Do You Use Cloth Instead of Paper Towels and Napkins?

June 18, 2008

Using cloth rags and napkins instead of their paper counterparts prevents waste before it happens, and is more environmentally safe, especially if you wash them in cold water. Americans go through rolls like clockwork but in Europe it's more common to use cloth. When I lived with a family in France, we each had our own cloth napkin with a designated napkin ring; we'd reuse it for a week or until it was soiled. Have you already picked up this habit?
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22 Comments

radmama27 4 years 47 weeks

Cloth all the way! Paper towels, what a waste!!

kmariem 4 years 47 weeks

We've been using cloth for years - saves money, too. In the summer I hang them on the line to dry - very sweet smelling.

omlove 4 years 47 weeks

We use cloth napkins in the kitchen. Out here thats what people usually do. I feel it would be a waste to use paper napkins as so much of it would go in the trash everyday.

hottpink 4 years 47 weeks

hippiecowgirl - my hubby and I do the same thing! We had so many leftover from the wedding and didn't want them to go to waste!

Lovely_1 4 years 47 weeks

Yea....I am guilty of using paper towels! It's just so much more easier!

Lovely_1 4 years 47 weeks

Yea....I am guilty of using paper towels!It's just so much more easier!

haze 4 years 47 weeks

"we each had our own cloth napkin with a designated napkin ring; we'd reuse it for a week or until it was soiled." That's interesting. I don't know if I could adopt this method of reuse. We'll see. But I [and then we] have been using cloth napkins for the last 15 years or so. The exception is when my husbnad's grandson comes to visit. He prefers "luxurious paper towel napkins" because that's what he is used to at his home. Honestly, that's okay with me because he's quite messy and a lot of my cloth napkins are fabulous vintage finds. Like tdamji I have also adopted microfiber cloths for use in cleaning. They are fabulous and she is right - they do clean just about anything.

haze 4 years 47 weeks

"we each had our own cloth napkin with a designated napkin ring; we'd reuse it for a week or until it was soiled."That's interesting. I don't know if I could adopt this method of reuse. We'll see. But I [and then we] have been using cloth napkins for the last 15 years or so. The exception is when my husbnad's grandson comes to visit. He prefers "luxurious paper towel napkins" because that's what he is used to at his home. Honestly, that's okay with me because he's quite messy and a lot of my cloth napkins are fabulous vintage finds. Like tdamji I have also adopted microfiber cloths for use in cleaning. They are fabulous and she is right - they do clean just about anything.

scottnjoel 4 years 47 weeks

We use cloth for dinner and paper for lunch and Breakfast. We're trying

tdamji 4 years 47 weeks

i am constantly surprised with how many people do not use cloth napkins/towels. i have never owned paper towels since i've been on my own (8 years). i like collecting nice napkins from my travels and use them everyday, plus have lots of rags for cleaning up. microfiber cloths are so great for cleaning just abotu anything! i love "mabu" cloths too.

Kimpossible 4 years 47 weeks

I really want to make the switch, it's just taking longer than I expected.. I'm not sure if it's a resistence or just that I forget and keep buying the paper products lol

jillerin457 4 years 47 weeks

I could try to incorporate cloth into everyday life, but I'm pretty sure I could never break my bf of the paper habit. For cleaning, though, I only use cloth - and bleach the hell out of them afterwards!

justanerd1975 4 years 47 weeks

other than a rag for dusting and a sponge for the kitchen sink or the bathtub, I cannot use a cloth or a sponge to clean as a general rule. The idea of the germs stuck all over it makes me sick, I like to use a new paper towel for each area. Not that this convo origionally got started about paper towels vs. cloths anyways, Lol.... ahh yes I use paper napkins. Bad me.

RosaDilia 4 years 47 weeks

I've been buying cloth napkins lately because the paper ones are expensive and are a waste. The daily use one I get are from a local .99 cent store. I get three napkins for .99 cents!!! The linen and pretty cotton ones I use for special ocassions.

darkangel2305 4 years 47 weeks

I feel weird about cloth in the kitchen with all the foods, water/liquids, and germs. I use paper towels, but I try to use each one until its to shreds. And when i use paper towels as napkins, I use them after dinner to clean up.

hippiecowgirl 4 years 47 weeks

We had 400 coctail napkins leftover from our wedding so we set the table with those for dinner or when we have company. I have microfiber rags to use when I'm cleaning so very few paper towels.

jasmint 4 years 47 weeks

I've given this a lot of thought lately (especially as I am running out of paper towels) and I think I'm going to pick up some cloth napkins this weekend. I find that more often than not, the paper towels I use are hardly soiled but they end up in the trash anyway, creating a lot of extra waste.

GlowingMoon 4 years 47 weeks

Yes, always. I find that nice cloth napkins feel luxurious to the hands and lips. They enhance my home-cooked meals. Also, because I enjoy the feel of nice fabric, I use vintage hankies to wipe my brow. I don't use paper napkins or kleenexes anymore.

GlowingMoon 4 years 47 weeks

Yes, always. I find that nice cloth napkins feel luxurious to the hands and lips. They enhance my home-cooked meals.Also, because I enjoy the feel of nice fabric, I use vintage hankies to wipe my brow.I don't use paper napkins or kleenexes anymore.

KatieLake 4 years 47 weeks

If I do use paper towels or napkins I throw them in the compost afterwards.

mini_pixie 4 years 47 weeks

when i was a kid, we always used cloth- my parents are cheap :)but since my hubby grew up with paper, we use them much more. plus he's a big labor-saver, and doesn't like to do laundry. he even uses paper towels in lieu of plates so he doesn't have to wash them!

mini_pixie 4 years 47 weeks

when i was a kid, we always used cloth- my parents are cheap :) but since my hubby grew up with paper, we use them much more. plus he's a big labor-saver, and doesn't like to do laundry. he even uses paper towels in lieu of plates so he doesn't have to wash them!

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