I have decided not to buy paper towels anymore. I am using several alternatives. For draining fried foods (bacon, chicken, fries) I use a cloth diaper. I had some new ones that we're never used for my grandson. After I put the food on the diaper, I wash (degrease with dish soap) the diaper after I wash the dishes and let it dry on the old paper towel holder. Dish towels, cut up old towels/sheets and old wash cloths are my other substitutions. I just think about when I grew up without paper towels, and how much I do not have to succumb to the imagined need for them.
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I have a rag box (cut up old clothing, towels, etc) which I use regularly for several things around the house, cutting my use of paper towels drastically.
I buy cheap paper towels that go on sale 2/$1.00. A roll usually lasts me 2-4 months. For draining bacon, I use newspaper covered with one paper towel. I hesitate washing things that are too greasy or draining any grease down the drain, when a pipe gets clogged at the street, our city traces it to a specific home, and they get charged for the city's repair - not cheap. A couple rolls of paper towels are well worth the money.
One other thing you might use is something I learned on Thrifty Fun. It's to use the cheap paper coffee filters for many things you would normally use paper towels for.
This puts too much grease down the drain. I drain my grease on junk mail and/or newspaper then into the trash.
I drain all my grease into a small empty(bean, soup or veg) can. I keep mine near or on a ledge on the stove. I replace it when I open another can. I usually throw the can into the trash before it is even full. It is usually jellied, if not I just throw a balled paper towel into it.
I drain all my grease into a small empty (bean, soup or veg) can. I keep mine near or on a ledge on the stove. I replace it when I open another can. I usually throw the can into the trash before it is even full. It is usually jellied, if not I just throw a balled paper towel into it. I don't think I can do without paper towels. My last a long time for the money I pay and it sure beats having stinky and germy dish towels laying around. I feel the value and convience out shines the cost.
For anyone that uses cloth to collect grease or oils, I would recommend that the cloth not go into the dryer - even after it's been washed.
I drain grease into an empty can so it doesn't solidify in my drains and clog them. I keep the can of grease in the freezer until it is full, then throw it into the garbage on trash day. The only meat I used to use paper towels for was bacon, but I've largely avoided that by cooking bacon in the oven using a broiler pan which catches the grease so the bacon isn't sitting in it.
I do not fry a lot of foods, so I do not have lots of grease or oily cloths. I do not send a lot of grease down the drain since I am draining a few pieces of bacon a week.
I can tell none of you ladies are from the south. We would never even consider throwing away bacon grease! That is liquid gold as far as we are concerned. I can't even consider cooking green beans with out a little bacon grease!! Sacrilege!
I've never used paper towels: i have a rag bag instead. Also no dishwasher, I think they are unneccessary and wasteful of water and electricity, and they take too long as well. Not to mertion having to rinse the stuff before you load it. I guess I'm a Luddite? :)
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