Paper towels certainly seem like a household necessity. After all, they’re super easy to access — just tear off a roll and do a quick cleanup when spills or sticky messes happen, and you can throw them in the trash when you’re done cleaning. But there is an option you can switch to that is cheap, reusable, eco-friendly and long lasting. That alternative is cloth towels. From microfiber cloths to washcloths to thin, paper towel-like cloths, there are many reusables. Paper towel alternatives Which is just as easy to access and clean. And instead of creating waste, you can simply wash it and reuse it again and again.
For homeowners who are already throwing heavy loads of laundry into their washing machines, it’s kind of a no-brainer. You can stop running through single-use paper towel rolls and lean on a green option. Switching from paper towels to cloth alternatives can help reduce your ecological footprint (and how much waste you’re producing) and can also play a role in saving trees, energy and water used in the manufacturing process. Plus, switching from paper towels to cloth towels can save you serious money. With packs of 50 microfiber cloths costing as little as a few cents per towel (or $9.98 total), it’s not an expensive swap to make. And since then Americans spend roughly $131 a year on paper goods like paper towels Data from 2023 to 2024Your one-time investment in fabric options can really pay off as you reuse them.
How to switch from paper towels to reusable cloth towels
If you’re ready to make household cleaning a more sustainable — and cheaper — process, you have several options. There are many reusable alternatives to one-and-done disposable paper towels, and different options are best suited for different jobs. Swedish dishclothFor example, there are biodegradable cloths like sponges that can absorb up to 20 times their weight, making them a great option for cleaning up spills and wet surfaces. Similarly, you can also switch to thin reusable paper towels made from bamboo, which are soft, absorbent and can be washed by hand or machine before your next use. This is also useful for liquid and spot-cleaning.
The two most common and versatile options are microfiber cloths and cotton or cotton-blend cloths. Microfiber cloths are an option that you can use anywhere (eg A Swiffer hack for when you’re out of refills). Made from synthetic fibers, they’re gentle enough to clean lint-free and scratch-prone surfaces, but highly absorbent and quick-drying, so they work for dusting, cleaning up spills, or cleaning surfaces. Cotton fabrics, which can come in 100 percent cotton or blends such as soft-to-the-touch cotton flannel, can pick up dust, debris and general dirt while also providing some absorbency.
And finally, you can always rely on another familiar kitchen staple: your dish towel. Larger than most paper towel options, dish towels are often reached for drying hands, a quick wipe or cleanup while you cook, or really any other messy task. They usually have some level of absorbency.
Alternatives to reusable paper towels to keep fresh and clean
Concerned about the hygiene of any type of reusable alternative to disposable paper towels? While paper towels are easy to throw away when they’re dirty, there’s no need to make the cleaning process any more messy by switching to more sustainable options. In general, with the exception of Swedish dishcloths (which should be thrown away after about six months or 200 uses, depending on your usage), you’ll need to wash any paper towel you choose. How often should you wash your kitchen and cleaning towels? The switch from disposable paper towels to cloth versions will determine how clean they are.
However, the exact washing schedule for replacing your paper towels will ultimately depend on how you’re using your cloth towels. If you’re using a cloth or towel to clean surfaces or items like food (especially meat or flour), you’ll need to wash them more often. But in general, it is recommended that you wash your cloth towels every three to five days to ensure that they are not harboring bacteria or an environment in which they can thrive.
Also consider frequency of use and humidity. Cloth or reusable paper towels that you use frequently throughout the day should be washed daily; If the garment gets wet, you should also wash it after each use. The more regularly you wash your paper towel alternatives, the more likely they will be cleaner and more uniform swaps for single-use paper towels.
