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Eco-Friendly and Budget-Friendly Alternative to Paper Towels:

@Yeshuasdaughter - I've been using bandanas as casual napkins for decades. Easy to toss in the washer and dryer, no need to iron them, and they come in every color imaginable.

I also have dozens of dish towels. I like the lint-free, 100% cotton ones. Eco-friendly and a lot cheaper than buying paper towels.
 
We used to get similar things in bulk where I worked to prevent sparks getting in people's hair. They should make a good alternative to paper towels. However, some may be made out of material that doesn't like to soak things up, so you might want to sort those from the bundle so you can have something that soaks up spills, if that's what you need them for.

I'm sure you will be able to identify which material is best for the task. Usually the fabric is very shiny or feels a bit plastic to the touch or doesn't hold it's form for long if you squish it into a ball.

EDIT: Sorry the page wasn't loading so I couldn't see all the info about the Bandanas. It seems they are all polyester in this particular bundle. The ones we got at work could be a variety of materials. But I will leave my post as something to keep in mind when ordering from different places :-)
 
Instead of paper towels absorbent dish clothes and tea towels.
Because if you have a spill you wipe it with a dishcloth and dry it with a tea towel.
Hang them overnight if not too moist and see if you can get another day out of them.
If not throw them in washing machine and hang them out to dry somewhere in sun.
So you essentially do not need paper towel at all because it you can wipe things down then dry them off or just lightly wipe mild stains and in summer if not in use leave the bench to air dry.
 
MildredHubble said:
We used to get similar things in bulk where I worked to prevent sparks getting in people's hair. They should make a good alternative to paper towels. However, some may be made out of material that doesn't like to soak things up, so you might want to sort those from the bundle so you can have something that soaks up spills, if that's what you need them for.

I'm sure you will be able to identify which material is best for the task. Usually the fabric is very shiny or feels a bit plastic to the touch or doesn't hold it's form for long if you squish it into a ball.

EDIT: Sorry the page wasn't loading so I couldn't see all the info about the Bandanas. It seems they are all polyester in this particular bundle. The ones we got at work could be a variety of materials. But I will leave my post as something to keep in mind when ordering from different places :)
Click to expand...

I use the 100% cotton bandanas which probably cost more than the polyester ones. Cotton is good at absorbing water. I keep a couple of them in my car to mop up water that gets in the car when it rains. Also useful to mop up grandchildren in the car. ;)
 
When I think of not using paper towels, I always think of my childhood and my depression era mother who insisted on keeping rancid washrags in the kitchen, that always seemed past due being put into the wash.

I hate paying for paper towels, but that's one aspect of convenience and sanitation I can't turn down. I just cringe at the smell of washrags used in the kitchen over and over to clean up all kinds of messes.
 
Judge said:
When I think of not using paper towels, I always think of my childhood and my depression era mother who insisted on keeping rancid washrags in the kitchen, that always seemed past due being put into the wash..

I hate paying for paper towels, but that's one aspect of convenience and sanitation I can't turn down. I just cringe at the smell of washrags used in the kitchen over and over to clean up all kinds of messes.
Click to expand...

I can relate to your memories. My mother would use the same dish towel for days at a time. Ugh. I guess it was their generation's need for frugality and a lack of awareness of germs.

I change the dish towels every time they get wet, sometimes 2 clean new towels per day. I figure that if they are wet, then they are germ factories. I do use cloth dishrags/dish cloths to wash dishes because wet sponges are well known germ habitats. I just put lots of soap on the dishrag, rinse and wring it dry after use, and drape it over the sink to air dry. I change the dishrags several times a week, too.

I'm picky about these things, too, and put everything possible in the dishwasher.
 
Mary Terry said:
I can relate to your memories. My mother would use the same dish towel for days at a time. Ugh. I guess it was their generation's need for frugality and a lack of awareness of germs.

-Exactly! Not surprising as we are from the same generation. ;)
Click to expand...
 
When the collar and elbows go on a cotton shirt, there's usually several good sized light rags available. I have several dish cloths, and they go from the sink to the wash, to the sun if possible, and then to duty as a "dirty towel" before going back to the sink. I keep several stained towels around to mop up spills.
 
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