Comments on: Want to Save BIG Money on Paper Towels?

By: LuckyBandit

LuckyBandit — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 04:59:39 +0000

By: Fred Seaborne

Fred Seaborne — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:46:10 +0000

Great article! I just wanted to share an additional idea for how to not only eliminate paper towels (just like you, I have not bought paper towels for over a decade now, and I don’t miss them one bit), but to also avoid buying washcloths and dust/wipe rags, as well — I simply slit open old flannelette socks that have holes in the heels/toes. I just use scissors to cut the sock “halfway around”, starting at the rear side of the cuff (the leg-opening) and snipping down along the back of the cuff and through the hole in the heel and continue cutting along the sole till I reach the hole in the toe. Then I just “unfold” the cut sock into a fairly squarish cloth and use it for a washcloth or dust-rag. I find the resulting cloth to be just about as sturdy and comfy as an ordinary washcloth or hand-towel would be.

By: Jayme

Jayme — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:58:51 +0000

I bought a pack of small baby washcloths at Ross (around $5 for maybe 30?) and we use those all the time for the kids after meals. When cleaning up a baby who is learning to feed himself, it’s much easier (and softer) to use than paper towels!

By: Tangible ways to make a difference in your world: going green | Be Realistic: Plan for a Miracle

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:17:21 +0000

[…] would save over $200 per year if they chose to abstain from or simply use paper towels less. See here and here for more info on […]

By: Trina

Trina — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:06:45 +0000

Whenever I’ve heard of “family cloth” I think of it being separate cloth wipes for each bathroom trip. Used one time, and then laundered and re-used. I’ve never heard of someone sharing a single rag for bottom-wiping amongst their family without laundering in-between. That would be completely unsanitary! Perhaps Mary meant that they don’t use the clothes dryer for their cloth TP, but instead hang it over the vent to air dry quickly?

I did cloth TP for about a year while I was also cloth diapering. I liked it fine for #1, but I still preferred a disposable wet wipe for adult #2. I just kept the cloth diaper pail in the bathroom that I used most, added the cloth TP wipes to it and still had TP on the roll for my husband and guests. I used cut-up t-shirt squares for the TP, no sewing required they just rolled up a bit on the edges. You can fold them up, or just leave them tossed in a basket.

By: Kimberly N

Kimberly N — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:23:19 +0000

I have some cloth towels that are the same size as the paper ones and have snaps so you can store them upright on a roll like the paper ones. My husband thinks they’re too hard to unsnap so we keep them flat in the cupboard with the cloth napkins.

I mostly don’t use paper towels, but still do for extra messy stuff (cat barf, draining bacon, smushing spiders). But I used cloth diapers exclusively for my son, so really, what’s a little barf, grease, or bug parts? Thanks for posting this… you’ve inspired me to hide the paper roll somewhere for emergency use only!

By: Tony Payne

Tony Payne — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:29:34 +0000

I am in agreement that you can save a lot of money by using old towels instead of buying paper ones, but I’m not so sure about not using toilet paper.

I have never heard of a family cloth before, but does the name mean that the whole family share a single cloth to wipe themselves on? That just sounds nasty, and what about the smell?

It’s fine if you are left clean after you do #2, for want of a better way of putting it, but what if your backside is left messy. Do you have to try and find a clean section of this cloth to wipe yourself on?

Think I would rather not think about it, and just stick to toilet paper. At least for now. After the great apocalypse when luxuries like toilet paper are no longer available, I guess I will have to change, but not yet.

By: Christy

Christy — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:27:06 +0000

I had no idea there was such a thing as a family cloth! I am not quite sure I am ready to go there, but thanks so much for sharing.

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:12:42 +0000

Amie, we too use a family cloth instead of toilet paper. We are a family of 7 with in-laws that visit regularly. You could imagine how expensive it would be for us if we actually used toilet paper! Not to mention we are a very Earth Friendly household, so even if we had a lot of money, our morals say no way. SAVE THE EARTH!!!

By: mary

mary — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:12:04 +0000

We don’t use tp either! We hang our family rag.over the vent so it is rarely damp.for the next person. “save the earth” is our motto!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:28:40 +0000

Since we are talking about this….one of my favorite stories of my grandma is walking up to her kitchen sink and see she was using an old worn-out sock as a dishrag! I’m not quite as frugal as my grandma – but I try!

By: Lacey

Lacey — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:13:35 +0000

being in the environmental field I detested using paper towel so I use wash clothes or old towels. Also I use vinegar mixed with water to wipe my counter. It kills the germs and is environmentally friendly. Not to miss how kids safe it is…

By: Danielle

Danielle — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:44:00 +0000

I’m kind of shocked at how many people think that using rags is “unsanitary”. Bleach, soap, and hot water WILL kill germs, the same way washing your hands with hot water and soap will. Just pop them in the wash together and they’re fine. Restaurants, hotels, and other establishments typically do not use paper towels to clean with and they are (generally) held accountable by multiple health departments. I say if it’s good enough for them, it’s perfectly fine for your home!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:27:22 +0000

I use cleaning cloths all the time. I have converted old towels, burp cloths, and ripped old t-shirts to make new cloths. My washer and dryer both have sanitize cycles, so with a little Clorox 2, I don’t worry one bit about the germs remaining. I would love to switch to cloth napkins- what a great idea! I’ll keep my eye out for some on clearance!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:07:40 +0000

I used to use so many paper towels but finally realized bleach does wonders! If your not throwing out your counter or floor where you wiped your mess up from why throw away what your cleaning it up with. Just use white cloths and bleach bleach bleach =)