May 4, 2020
Paper Towel Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to paper towels, it can be difficult to make the switch but the switch is worth it for a number of reasons. You won’t run out of paper towels, it’s more economical (if you go through 4-8 rolls a month, you could save up to $20+/month), and you’ll be making a step towards more sustainable home goods.
I get a lot of questions from readers regarding what cloths in my shop I use to clean different areas of our home. I thought it would be fun to share all the ways I use the Clean Mama cleaning cloths and towels in our home. After 5+ years of testing and production of textiles I am still finding new ways to use reusables in our home – these are just the ways I use Clean Mama cloths and towels, you might have other ways – if it works for you, keep doing it!
MICROFIBER – cleaning and dusting – 80% polyester/20% polyamide
Microfiber cleaning cloths are great for cleaning. They have ‘micro’ fibers that grab the dirt and germs and hold on to them in lieu of spreading them around as you clean. A common misconception with any cleaning cloth that you wash and reuse is that it might not be clean or that you might spread germs around from the cloth as you clean. I think that’s what holds people back from switching from disposable cleaning wipes and paper towels – maybe you can relate?
I carry two different types of microfiber cleaning cloths in the shop – All-Purpose and Polishing. The all-purpose cloths are soft and fluffy and have a loop texture to that grabs dirt and holds it. I use the all-purpose cloths for cleaning bathrooms and for dusting. I love how they pick up dirt, clean surfaces, and can be rinsed while I’m cleaning. I always barely dampen the all-purpose cloths before using them – I find that this helps the cleaners work a little better. This technique also helps if you aren’t a fan of how microfiber ‘feels’ on your hands. The Polishing cloths I use for windows and mirrors (the All-Purpose will work for windows and mirrors too) and for stainless steel. The Texture is smooth and soft and works great for any surface that needs to be polished.
Microfiber cleaning cloths should only be laundered with other microfiber cleaning cloths and you should not use any fabric softener with them as it will coat the fibers. Check out this post for how I clean and care for microfiber – it also talks about some common misconceptions with microfiber and the environment if you are interested.
BAR MOP TOWELS – my favorite paper towel replacement – kitchen counters and general cleaning – 100% cotton
I started using bar mop towels years ago as a replacement for paper towels in the kitchen. I keep a jar by the sink where a paper towel holder would general be and then I can just grab one instead of a paper towel to wipe down counters.
They were the the first item I wanted to carry in my shop. I use these in place in of paper towels – simply roll them up and put them in a container by the kitchen sink. They have a scrubbing texture which make them perfect for cleaning up big and small messes, yet they are also soft on skin and great for drying dishes.
I love using them to wipe down counters and the kitchen table. Put a damp one by the stove while you’re cooking to wipe up spills to keep things neat and tidy. I also use them for general cleaning like baseboards and doors as well. I carry these in two colors – white and aqua and in two sizes. The Petite Bar Mop Towels (white) are a traditional dish cloth size at 12”x12” and great for washing dishes. The standard size Bar Mop Towels (white and aqua) are 16”x19″ and larger in size making them great for cleaning large areas like kitchen counters.
How do I launder kitchen towels? I let them dry over the kitchen sink overnight and then put them in a bin under the sink. When that bin is full I toss this load in the washing machine. I use Oxygen Whitener, Laundry Super Powder, and 1/4 cup of white vinegar in each load of any kitchen towels. The Oxygen Whitener removes any stains and keeps white white and the Laundry Super Powder deep cleans those cloths. You can find the Clean Mama Laundry Products in the shop. This post details this kitchen cleaning cloth process a little more.
REVERSIBLE TERRY TOWELS – kitchen and bathroom hand towels – 100% cotton
I love the Reversible Terry Towels for hand towels. They’re soft, absorbent and have two textures – a terry side and a decorative reverse weave side. I use them in the kitchen and in the powder room for hand towels but they also work well when you’re cooking and baking.
I’ll use one over a bowl of dough that’s rising or under a mixing bowl so it doesn’t slide. They’re better than just a hand towel and they look pretty too.
FLOUR SACK TOWELS – drying dishes, baking, general cleaning – 100% cotton
If you aren’t using flour sack towels, you’re missing out. These old-fashioned towels have so many uses but my favorite is for laying out on the counter for dishes to drip dry. I also use them for hand drying dishes – they are so lightweight that they dry in about an hour. They’re also lint-free and great for cleaning windows and large surfaces.
Are you trying to cut back on paper towel usage? Have you already cut back on paper towels? What’s your favorite replacement towels?
You can find all of these Cloths + Towels in the Clean Mama Shop.
Carling Clarke Says
I wonder how you launder your cleaning cloths, including these PT alternatives and things like bathroom cleaning cloths, mop pads. All separate tiny loads? Are there any that you combine into 1 load? Normal laundry soap or some kind of bleach/disinfectant wash?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI updated the post to answer this question 🙂 Long story short – kitchen cotton cloths go together, mop pads together, microfiber together. I wait until I have a medium load to launder. I don’t use bleach but I use 1/4 cup white vinegar and Oxygen Whitener, and Laundry Super Powder in my shop.
Melissa Danks Says
For years now I have been using regular kitchen tea towels but they are getting very worn out. I think it might be time to take a look in your shop!
Beth Ann Says
I really want to make the change to reusable towels, but worry about using the same towel for different purposes (i.e. I don’t want to use a towel on my kitchen counter that at one time had been used to wipe baseboards in the previous round… even if it has been laundered). This could be a carry over from my mother’s teaching. So… do you use bleach and hot water for washing, and then just trust it and go? Otherwise, I don’t know how to keep all the towels separate, i.e. “these ones are for the kitchen, and these ones are for the bathroom”. Thoughts?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI have kitchen and bathroom towels and use the sanitize cycle on the washing machine.
Kristen Says
Hi Becky,
I continue to love your routine and tips.
What do you do with your wet, dirty cloths between using them and washing them? Do they go in a bucket together damp? Which cloth types/uses do you wash together without compromising hygiene?
I find it takes a couple of days at least to warrant running a load of cloths alone through the wash and I’m not sure what to do with them in the meantime?
Do you advise against adding them to the daily load or does it just depend on what’s in there- I guess kitchen cloths don’t go with jocks and socks.
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI added my method to the post to address this – kitchen cloths go with kitchen cloths, microfiber goes with microfiber. I make sure that they are completely dry before putting them in a basket or bin to wait to be laundered.
Little Miss Housekeeper Says
I have gone to cotton cloth napkins and I re-use old towels for messy spills and clean ups. I also have microfiber cloths and tea towels in the kitchen. I do still keep a couple of paper towel rolls in case of a dog accident or something that I don’t want to use a re-usable towel for.
Diane Highbaugh Says
I have learned a lot from your website and I’m working through your routines. Thank you for making them available.
If I’m understanding your message, it is one that is earth friendly. In your post today you brought up microfiber towels which are made from polyester. Polyester is a man made material made from petroleum, or plastic. I have microfiber cloths in my home and they’re great. Once I realized it was basically plastic, I decided not to buy any more (they’re going to last forever anyway.
My purpose in writing this is to inform you, not to get you to pull this product as you have reasons for choosing it. I am sharing information, in case you didn’t know about polyester.
I appreciate the work that you do,
Sincerely,
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI addressed this in the post and linked to another post – I have researched and tested products for years and have very specific reasons and rationale behind everything in my shop. Here’s the quote from the post:
Check out this post for how I clean and care for microfiber – it also talks about some common misconceptions with microfiber and the environment if you are interested.
and here’s the link if you want to read more:
https://cleanmama.com/how-to-care-for-microfiber-cleaning-cloths/
In that post I also mention that if you don’t want to use microfiber, there are lots of options – part of the reason I shared this post as well. Thanks for reading!
Jane York Bornstein Says
It’s the toilet cleaning where I have a hard time using cloth. Paper towels that can be tossed seem so much safer. What do you use for the most germy disgusting cleaning?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI sanitize the bathroom cleaning cloth and use one cloth per toilet so it’s not cross-contaminating and the sanitize cycle on the washing machine. I do keep and emergency roll of paper towels for gross stuff.
Diane Says
Do you use one bar mop towel a day or 2-3 days in a row?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI change them out daily with my hand towels.
Jerri Lyn Says
I even use kitchen towels/flour sack cloths (old ratty ones) for things like draining frozen spinach (Put thawed spinach block in towel, then spin the neck until the pressure squeezes all of the liquid out of the spinach) and for lining a plate to put bacon or other fried goods (plantains!) on.
Clean Mama Says
Post authorLove it!
Mary Says
So glad you wrote this. I just purchased the petite bar mop on the hope that they could be used for dish cloths. Glad to know I made the right choice.
Clean Mama Says
Post authorThank you Mary!
Leeda Says
So, I love this idea and mostly use towels and dishcloths and rags instead of paper towels. My question is, how you can keep them looking clean? Even hand towels immediately look dirty with my family of 7 using them. Inevitably my kids will use a “good towel” as a rag and nothing ever washes out completely. Bleach has taken the color out of my patterned towels, but hasn’t necessarily made the white spotless. I can’t figure out how to have decent looking kitchen towels. Please share your advice.
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI use Oxygen Whitener and Laundry Super Powder in my shop – they work wonders! https://shop.cleanmama.com/collections/laundry
Raquel Says
Just curious, because I’ve been trying to transition to cloth towels, how do you handle messes like say….raw chicken juice from leaked packaging? Also, while environmentally friendly, do you know if the cost of washing these weekly “better” than just using paper towels? I guess landfill versus water use?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI have an emergency roll of paper towels for this issue and washing is definitely better than the waste of paper towels.
Kristen Says
When you clean bathrooms, do you use the same cloth for the whole bathroom? Do you use a new one for each bathroom?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI use 3 microfiber cloths for each bathroom – one for all the mirrors in the bathrooms, one for each toilet, sink, tub.
Sonita Saalfeld Says
Do you use 1 towel and 1 microfiber a day and launder the bunch once a week? Also how do you handle messes such as chicken juice etc?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorChicken juice is an emergency paper towel – I use one/two bar mops in the kitchen daily and change them out daily with the hand towels.
Brenda Nicholson Says
I have a sort of gross question. I can see using cloth for all of the things that you mentioned, but we have an older (big) dog with a sensitive stomach. What happens when she gets sick? Usually, a roll of paper towels and a plastic bag are my go-to tools. What do you suggest instead?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI use emergency paper towels for pet messes.
GLENDA HORN Says
Oh, my goodness! 4-8 rolls a MONTH? I MIGHT go through one! I use them in the bathrooms, and 2 stations in the kitchen. This is incredible to me that people go through this many. This would explain why the stores are always out, and why – if folks go through TP like they do towelling – there is STILL a shortage.
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Amy Says
What towel is best to use for washing fruit and vegetables? Flour sack towels msy be as you mention they are low lint. I’m trying use less paper towels.
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI use the flour sack 🙂
JM Says
After about a month of switching to white towels and towels for paper towels. I have 5-6 towels stained (1 flour sack, 4 bar mop both white and aqua, and 1 bath towel) I’m finding this difficult to stick with this method. I’m using oxygen whitener and laundry soap. Maybe not enough? Maybe the bar mop that were used to wipe children’s faces should be rinsed right after? Any thoughts or helpful tips?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorTry rinsing first 🙂