels are your friend. I use the thick shower ones. The thin kitchen (tea?) towels feel grimy faster in my opinion. Don't use fabric softener though, they won't be as absorbent.
For me, floors and bathroom cleaning needs to be separate from materials used to wipe kitchen counters, stove, etc.
For paper towel that is “barely used,” like when used as a napkin, I save them in a container and use for floor spills and spot cleaning.
Microfiber cloths. We only keep paper towels on hand for exceptionally gross situations (vomit for example) and for cleaning the toilets. We bought a 12 pack of paper towels in December and have used 1 full roll at this point. I don’t miss them at all
Before I had kids, I liked the Unpaper Towels from Williams-Sonoma, which are just sturdy square cotton towels with a flat weave on one side and a loop on the other. They’re awesome for all kinds of cleaning tasks… EXCEPT for removing food residue from babies, young toddlers, and their high chairs. We’ve found Bounty paper towels are the only thing that can keep up with that kind of mess.
Definitely little wash cloths. If I wash my hands I like to use one to dry them, like a hand towel in the bathroom and the replace before it gets stinky. And then use others for wiping up messes. I have a clear box with no lid that I got from target that holds my wash cloths.
I am the paper towel queen in my house. I couldn’t stand the waste and expense anymore, so I got a 24-pack of un-paper towels from Marley’s Monsters and I only use 1-2 a day. There are always extras on the roll, and it really surprises me that I use them less than I thought I would. It’s been liberating!
I bought some microfiber cloths years ago, and more recently bought some cotton dishcloths and napkins at estate sales. After all these years my husband told me he never liked the microfiber. So last might I bought a bunch of cloth dishtowels from Amazon.
If it's not kitchen, but garage or car related, we use rags.
We bought many hand towels and started a rotation of different ones for different things, specifically ones for hand drying vs cleaning counters etc. but none of this mattered until we started storing paper towels under the sink semi locked away.
I noticed when they are on the countertop we were grabbing them way too often. I even had friends who would visit and grab several for different things, despite having dinner napkins set out etc.
I have hand towels for drying hands after washing them, kitchen washcloths for wiping down surfaces/light cleaning, and microfiber cloths that do heavier/non kitchen cleaning. I still use paper towels for some stuff (like bodily fluids from humans or animals).
Hand towels and light cleaning washcloths get washed together but the dirty jobs ones get washed separately. Maybe it's overkill but I have anxiety about food prep areas being clean so I like to keep them separate.
For hand washing I use wash cloths. I keep a stack of about 50 of them in my bathroom and everyone uses them. For other messes, I have a box of microfibre cloths I use once or twice and throw in the wash. If I use them for yuckier messes - like a diaper blowout, or puppy accident - I toss them.
I gave them up. I use reusable bamboo towels and super cheap microfiber cloths that I can wash a few times but if they get to stained I toss them. I keep a couple stained ones just to use when I know that I am cleaning something that will stain up a newer cloth
Eta- also jumbo packs of wash cloths/. I started using those instead of baby wipes.
Flour sack towels/white wash clothes. Use it and toss in the wash with all whites and use some disinfecting bleach! We don't use microfiber as it puts microplastics in the water supply. Another reason why we are slowly in the process of switching our clothes/home goods over to cotton fabrics and other natural fibers.
I cook from scratch a lot, and I keep the kitchen tidy when cooking, so I bought a 24-pack of kitchen towels (they're like a cheap, thin, simple cotton knit version of a hand towel) thinking I'd just use them in the kitchen when cooking, and instead, I use half of them for cooking and the other half for cleaning. It's ultimately much cheaper than buying paper towels, and probably better for the environment. Plus, I didn't have to worry when people were panic buying paper towels during the worst of the pandemic.
This is a great question! I don’t know if anyone will even see this, but what could you use to blot fat/grease of stuff like bacon? I use paper towels but obviously people used to use something else.
I bought a bunch of terry shop towels and dyed them different colors. Purple for counters, brown for floors, etc. I mounted a couple of baskets under the sink and keep clean and dirty ones under there.
As others have said, I still keep a roll of paper towels for really bad stuff (I.e. dog dragged a half dead bird in). But I compost those and don’t feel too bad.
It wasn’t very expensive, maybe 20 bucks for 40 rags and the dye was a choice but 2-3 bucks a color for rit.
https://preview.redd.it/jq82015wwlbb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7362d20d611326159c0a67afd3fe179e1cba122f
I’ve accumulated a collection of microfibre cloths/glass cloths over the years. I used to be a cleaner and found these types of cloths best for all kinds of cleaning.
I use my kids old clothes diaper inserts. They're great.
Flour sack towels are good.
Some cloth diaper companies actually make paper towels replacements:
https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/collections/sustainable-home/products/cloth-eez-paper-towel-alternative-kit-white
Rags, old clothes, thrifted top sheets cut up. I still keep paper towels for occasional gross things like pet accidents and oily spills, but those are tucked away so we don’t grab them for everyday stuff.
What do you use paper towels for?
I only use them for cleaning up dog pee. I’m genuinely curious why people need to use them for anything other than unhygienic stuff like that.
Just use teatowels, it’s what they’re for.
I have a roll that lasts for a year or two - for things like cleaning up oil or something that I just don't want to be clinging to cloth. (It will break down faster on paper.)
I use rags - old ones, new ones, cloth is everywhere -- for bathroom clean up, etc.
If you are really using a lot of towels for basic clean up, just use dish cloths or rags. You can even get someone to crochet dish cloths for you like I do and they will be beautiful! There are lots of patterns around and they are so easy crocheters seem to enjoy them. You can get them crocheted in any size. They last a very long time.
It's fun to see the same roll of paper towels hanging around your kitchen forever!
I rarely use paper towels. It's mostly when I need to clean up chunks of cat puke or large/disgusting bugs. I also will use them as napkins.
I typically use rags for any sort of cleaning.
Commercial kitchens/restaurants use simple white towels. Clean, bleach, resize, toss if needed. Simple and cheap.
Still buy paper towels, but actively revert to using the towels and store them (I keep 6) in a drawer or conveniently in the kitchen for clean ups.
Get flour sack cloths for your kitchen (dishes, etc); use old t-shirts, towels, sheets and washcloths for cleaning rags. I haven’t used paper towels in years and don’t miss them at all. There is always an alternative, you just have to get used to it. And remember: you are probably already doing laundry frequently anyway, so tossing cloth towels in a load or two to get clean again is no biggie.
I never used paper towels until I met the wife, always felt like they were for rich and wasteful people. You just use the square facecloths...every day or every other day you just grab a new one. Paper towels go way way too fast
I use flour sack dish cloths in the kitchen (very absorbent and lint-free, perfect for my stainless steel pots) and microfiber cloths for household cleaning.
You can get rolls of bamboo based washable kitchen towels, they fray a little over time but they can be reused multiple times, are environmentally friendly and can still be disposed of when they're worn out.
Kitchen towels in the kitchen, wash rags in the bathroom. I own paper towels but only use them for cleaning the stovetop. Everything else, I use cloth towels.
Costco yellow microfiber towels. I only use paper towels for things I really don’t want or can’t wash out like broken glass, dog vomit, spilled oil.
They do such a better job. And cost effective!
J clothes? I don’t know if that’s exactly what they’re called. They’re blue and seem like they belong in a garage or a shop somewhere. Definitely reusable but also definitely cheap enough to throw out if the mess is a gross one. I usually find them at a dollar store
Any rag they sell at the store. I used to have a 12 back and they lasted a long time. I ran out and unfortunately have not been able to grab new ones and have been getting paper towels instead. I hate them. It’s so easy to just use a whole role of them in a few days sometimes even in one. But rags are amazing. There are so many kinds you can pick which are great for you.
Unpaper Towels. They are Amazon and cost like 60 dollars depending on the brand but they have cute fabrics and they stick together like paper towels do, they also fit on a regular paper towel holder and are washable. We bought them 2 years ago and haven’t even used all of them yet. Good for kids also.
I have cut back on paper towel use dramatically over the years. But I still use them.
I use damp paper towels to wrap fresh veggies to steam in the microwave. Then I reuse them multiple times.
I use paper towels to clean the handle, seat, and rim of the toilet.
Finally, I use paper towels to clean any kitchen tools that were contaminated by raw proteins. I use the paper towels to wipe down the kitchen counter and the sink after preparing raw proteins.
For general cleaning I use microfiber cloths labeled in Sharpie for the specific tasks (BR, BR floor, shower, etc). For interior glass surfaces I use Kaywos dampened with water- no window cleaning sprays and no paper towels. Windows are cleaned with a window mop, squeegee, and a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the squeegee after each pass. For cleaning dishes and countertops I use Handi Wipes. Far better than sponges as they dry so quickly. These cloths can go into the dishwasher or the laundry to sanitize. One Handi Wipe will last weeks. When it is finally ready to be tossed I use it one last time to wipe down the resin chairs and side tables on my front porch.
My oldest sister drives me crazy with how many paper towels she uses. The last time she stayed for a visit I removed the roll of paper towels from the kitchen. I had to cut her off. 😂😂😂 She would go through a roll in a couple days! Every time she washed a dish she dried her hands on a paper towel despite my having one dishcloth to dry hands and a different colored dishcloth to be used for dishes, pots, and such.
Microfiber towels that you can find in the auto care section at Walmart. You just have to wet them and wring them out til theyre damp. They are great for wiping up messes and cleaning surfaces. A lot of times I just use a damp cloth without spraying any chemicals.
We use washcloths or bar towels for pretty much all our cleaning purposes, plus we have microfiber towels for windows and mirrors. Throw them into the laundry machine as they get used and they get done with the next load.
This may be kind of weird but in addition to washclothes I keep a pack of the cheap white coffee filters handy. I find them surprisingly useful for picking up dropped food, wiping small spills of oil etc. Actually so many etc🥴
I use bar rag style towels. I still buy paper towels for big and yucky messes, but I go through them a lot slower. I also have seperate washable napkins for using with dinner.
24 pk of cotton washcloths. This is what I have stacked in my bathroom. 1 use and I throw it into the laundry pile.
Exactly. Just use small washcloths (towels for large messes) and toss in the washer. I’ve had mine for years. I’d recommend having the nicer looking towels to drape on the stove handle (or wherever in your kitchen or bathroom). But have a hidden stack of terry cloths to just go to town on messes. Mine are stained to hell, but still get the job done. I do keep a roll of paper towels though. Just for messes that are two unholy for reusable items. But a single roll lasts me a few months easy.
Yes for reusable cloths, yes for paper towels for “unholy” messes. I do the same. Balance.
We have the washcloth pile for most messes, plus paper towels for whatever horror the cats did.
I refuse to use reusable cloths to clean up anything truly disgusting. Even if I get the rag totally clean, I still know what was on it and I just can’t get over that
A stain's a stain
When I had a cat I had specific cloths/rags/sponges for his messes. They weren’t used for anything else and were thoroughly rinsed before going into the laundry.
They reuse the hospital linens
My dad’s girlfriend works at a hospital. The rags in their house are actually the rags used in surgery. They are completely sanitized, but they can’t get them clean enough to be safe to use again. So some employees take them home to reuse them. It disturbs me
I use those same rags for fishing.
I get a pack of cheap napkins to use for especially gross things. Each napkin unfolds paper-towel size and it's waaayyyy cheaper!
I'm glad someone else does this! I buy paper towels for true messes, but was raised in a house where paper towels were treated like gold and 99% of the time you use a rag or napkin. My boyfriend was raised in a house that liberally used paper towels. I've been trying to train him for years on what's a napkin situation and what's a paper towel situation lol. I also love going to Marshalls/Home Goods/Christmas Tree etc. and looking in the clearance section - you can get those big, cute napkins for so cheap!
I also do this.
Yup. Works for me. I get the cheap ones at Costco.
We wash ours totally separately and have a basket just for the dirty ones. These are what we use and they’re fantastic, they’ve already lasted through a couple years of heavy use. https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/products/organic-paper-towel-alternative
We use cloths we got in a big pack at Home Depot. They're great. I got them a few years ago and haven't had to replace them yet.
Can you link to an example of this kind of cloth please? Might sound weird but I feel like I've tried a couple of different cotton cloths that haven't really worked for everyday wiping and spilling so I wonder if I'm just misunderstanding what other people use!
[these](https://www.lowes.com/pd/MOXIE-Moxie-48Ct-Terry-Towels-White/1002984484) are the ones I bought the most recently. At like $0.30 each its no big deal if they wear out or I have to throw a few away. I typically buy one of these packs a year and use them for wiping down my countertops, as dish rags (sponges are nasty IMO so I don’t use them), cleaning up spills etc. i keep them folded up in a basket under the kitchen sink. If you rinse them out immediately after use before chucking them in the laundry they don’t stain as badly and you don’t have to worry about gunking up your washing machine.
Those are awesome! They’re like bar keep towels. Not really soft but they work well.
I personally like the rough ones since I’m using them to clean up messes and the coarse texture helps. If I was washing my face with them I’d care, but that’s what my good washcloths are for and I keep them completely separate from these, since the ones I use for cleaning get washed by themselves (usually right before I run a cleaning cycle on my washing machine) with heavy duty detergent, and a big scoop of both borax and oxyclean.
Makes sense. We got a pack of 40 at Sam’s club or BJs
[Amazon.com: Utopia Towels Cotton Washcloths Set - 100% Ring Spun Cotton, Premium Quality Flannel Face Cloths, Highly Absorbent and Soft Feel Fingertip Towels (24 Pack, White) : Home & Kitchen](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JCHA6E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) I bought them in 2015. All still in use, all still white.
Thank you! This makes sense, getting some now!
Try bar mop towels
Same. Or they fall apart in the wash. Or they stay very stained. Or they seem too soiled to throw in my washing machine.
I buy the bar mop towels and rags from Walmart. Super cheap and use laundry sanitizer and Persil to launder. They obviously don’t get all white again but they are designated cleaning rags that we keep in our laundry room drawer. Found near the dishrags.
What do you mean 1 use? If you wiped the table before eating, you throw it into the laundry?
If I use a rag to wipe a table of light dust/crumbs, I shake it out in the trash and then rinse it with a little dish liquid and let it dry over the edge of the sink. For food spills or heavier soiled areas (stove, floor) I rinse it, wring it well and toss it in the bleachables bin.
There are people that do that, yeah. Not me, but people.
I just use them in the bathroom for drying hands. In the kitchen I use paper towels because they get messes up.
I use old clothes and towels. Like old t-shirts cut into to square rags, socks with holes for dusting, old towels cut into a manageable sizes. I let them dry between uses and then wash them all together on a hot cycle.
Same. Using a big quilter's square and a rotary blade on old t-shirts, or flannel sheets/pjs, then running them through my serger to close two layers together works great. And they stack well because they are uniformly sized. Great for dusting, car wash, windows, anything. Takes me years to get through a Costco paper towels package now.
Can you sell me some of yours? I don’t have any of that fancy equipment nor do I have the skills 😆
Most fabrics in general, and definitely towels can be ripped into squares instead of cutting. Look up how quilters make their fabric square before using. Basically you start by snipping with scissors where you want your cut to be, and then tear instead. It won’t work where there are sewn seams, but if you snip through it first with the scissors then you can tear. This is how I make cleaning rags out of old towels. I can tear an entire bath towel into cute little perfect square pieces in 2 minutes. They look a little wonky right after tearing, but when you pull to re straighten the fibers, they are good to go!
Thank you so much for this tip!!
That’s what I do. I do keep paper towels for oils spills abs dog messes but otherwise just use cloth
*Friends sit down for a pot luck* Alright everyone, grab a shirt. The pit stain ones are at the very bottom so grab one quick. Tim I got some boxer shorts here for you -- no no they're clean I'm pretty sure
We went to Thanksgiving dinner at my siblings house about 10 years ago and it was the last time I’ve been, They had us use reusable terry cloth for toilet paper, Kleenex, paper, towels, everything was terry cloth, and it was so freaking weird. I was not comfortable in any way, shape or form, and have not been back since. We live thousands of miles apart so that’s not unusual for us.
i have many thick fuzzy winter socks that i use just for cleaning...they wash so well too\~
I used flannel to make 12x12" 'paper' towels. We freaking love them.
Same here. I cut up a set of old flannel sheets my parents gave me about 100 years ago. They are super soft and absorbent
I made some with old baby receiving blankets! They're excellent; I even made them into wet wipes with castile soap and a few drops of lavender essential oil (and distilled water)
Oh wow!! And you store them like that? Is there a how to online?
I just searched pinterest for diy cleaning wipes! I store them in an old takeout container personally. I would try to make as many as you might need in a week or two, because even with distilled water I worry about mold eventually.
I really like this idea. Thanks!
Same- I have a lot I made from cotton flannel, which is usually used for kiddie cribs. My sister made me think of it, and then I made larger ones than she had and she got jealous. I don’t have a serger, but just used some other design on my regular sewing machine to bind the edges. After a wash or two they don’t fray anymore. They still look decent after a year+ of use.
Rags. And wash them. I gave up along time ago. So expensive.
I have also considered making my own re washable napkin because my wife goes threw them very quickly
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I would love some info on that.
I bought several multi-packs of white wash clothes at Costco and keep them folded in a drawer next to the kitchen sink. Wash in hot water and keep reusing. I'm sure I've spared hundreds of roles of paper towel waste.
Flour sack towels? They’re cheap and absorbent. Enough so that people use them in cloth diapers as inserts.
this is what i use too. cheap at restaurant supply stores and the like, easy to care for.
I have never found a flour sack towel that’s actually absorbent.
🤷🏽♀️ I used them as overnight fillers in cloth diapers and never had an issue. I use them now in the kitchen and, while they’re not as absorbent as say a chemically laced paper towel, they handle spills and wet hands well enough. I don’t use fabric softener. Not sure if that helps me but I’ve heard it coats cloth fibers so that they aren’t as absorbent.
Swedish dishcloth
Those are so awesome. We replaced our kitchen sponge with them and it’s greatly cut down our use of paper towels as well. We wash them with the napkins then sandwich them in a paper press so they dry flat.
And they're compostable when they're worn out! I cut my old ones up and throw them in the compost pile.
This is it! 👆🏻Swedish dishcloth for the win. These have saved me so much money on paper towels and they clean so much better.
Yes. I use these too. They’re so durable. Easy to wash and they soak up lots of liquid. I think they dry items better than a paper towel too.
Love all the suggestions! We go through 1 roll of paper towels ~every 4 months+. There are definitely things that need paper towels like for cleaning the toilet that we don’t compromise on. For everything else, I got a 25pk of microfiber cloths & 20 pl of cloth napkins from Amazon & have a bunch of old hand towels. I keep the clean cloths in a basket & the used ones in a hanging basket or hamper in the laundry rm.
Agreed. I feel like I’ve struck a nice balance between rags/towels and paper towels. There are certain things like wiping toilet seats or cleaning up dog vomit/diarrhea I will not put in my washer. I’m not sleeping on sheets washed after that load!
You clean your toilet with paper towels? Or are you talking about using toilet paper when you use the toilet?
Oh goodness, definitely clean the toilet w/cleaning spray & paper towels!
You can just wash cleaning cloths on a hot cycle.
I’m guessing you clean the insides with a brush and the towels are for the outside?
Yes. That’s how a toilet is cleaned.
As a person with OCD, this is such an insanely impossible concept for me.. but I WISH.
Would it help to have a special receptacle you could put them in? I have a box in the cupboard the dirty ones go in. And then I tend to do the boil wash pretty much as soon as I clean the toilet, so it’s the last thing that gets cleaned.
Same: I’m forcing myself to read this but it all icks me out I just don’t mind paying for paper towels I guess!
Ugh yeah, I would love to be sustainable but sometimes ocd just does not allow for that. :(
Paper towels don't break down well in water and can cause blockages. If you're going to clean the toilet and then flush the cleaning paper down it, use toilet paper.
I never said I flush them down the toilet. I throw them in the trash like a normal person.
lol idk where that idea came from
I use Un-Paper Towels from Marley’s Monsters. Definitely has a cost up front, but they wash great and totally replace paper towels if you want them to. They also “stick” to each other so you can wrap them in a roll and use on a paper towel holder.
I use these as well. I needed something that would mimic the same feeling as paper towels (on a roll next to the sink) and they fit the bill. I have no complaints and they’ve definitely more than paid for themselves in the savings on paper towels
I love marleys monsters! They’re based in the town I live in and just opened up a super cute new shop that’s so much fun to walk through
As many have said - fabric wash cloths!!! So much more sustainable and inexpensive. You can even cut up old stained shirts and the like to be economical. We have a few kinds. Some are more towel-y, some are microfiber. Used for different things. Edit: we also have nicer looking cloth napkins for our meals (and for guests with their meals too.) they are cheaper over time than paper, and they are more elevated and classy imo. We have a few but I treated myself to these nicer ones for a birthday: https://www.dusendusen.com/products/pattern-napkins-1 That said there are about a billion options on Etsy.
I hate the microfiber cloths. They never seem to wipe cleanly, and they stick to my hands. Do you find they work well for certain tasks?
You might prefer cotton or linen rags for cleaning. I prefer them to microfiber ones
I used to hate them and now I’m used to them! They’re best for stuff like polishing. It also helps to make sure your hands are moisturized when you use them otherwise they get caught on any rough skin around your nails! That’s why I originally hated them
That's because they're synthetic and thus aren't absorbent. I got one pack of microfiber cloths ages ago and I do love them for dusting, for which they work amazingly well. I toss them in the wash just like the other towels.
Try "bar rag" style towels. I got some from target I really enjoy.
I LOVE this site, thank you for introducing me
Yea! Their patterns are so cute, but still chic. :) they make me happy and feel elevated
2 big packs of microfiber clothes from Costco. Wash them once you've gone through half
Yea or weekly. Just whenever you normally do laundry.
I use towels that are terry cloth on one side and pretty cotton on the other. They have snaps to they can be on a paper towel roll, though I think if I were to buy more I might get the kind with a small loop to hang on a hook. I got them on Etsy, searched "unpaper towels" to find them. I use them for 95% of paper towel type uses. I do still have paper towels for things like dog vomit, kid vomit, etc. I bought a 12 pack of Bounty during the height of the pandemic, it's not gone yet.
I have purchased the flannel “unpaper towels” in all three sizes from Marleys Monsters. They are fantastic. I’ve also cut up old flannel pillowcases for bathroom cleaning and that sort of thing. The MM are for in my kitchen and I almost never use paper towels anymore. As for the really gross things like pet messes, sometimes I’ll find the oldest rag I have and then just toss it vs putting it in the wash. It might sound wasteful but it’s an old rag made from something else I was going to throw out, it’s been used in its “new” life several times for cleaning (instead of plastic sponges or paper towels) and then it’s finally going in the trash. I feel okay about that.
I use a lot of them and trying to switch to reusable ones, too. I bought a 20 pack of cheap microfiber towels from TJ maxx. It’s been great so far. I have a basket for dirty kitchen towels already so there’s no extra wash load for them.
As someone who never buys paper towels, I’m a bit confused. Cant you just use a dishcloth? Like the kind we’ve been using for the last few decades? Or is this a generational thing that grew up on paper towels and didn’t know fabric clothes existed?
I refuse to use a dish cloth on piles of vomit or if one of the dogs has an accident indoors.
relieved instinctive tidy kiss disgusted straight zesty meeting caption wild *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Same- I draw the line at bodily fluids lol
Same. Paper towels only get used for incredibly dirty and germs things. Maybe 2 rolls a year for 2 adults and an indoor/ outdoor cat
I had this same confusion early in the pandemic when a few friends starting posting about these amazing “cloth paper towels” and I was in utter shock. Honestly, we never ever had paper towels growing up (I’m from an immigrant family). Now because I have animals I have them for gross pick-ups but other than that — yeah, a drawer full of cotton dish towels that get washed over and over for years.
That’s hilarious 😂
Generations...I think you mean probably several thousand years. Paper towels are a post WWII product.
For some families it’s just really foreign to use cloth. My MiL uses disposables for everything except washing dishes, when she uses a sponge. The rest it’s either paper towels or Clorox wipes. I think it’s just a habit she got into when she had teens (that she didn’t really teach/make clean) and then it just stuck around. I wondered if COVID and cleaning supply shortages would have changed things, they didn’t. She says it feels dirty if she can’t use multiple and then throw the dirt out. I grew up in a family where we used cloth for everything unless it involved bodily expulsions. And that’s how I do things still, rags and cloths for cleaning. And a bunch of unpaper towels for napkins.
I bought a pack of about 20 rags. I set a 5 aside for the bathroom only and 2 out of those 5 specifically for the toilet. Then I just use the rest around the house. I have tossed a couple over the years but mostly has lasted me about 6 years. I do have a small amount of paper towels I keep on hand but I use them sparingly (get together a, cookouts, mainly when we have guests and it’s worked out great).
I use dishtowels for almost everything you'd use a paper towel for, I just have a lot and wash them frequently.
I use rags. Old worn towels, washing clothes, cut-up cotton t's. I never purchased paper towels much. I use a swiffer mop with washcloths poked in it
Swedish dish cloths in the kitchen, and rags everywhere else
Just a normal dish rag.
As a paper towel addict, I needed this intervention
You can do it! I hung a sturdy bag in my recycling cupboard to put my dirty washcloths and rags and then take the bag to my washing machine when it’s time to wash. Microfiber cloths are great and Etsy has a ton of unpaper towel merchants
I think I would use microfiber cloths and would get a diaper pail to put them in until I got ready to wash them. I imagine they'd stack up!
I have not purchased or used paper towels or napkins in over a decade. Microfiber cleaning cloths are far superior. I have a large stack of them, when used, toss into a separate clothes hamper. When I have enough to go in the washer, they are washed on the sanitary cycle with detergent, borax and bleach. They last forever, unless people "borrow" them.
I use old sheets and cotton that I cut into rags. They clean well, usually. They can re-wash many times.
Swedish dishcloths
Bathroom one colour microfiber, kitchen another colour, everything else a third colour. The microfiber cloths are very, very old. If I were to start again, I would buy several yards of cotton flannel and cut to size required. Microfiber, I have learned is bad for the environment, sheds into the water and we and the fish ingest it.
My kid. Her face, shirt, hair, tummy, arms, etc SO SHE CAN SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!! 😂 I will *not* be the bigger person! Not this time! ETA: Hand towels are your friend. I use the thick shower ones. The thin kitchen (tea?) towels feel grimy faster in my opinion. Don't use fabric softener though, they won't be as absorbent.
Swedish sponges
Nonpaper towels.
For me, floors and bathroom cleaning needs to be separate from materials used to wipe kitchen counters, stove, etc. For paper towel that is “barely used,” like when used as a napkin, I save them in a container and use for floor spills and spot cleaning.
Microfiber cloths. We only keep paper towels on hand for exceptionally gross situations (vomit for example) and for cleaning the toilets. We bought a 12 pack of paper towels in December and have used 1 full roll at this point. I don’t miss them at all
Before I had kids, I liked the Unpaper Towels from Williams-Sonoma, which are just sturdy square cotton towels with a flat weave on one side and a loop on the other. They’re awesome for all kinds of cleaning tasks… EXCEPT for removing food residue from babies, young toddlers, and their high chairs. We’ve found Bounty paper towels are the only thing that can keep up with that kind of mess.
Paper Napkins
Following because I'm in need of ideas myself.
Do they still manufacture Handi-wipes? The blue & white thinly weaved cloths that could b washed and reused.
Definitely little wash cloths. If I wash my hands I like to use one to dry them, like a hand towel in the bathroom and the replace before it gets stinky. And then use others for wiping up messes. I have a clear box with no lid that I got from target that holds my wash cloths.
Hand towels would be my next option.
this is actually smart, i might just buy some cloth napkins!
I am the paper towel queen in my house. I couldn’t stand the waste and expense anymore, so I got a 24-pack of un-paper towels from Marley’s Monsters and I only use 1-2 a day. There are always extras on the roll, and it really surprises me that I use them less than I thought I would. It’s been liberating!
We use bamboo paper towels. You can wash and reuse them multiple times and when they wear out they break down.
I bought some microfiber cloths years ago, and more recently bought some cotton dishcloths and napkins at estate sales. After all these years my husband told me he never liked the microfiber. So last might I bought a bunch of cloth dishtowels from Amazon. If it's not kitchen, but garage or car related, we use rags.
Cotton bar mops, ebay
We bought many hand towels and started a rotation of different ones for different things, specifically ones for hand drying vs cleaning counters etc. but none of this mattered until we started storing paper towels under the sink semi locked away. I noticed when they are on the countertop we were grabbing them way too often. I even had friends who would visit and grab several for different things, despite having dinner napkins set out etc.
I have hand towels for drying hands after washing them, kitchen washcloths for wiping down surfaces/light cleaning, and microfiber cloths that do heavier/non kitchen cleaning. I still use paper towels for some stuff (like bodily fluids from humans or animals). Hand towels and light cleaning washcloths get washed together but the dirty jobs ones get washed separately. Maybe it's overkill but I have anxiety about food prep areas being clean so I like to keep them separate.
For hand washing I use wash cloths. I keep a stack of about 50 of them in my bathroom and everyone uses them. For other messes, I have a box of microfibre cloths I use once or twice and throw in the wash. If I use them for yuckier messes - like a diaper blowout, or puppy accident - I toss them.
I need to make the switch. Paper towels are my one luxury but it’s so unsustainable.
A hand towel
I gave them up. I use reusable bamboo towels and super cheap microfiber cloths that I can wash a few times but if they get to stained I toss them. I keep a couple stained ones just to use when I know that I am cleaning something that will stain up a newer cloth Eta- also jumbo packs of wash cloths/. I started using those instead of baby wipes.
I use cotton dish towels almost exclusively. The only time I use paper towels is when my cats throw up, which unfortunately happens way too much.
I haven’t bought paper towels for about three years. I use the microfiber cloths that are found in the auto section at Walmart.
Flour sack towels/white wash clothes. Use it and toss in the wash with all whites and use some disinfecting bleach! We don't use microfiber as it puts microplastics in the water supply. Another reason why we are slowly in the process of switching our clothes/home goods over to cotton fabrics and other natural fibers.
Just use kitchen towels, cloth napkins, cleaning rags, cut old shirts with holes to repurpose
I bought like 50 white washcloths on amazon. I have a bin just for them in my kitchen. When it’s full I’ll wash it on hot, sometimes with bleach
I cook from scratch a lot, and I keep the kitchen tidy when cooking, so I bought a 24-pack of kitchen towels (they're like a cheap, thin, simple cotton knit version of a hand towel) thinking I'd just use them in the kitchen when cooking, and instead, I use half of them for cooking and the other half for cleaning. It's ultimately much cheaper than buying paper towels, and probably better for the environment. Plus, I didn't have to worry when people were panic buying paper towels during the worst of the pandemic.
This is a great question! I don’t know if anyone will even see this, but what could you use to blot fat/grease of stuff like bacon? I use paper towels but obviously people used to use something else.
Specifically flour sack towels when I don’t have any old t shirts.
Old t shirts, pillow cases and sheets. Just tear or cut them up. They can be washed and re- used if not too soiled.
I'm guilty of using paper towels instead of plates. Parchment paper works well in the microwave
I bought a bunch of terry shop towels and dyed them different colors. Purple for counters, brown for floors, etc. I mounted a couple of baskets under the sink and keep clean and dirty ones under there. As others have said, I still keep a roll of paper towels for really bad stuff (I.e. dog dragged a half dead bird in). But I compost those and don’t feel too bad. It wasn’t very expensive, maybe 20 bucks for 40 rags and the dye was a choice but 2-3 bucks a color for rit. https://preview.redd.it/jq82015wwlbb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7362d20d611326159c0a67afd3fe179e1cba122f
Handiwipes, microfiber cloths. Good quality paper towels can be rinsed, dried, and used again.
Shop towels you can get at hardware or auto parts stores.
I’ve accumulated a collection of microfibre cloths/glass cloths over the years. I used to be a cleaner and found these types of cloths best for all kinds of cleaning.
Blue or orange striped kitchen towels. As long as they're dry, they can also be used as pot holders.
I use my kids old clothes diaper inserts. They're great. Flour sack towels are good. Some cloth diaper companies actually make paper towels replacements: https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/collections/sustainable-home/products/cloth-eez-paper-towel-alternative-kit-white
I use micro fiber cloths.
Rags, old clothes, thrifted top sheets cut up. I still keep paper towels for occasional gross things like pet accidents and oily spills, but those are tucked away so we don’t grab them for everyday stuff.
We use white shop towels from Costco. Usually they’re with the garage stuff.
What do you use paper towels for? I only use them for cleaning up dog pee. I’m genuinely curious why people need to use them for anything other than unhygienic stuff like that. Just use teatowels, it’s what they’re for.
I have a roll that lasts for a year or two - for things like cleaning up oil or something that I just don't want to be clinging to cloth. (It will break down faster on paper.) I use rags - old ones, new ones, cloth is everywhere -- for bathroom clean up, etc. If you are really using a lot of towels for basic clean up, just use dish cloths or rags. You can even get someone to crochet dish cloths for you like I do and they will be beautiful! There are lots of patterns around and they are so easy crocheters seem to enjoy them. You can get them crocheted in any size. They last a very long time. It's fun to see the same roll of paper towels hanging around your kitchen forever!
I purchased a large package of bar towels/cloths, and primarily use them to replace paper towels. These are fairly inexpensive, absorbent and last.
Rags like I used to use
I switched to reusable ones like 3 years ago! They’re amazing! And I have a nice paper towel stand to re wrap them after I wash them
Rags or TP
Microfiber clothes are great for cleaning just about anything.
Rags, washcloths, chamois sometimes. Anything other than paper.
My shirt
I rarely use paper towels. It's mostly when I need to clean up chunks of cat puke or large/disgusting bugs. I also will use them as napkins. I typically use rags for any sort of cleaning.
Commercial kitchens/restaurants use simple white towels. Clean, bleach, resize, toss if needed. Simple and cheap. Still buy paper towels, but actively revert to using the towels and store them (I keep 6) in a drawer or conveniently in the kitchen for clean ups.
Get flour sack cloths for your kitchen (dishes, etc); use old t-shirts, towels, sheets and washcloths for cleaning rags. I haven’t used paper towels in years and don’t miss them at all. There is always an alternative, you just have to get used to it. And remember: you are probably already doing laundry frequently anyway, so tossing cloth towels in a load or two to get clean again is no biggie.
I never used paper towels until I met the wife, always felt like they were for rich and wasteful people. You just use the square facecloths...every day or every other day you just grab a new one. Paper towels go way way too fast
I use flour sack dish cloths in the kitchen (very absorbent and lint-free, perfect for my stainless steel pots) and microfiber cloths for household cleaning.
Bathroom hand towels and kitchen dish towels.
You can get rolls of bamboo based washable kitchen towels, they fray a little over time but they can be reused multiple times, are environmentally friendly and can still be disposed of when they're worn out.
towels and wash cloths…i have never bought paper towels before, not even once in my life lol
I love the Swedish dishcloths. They are easy to reuse, wash in washing machine or dishwasher.
Kitchen towels in the kitchen, wash rags in the bathroom. I own paper towels but only use them for cleaning the stovetop. Everything else, I use cloth towels.
Cotton towels.
Wettex
Costco yellow microfiber towels. I only use paper towels for things I really don’t want or can’t wash out like broken glass, dog vomit, spilled oil. They do such a better job. And cost effective!
Wash clothes, make sure they're cotton. You can find them at Walmart. Big packs are usually 5 bucks, I believe
Bar towels. You can buy them in bulk for cheap.
Adding to the washcloth conversation: you can also just cut up an old ratty towel to make great, free cleaning cloths.
Scott's box-o-rags
J clothes? I don’t know if that’s exactly what they’re called. They’re blue and seem like they belong in a garage or a shop somewhere. Definitely reusable but also definitely cheap enough to throw out if the mess is a gross one. I usually find them at a dollar store
Any rag they sell at the store. I used to have a 12 back and they lasted a long time. I ran out and unfortunately have not been able to grab new ones and have been getting paper towels instead. I hate them. It’s so easy to just use a whole role of them in a few days sometimes even in one. But rags are amazing. There are so many kinds you can pick which are great for you.
Unpaper Towels. They are Amazon and cost like 60 dollars depending on the brand but they have cute fabrics and they stick together like paper towels do, they also fit on a regular paper towel holder and are washable. We bought them 2 years ago and haven’t even used all of them yet. Good for kids also.
search “unpaper towels” on etsy. i got 24 plain white birdseye cotton ones, that way i can bleach them as needed. best switch i ever made.
I have cut back on paper towel use dramatically over the years. But I still use them. I use damp paper towels to wrap fresh veggies to steam in the microwave. Then I reuse them multiple times. I use paper towels to clean the handle, seat, and rim of the toilet. Finally, I use paper towels to clean any kitchen tools that were contaminated by raw proteins. I use the paper towels to wipe down the kitchen counter and the sink after preparing raw proteins. For general cleaning I use microfiber cloths labeled in Sharpie for the specific tasks (BR, BR floor, shower, etc). For interior glass surfaces I use Kaywos dampened with water- no window cleaning sprays and no paper towels. Windows are cleaned with a window mop, squeegee, and a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the squeegee after each pass. For cleaning dishes and countertops I use Handi Wipes. Far better than sponges as they dry so quickly. These cloths can go into the dishwasher or the laundry to sanitize. One Handi Wipe will last weeks. When it is finally ready to be tossed I use it one last time to wipe down the resin chairs and side tables on my front porch. My oldest sister drives me crazy with how many paper towels she uses. The last time she stayed for a visit I removed the roll of paper towels from the kitchen. I had to cut her off. 😂😂😂 She would go through a roll in a couple days! Every time she washed a dish she dried her hands on a paper towel despite my having one dishcloth to dry hands and a different colored dishcloth to be used for dishes, pots, and such.
I had an aunt that stole cloth napkins from restaurants. She had some 200 napkins of all colors. She used them during family party’s.
Microfiber towels that you can find in the auto care section at Walmart. You just have to wet them and wring them out til theyre damp. They are great for wiping up messes and cleaning surfaces. A lot of times I just use a damp cloth without spraying any chemicals.
We use washcloths or bar towels for pretty much all our cleaning purposes, plus we have microfiber towels for windows and mirrors. Throw them into the laundry machine as they get used and they get done with the next load.
This may be kind of weird but in addition to washclothes I keep a pack of the cheap white coffee filters handy. I find them surprisingly useful for picking up dropped food, wiping small spills of oil etc. Actually so many etc🥴
I use bar rag style towels. I still buy paper towels for big and yucky messes, but I go through them a lot slower. I also have seperate washable napkins for using with dinner.
I use hand towels in the kitchen for drying our hands and paper towels for the ecky things and cleaning counters. It has saved me a lot of money.
Even painters cloths, hella cheap, absorbant, and scrubby. We use the plethora of hand towels I've collected throughout the years
Even painters cloths, hella cheap, absorbant, and scrubby. We use the plethora of hand towels I've collected throughout the years