I have used kitchen towels for many years, instead of purchasing paper towels. I also use small towels for a lot of my housework (ie…cleaning windows, spot cleaning my tile floors, etc). It’s so much easier on the environment and you don’t have to haul out so much trash on trash day.

You an also use the bab’y old terry sleepers. They are really absorbent. (the ones that cannot be donated)

Old rags is a great way to save when it comes to clean up spilled messes or just cleaning countertops, floor, etc. I’m living on my own now and reusing rags and cloth napkins not only helps the environment but it helps my budget!

I am REALLY trying in this area. My family refuses to conform and I give in here way too much!

I am happy to say I can not remember the last time I bought either napkins or paper towels. I am a college student and luxuries like paper just don’t make the grocery list. And when my towels and rags are dirty, I soak them in the sink for a bit and wash them by hand for the next day. This takes little time and makes me feel great about lowering my ecological footprint.

I always try to use the dish towels that I have already used to dry dishes to clean the countertops, spills, or even the kitchen floor before putting them in the washing machine. That way I get a few extra uses after the point when I don’t feel they are clean enough to eat off of.

Growing up, my mom pretty much only used resuable rags for cleaning. I’ve taken it a step farther and only use cloth napkins and only use paper towels for wiping bacon grease out of my skillet.

I have also used out white towels as rags to clean with I don’t believe in buying paper towels to me they are a waste of money and resources.

This one is easy. I’m a cheap skate, I’ve used cloth towels since I was little. I’m not even sure if there are paper towels in the house. They aren’t used very much!

We quit using paper towel! I thought it would be much harder with two very young kids, but we have found it easy and frugal!

I have normally used rags to clean with for the past 20 years. I do use paper towels when I have to polish silver or brass, that way the cleaner does not get on any clothing or towels that we use.

I recently purchased some of those as seen on TV reusable cloths from a local merchant-( in order to avoid excessive shipping costs). I cut them into smaller sizes to handle quick clean up jobs,this has proven to be a great subsitute for paper towles in my household.I just toss them into the laundry and hang them out to dry.

I do buy recycled paper towels for cleaning the bathroom…3 rolls last me a very long time. I use cloth towels to dry my hands in the kitchen and bar towels to dry the counters. I also buy recycled paper toilet paper…Trader Joe’s has the best!! I have yet to switch the kitchen sponge….perhaps that is next.:)

I do still buy paper towels, but more rarely now. We use cloth dinner napkins (look for them at estate auctions). I use those “handi wipes” or sponges for cleaning purposes.

I had some old flour sack towels that are now on “instead of paper towel” duty, and got some microfiber cloths for the cleaning chores I used to do with paper. A friend of mine has microfiber table napkins, they resist stains well… my ordinary table linen did not pass that test, so that will be the next step for us.

to KAYAF: A suggestion for those really messy messes: try using some recycled newspaper or the junk mail inserts, so you don’t have to buy paper towels at all!

changed toilet paper to single ply. we save and then use the napkins from fast food places instead of throwing them away

I’ll be using some old handkerchiefs and I’ll cut up some old bath towels I have too to use in place of paper towels.

i havent purchased paper towels and napkins in over a year. it took some convincing for my husband and kids, but now they all know to go to the towel drawer or napkin box when they need to clean up a mess. i wash the towels and napkins twice a week wit our bath towels so there really isnt any more laundry to do. i also reused an old orange crate on our counter to keep all our napkins in because it catches guets eyes and they ask about it

I’ve always used cloth/linen napkins. I just need to break-down and stop using paper towels to clean up messes….