paper towel substitute?

[healthychild]

curious what people use in place of paper towels. I use dish towels/rags whenever I can, but sometimes a spill or cleaning need seems to call for something else. Are there any reusable paper towels on the market?

[Becky]

I'm right there with you.. I'm ready to kick the paper towel habit but I'm looking for a good re-usable replacement. There was something on the gift guide but I don't think I could wipe baby's face with that... looking forward to peoples responses.

[The Green Meeme]

We don't use paper towels (or paper napkins for that matter). And I think once you get rid of those paper towels, you won't really miss them.
I have a large cycle of kitchen towels- some always in the closet ready for use, some always in the basement waiting to be washed. You can get an inexpensive stack at any discount store- they don't have to match your kitchen/or you can just get white- and keep those in the cupboard to only use for clean up. I have a few towels that everyone knows are only for dish drying, and the like- and not for clean up of spills.
I'm not sure what you mean by- some spills just need paper towels.
I would agree that some spills need a sponge or dish rag.
Don't worry, you can do it, let them go!

[Becky]

I found this website slightly more helpful than others...microfiber sounds interesting...albeit expensive.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/green-ideas/top-ten-paper-t...

[Sarah Lowther Henderson]

I started using Skoy cloths in addition to my regular dish rags a few months ago and really like them. They are reusable, biodegradable, inexpensive, and easily sanitized in the microwave.

[Lynn Hasselberger]

check out my blog about paper towels right here: http://greenandcleanmom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/2064378:BlogPost:7372

Lynn

[Jenny]

I picked up a package of 6 micro fiber towels for $5 at Target. Then I cut them into fourths...it makes them the perfect size to do windows with and I use them as clean up wipes in my own solution.

[Becky]

I went looking to buy micro fiber towels and as soon as I touched them I was turned off. They feel very yucky and make my hands feel like sandpaper. I will not be using these anytime soon, it just made my skin crawl. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Lauren Hinchman]

I recently decided to try to make the switch to something more earth friendly! I didn't want to spend a lot of money to do it though. I went to Walmart - not my favorite place to support, but a deal is a deal sometimes. I bought 2, 18 packs of washcloths. I bought a set (18 bundled together) of all white and a set of mixed colors. I'm using the white ones on the kids hands and faces and the colored ones for everything else. I just couldn't bear to think I was wiping their faces with one that I used to slop up chicken juice or counter/floor scum the day before. I pretty much use them one or two times during the course of the day and then wash the heap every other day. I throw them in with loads that I'm doing anyway so I don't feel that I'm wasting extra water to launder them. They aren't organic unfortunately, but they certainly use less energy, resources, bleach etc. to make one set of washcloths than the jumbo family pack of paper towels we were going through every 2 weeks.

[Gentle Earth]

The best suggestion I can offer is to invest in microfiber cloths. A high quality microfiber with a good weave nabs bacteria with only water. Once you get those paper towels out of the house, it is sooo much easier to just use cloths and rags. I would suggest having a stash of old rags and towels - even cut up the ratty ones and put them in a section of the drawer for nasty stuff. At least you are re-using. Beyond that, microfiber is the best bet for every household.

[healthychild]

wow, great suggestions, thank you so much everyone!

[Sommer]

Skoy Cloths! Skoy all the way! I can't live without them. I also did something similar to Lauren's comment.