Zero Waste Wednesday: Paperless Towels

Some things are so ingrained in our routines that we never think to question if there’s another way. Paper towels are one of those things.

Don’t panic: if you’re totally in love with your paper towels, you can keep using them and no one will think less of you for it–that is, as long as you remember that they’re compostable and you dispose of them appropriately! Especially when it comes to gross messes, sometimes it’s nice to clean up with something that you can just toss when you’re done.

But for wiping down the countertops after you cook, or drying your hands, or any of the million things that might make you reach for a paper towel, just consider for a moment whether “paperless towels” might be a better solution.

Another word for paperless towels, of course, is “dish rag” or “cloth napkin” or “hand towel”, so they likely are familiar to you in some capacity.

When it comes to drying your hands, a good hand towel is gentler and more absorbent than a paper towel; try hanging one from your oven or a hook in your kitchen and see how many paper towels (and therefore, money) you can save each week before you rotate your hand towel out for a new one.

Maybe you’re used to cloth napkins being reserved for fancy restaurants–if that’s the case, why not make every day a special occasion? In France, many families use cloth napkins every day. Each family member has a different napkin ring, and they use the same napkins for several days, rolling them up into their respective rings after each use until it’s time to wash them. If you have enough cloth napkins or you’re just having a messy meal, you can also rotate them out every single meal if you prefer.

For cleaning purposes, you might want to invest in a separate set of paperless towels than you use as hand towels and napkins. More power to you if you want to use the same ones, but when you use them for cleaning, they do end up accumulating some stains over time, so they may not be as aesthetically pleasing as they start out!

You can buy yourself a nice set of paperless towels on Etsy.These ones are made of 100% cotton and are very absorbent–perfect for cleaning up spills or using as napkins.

If you find you miss your roll of paper towels, you might consider these instead. These can be rolled together and used just like a roll of paper towels–only you can use them again and again and they only get more absorbent over time.

To maximize your sustainability and minimize your costs, you can also make your own by cutting up some old bedsheets or clothes. Here’s a tutorial!
Once again, if you love your paper towels, no one is going to take them away from you or tell you you’re a bad person for continuing to use them: they’re compostable, and you can even buy them from businesses with a focus on sustainability, such as Who Gives A Crap.

But if you’re looking for ways to decrease your trash AND save some money, consider giving paperless towels a try!