At work we now use recyclable envelopes for packaging fresh fish and seafood for our cutomers. They also keep the products cool until they get home and can be used to freeze the product to prevent freezer burn. Practical and eco-friendly. :)

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….

I already do this. I can make a roll of paper towels last for months & months. I only use them for draining bacon & really gooey, messy messes (broken eggs or oil.) Otherwise I use terry towels in kitchen & rags for cleaning.

We use hankies instead of tissues. And I use cloth sanitary napkins instead of paper ones.

I always used linene napkins for the holidays so why not use them everyday & make everyday seems special! You can get cloth napkins at the dollar store & buy”holiday” cloth napkins on sale after each holiday plus use coupons at many department stores to really save!

Hand towels make much more “cents” in the long run. Plus they fill the washer to the max to utilize it it to capacity.

old socks are great for using as rags also…any kind of old shirts that can not be givin away for more use eg. goodwill or church banks,are usable for cleaning

I am a quilter so I always have extra fabric that I cut into napkin sizes & hem to use instead of paper napkins…also for polishing rags etc.

No problem here. I am aa hair stylist and wash my hands afer ea haircut, so I keep my own towel in my locker to dry my hands after esch hand washing, and at the end of my shift, in the laundry it goes! Good luck!

This is a great reminder to start the summer on an earth/health/budget conscious path. I’m going to cut up some old towels this morning, thanks kc25cn, and I like the colander idea as well. I’m glad I logged on today.

I have long looked at paper towels as #1- a waste of money and #2- a waste of resources. Plus I am frugel enough to look at the old tshirts and towels and say, don’t throw them away yet- still some use below the ripped out armpits.

I have purchased flour sack type cotton large white towels for over 10 years and use them everyday in my kitchen and bathroom for many cleaning and cooking tasks, and use very few paper towels.
These towels clean great, leaving no lint like residue on glass, are great for when you are washing fruits and veggies and great to shine granite or wood. They are easy to find- at discount stores and stores like Williams Sonoma. They are worth the investment. My oldest towels are super soft and absorbent too!

If there’s an old antique bowl or colander, put it on your counter and fill it with cloth napkins etc. I have an old antique enamelware colander that I keep on the counter for just this purpose and it is great. Members of my family grab them as they need them. I have only recently bought the microfiber wipes, but I prefer the antique linens for dinner napkins. Time permitting, once in a while or when I first purchase these linens I iron them. This sanitizes them as well in my opinion aside from a bit of bleach. I also hang them out on the clothes line to make sure the linen gets fully dry. I think this saves me money as well.

low on paper towels anyway—good time to start. Have a laundry basket full of old towels/rags; will cut to size in the morning. Even if I end up throwing them all out without washing, they’re technically already trash—one more use is still recycling :) Bet I can go a month without paper towels.