what can i use in place of paper towels

8 Sustainable Paper Towel Alternatives for Every Use

1. Paper Towel Alternative: Natural Sponges. As an alternative to paper towels, use sponges that are washable and/or...
2. Cotton Napkins: A Decorative Alternative to Paper Towels. Cotton napkins are a great way to spruce up your kitchen...
3. Reusable Beeswax Wrap: Paper Towel Alternative for Food Storage. Beexwax...

Full Answer

What is the best alternative to paper towels?

Paper Towel Alternatives

• Fabric Towels. The great thing about fabric towels is that there are several different kinds to choose from. ...
• Unpaper Towels. Unpaper towels are exactly what they sound like: paper towels without the paper. ...
• Reusable Beeswax Wraps. ...
• Linen and Cotton Bowl Covers. ...
• Reusable Paper Towels. ...
• Reusable Sandwich Bags. ...

What can I replace paper towels with?

Where do you buy a cheesecloth?

• Amazon. For sure, you’ll have no trouble getting cheesecloth on Amazon. …
• Whole Foods. Any Whole Foods should carry cheesecloth. …
• Walmart. Use Walmart’s online store locator to see if the store in your area has cheesecloth (it should).
• Target. …
• CVS. …
• Michael’s Crafts. …
• JoAnn Fabrics. …
• Home Depot.

What is the difference between regular paper and paper towels?

There are four different types of paper towels:

• Pull roll
• Multi fold
• S-fold
• C-fold

How to stop using paper towels?

“You may use it for wiping up a spill. Listen, I see it as a potential masterpiece,” said Dr. Brenda Caldwell.

What can I use if I dont have paper towels?

Five Substitutes You Need Instead of Paper Towels1) Newspaper. After enjoying a morning of reading the newspaper, keep a stash of these handy readings that can also double as a household cleaning tool. ... 2) Microfiber Cleaning Cloths. ... 3) Cloth Diapers. ... 4) Old T-Shirts. ... 5) The Un-Paper Towel.

How do you avoid paper towels?

Here are some quick tips for quitting paper towels!Simply stop buying them. ... Make a bunch of cloth towels. ... Have a separate laundry hamper for your rags. ... Invest in natural cleaning sprays that you like. ... Keep sponges on hand. ... Don't use nice tea towels or dish towels that you care about. ... Get used to doing more laundry.

What can I use instead of paper towels in the microwave?

Dish Cloth Method If you don't have a paper towel on hand, you can use a dishcloth or a J-cloth instead. This method will allow you to catch the drips, without the need for a paper towel. You can also reuse the dishcloth afterward, which makes it a more eco-friendly option.

Can microfiber cloths replace paper towels?

The Best Value Paper Towel Alternative: Quickie Microfiber Cloths. These cloths did fairly well on all the tests, including water absorbency, oil clean-up, and washability, and ten bucks gets you enough of them to last a very long time. (And when they're done in the kitchen, you can use them to wash your car, too.)

How do you make homemade paper towels?

Instructions for No-Sew Reusable Paper TowelsMeasure and cut fabric scraps. Just like the sewn option, measure two pieces of 10” x 15” fabric, then cut. ... Cut hemming tape to size. ... Iron and apply hemming tape. ... Let cool and flip inside out. ... Fold in and complete with hemming tape.

How can I clean my kitchen without paper towels?

For down and dirty cleaning, use rags made from old T-shirts, bath towels or any other scrap cloth you have on hand. Don't feel bad about tossing a few of these in the trash if they get too dirty or worn. Trashing a few rags is much better than consuming multiple rolls of paper towels.

How do you cover food in the microwave without paper towels?

Recycled products may actually have metal particles, which can spark if you microwave them.Consider using paper towels if you're reheating sausages or bacon, for instance.If you don't have paper towels, you could use microwave-safe paper plates or napkins.

How do you dry food without paper towels?

Instead of using paper towels to pat your chicken dry, you can use the following:Fridge.Fan.Cloth towel.Heat.Momentum.Paper bag.Air dry.

Is it safe to put kitchen roll in the microwave?

It is possible to use kitchen roll in your microwave oven. However, please note that we would recommend that you only use microwave-proof kitchen roll in your microwave.

Is it better to clean with rags or paper towels?

Paper towels work well for cleanups, regular cleaning and drying hands in restrooms, but cloth towels have just as many uses—and perhaps even a few more. There are a variety of different styles of cloth towels, making them much more versatile than paper towels.

Is washing rags better than paper towels?

In short, reusable cloths avoid the wastefulness of paper towels, but they can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other nasties.

Which is more sanitary paper towels or cloth towels?

Paper towels are more sanitary to store "You can contaminate the area where you store [kitchen towels]," Dr. Gerba says. "People often hang used towels on refrigerator door handles or other locations, which can contaminate these surfaces.

Why should I stop using paper towels?

But to me, there seems to be a few irrefutable facts: Used paper towels cannot be recycled (though they can be composted); paper towels are among the tons and tons of paper products that clog our landfills; and paper towels, even if manufacturers are replanting trees for the ones they harvest, are contributing to the ...

Why should you stop using paper towels?

Good reasons to stop usingPaper towels are still hard to come by.Paper towels are wasteful and bad for the environment.Paper towels are expensive!One Swedish dishcloth can replace 17 rolls of paper towels.

How do you stop using paper products?

Reducing Paper Waste in Your HomeStop buying paper towels.Swap to Cloth Napkins.Use a coffee maker that does not require a paper filter.Bring your own to-go cup.Make or buy reusable snack/sandwich bags.Opt for reusable gift wrap.Use dry erase board or laminated paper instead of a notebook for to-do lists.More items...

Is it better to use paper towels or cloth?

Paper towels work well for cleanups, regular cleaning and drying hands in restrooms, but cloth towels have just as many uses—and perhaps even a few more. There are a variety of different styles of cloth towels, making them much more versatile than paper towels.

Why should you consider paper towel alternatives?

Paper products that we use in the kitchen (and bathroom) like towels and napkins have a massive environmental footprint. First, there are the resources need to produce them, which involves cutting down old-growth forests. Then there's all the water and bleach it takes to actually manufacture them.

Best Reusable Paper Towels: Swedish Cloths

Ten & Co. is a Canadian brand that I love. I've used most of their products, including the Swedish dishcloth. Just one Swedish dishcloth will replace 17 rolls of paper towels!

Best paper towel alternatives: Unpaper Towel

So Swedish Cloths are amazing for cleaning up and they are just one option you can choose. There is also something known as Unpaper Towel. These became super popular a few years back and can be used to clean just about anything. One of the major pros is that they can be placed on a paper towel rack and be pulled off in the same way.

More paper towel alternatives for cleaning home

I've touched on two alternatives to using paper towels, Swedish sponges clothes and unpaper towels. These are not the only options.

Cost analysis of paper towel vs. reusables

Going green doesn’t have to be expensive. Let’s get a close-up on the savings to your wallet AND the environment by going green: Paper towels vs. Unpaper towels!

Common questions I get about using reusable paper towels

"What happens if you have to clean up grease on the counter?" 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. Rinse and then launder the cloth. I keep old rags and cloths under the sink specifically for these kinds of messes.

How do I actually get started with switching to reusable paper towels?

Finish up what you have before you even consider purchasing anything new. Most people have a ton of dish clothes stacked away, use those as well.

1. Paper Towel Alternative: Natural Sponges

As an alternative to paper towels, use sponges that are washable and/or made of organic materials.

2. Cotton Napkins: A Decorative Alternative to Paper Towels

Cotton napkins are a great way to spruce up your kitchen table as well as a sustainable alternative to paper towels.

3. Reusable Beeswax Wrap: Paper Towel Alternative for Food Storage

Beexwax wraps are also great alternatives for paper towels and plastic wrap.

4. Old T-Shirts, Towels or Sheets

You probably have some old t-shirts lying around, so put them to good use as an paper towel substitute.

5. Swedish Dishcloths

Swedish dishcloths, another paper towel alternative from organic materials, are extra absorbent.

6. Tea Towels: A Limited but Robust Paper Towel Alternative

Traditional tea towels are one of the underestimated paper towel alternatives.

7. Reusable Paper Towel

A robust paper towel alternative: reusable paper towels can be used for dry and wet mopping.

How Paper Towels Harm the Planet

Paper towels aren’t recyclable, so they almost always have to be thrown away. However, if you do use paper towels regularly, you can compost them instead of throwing them in the trash. Unfortunately, unless you compost at home, composting facilities still may not accept them.

How To Use Less Paper Towels

After using paper towels as the go-to cleaning product for decades, it’s not easy to change our habits. But don’t worry—we have a hack for you that can make you think twice before reaching for the roll.

Eco-Friendly Paper Towel Alternatives

Want to ditch typical paper towels altogether? Swedish dishcloths are a great place to start. The reusable cleaning cloth replaces both paper towels and sponges, allowing you to clean up in a more planet-friendly manner.

1. Swedish cellulose dish cloths

Made of biodegradable cellulose and organic cotton, the brand says that these cloths can absorb 20 times their weight. They also promise no odor, so you won’t be pinching your nose each time you need to mop up a spill.

2. Reusable bamboo paper towels

Bamboo is snowballing in popularity thanks to its sustainable properties. This chic and simple version is long-lasting, and absorbent, so you won’t have to dirty 10 of them when you’re scouring the cooktop or wiping down the microwave. Buy: Reusable Paper Towel, $12.95 from Grove Collaborative

3. Bamboo kitchen dish cloths

Another bamboo option, these dish cloths aren’t just a viable option for a paper towel replacement, but they can be used to wash dishes, clean surfaces, and are even capable of being implemented into your skincare routine as a wash cloth. Buy: 100% Bamboo Kitchen Dish Cloths – 6 Pack, $13.99 from Amazon

4. Wowables reusable & biodegradable paper towel

Biodegradable is an important trait to keep in mind when you’re sourcing everyday products for green living, and these paper towels make the cut. Once they’re fully soiled, stick them in your washing machine or dishwasher so you can use them again and again. Buy: Wowables Reusable & Biodegradable Paper Towel, $19.99 from Amazon

5. Tree-free paper towels

Composed of non-GMO certified bamboo and sugarcane, these tree-free towels make a strong case for standing in for the roll usually residing on your holder. They’re free of chemicals, plastics, inks, and dyes, and are 100 percent biodegradable. Buy: Tree-Free Paper Towels, $6.25 from Public Goods

6. AIDEA handi wipes

For those who appreciate a good bargain first and foremost, you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck with this 80-pack of reusable cleaning cloths.

7. Unpaper towels

A rainbow of prints is a vibrant solution to any corner that makes you yawn. It helps doubly when the material is sustainable, like these reusable towels from Marley’s Monsters.