Saving Money on Paper Towels

A thrifty way to reduce garbage is to use less paper towels, and consider using washable fabrics. This guide is about saving money on paper towels.

Solutions: Saving Money on Paper Towels

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Use Rags Instead of Paper Towels

If you use paper towels, think about going green and switching to rags. You can make your own non-paper towels with your own old t-shirts, baby blankets, flannel shirts, etc., or you can find them cheap in thrift shops. Sometimes thrift shops will have grab bags of t-shirts very, very cheap just to get rid of them. Try to use fabric that won't fray after it's cut, so you don't have to hem it. Just cut them into rectangles of the size you want, and when you would use a paper towel, use your green cloths. They will absorb more, and you can scrub with them and wring them out. Wash in hot water, and reuse.

You can keep a pile of them in an old tissue box with the top cut off, or something similar, to keep them handy in your kitchen, bath, and laundry. Some of those tissue boxes are very pretty. Just make enough to meet your needs between wash loads. Try to use fabric you can bleach, if you want, and that you can sanitize in the microwave. To do this, take your rinsed out rag, wring it out, and zap it for about a minute. Just don't try to take it out until it cools. You might find that you don't need very many of them, since you can keep rinsing them out, and sanitize them every morning. Of course, if I use one to clean in the bathroom or to wipe up after preparing meats, I put it right in the laundry room to be washed there. Finding old dish towels and cloths at thrift shops is also a real good source, since you don't have to cut them at all.

By Copasetic 1 from North Royalton, OH

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Alternatives to Paper Towels

I use washcloths to clean up spills instead of paper towels whenever possible. This saves a lot of money and the washcloths can just be washed when doing laundry. Try it! You'd be amazed.

By Jody from Howard City, MI

None

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Paper Towel Waste Eliminated

To stretch the use of your paper towels, obtain a net bag (such as onions and other produce are stored in). After using a paper towel to dry hands or wipe water off counter top, place the paper towel in the net bag to air dry. Towels in the bag can be used to wipe up other dirty spills. Of course then the towels can be thrown away.

By Diane from Myrtle Beach, SC

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Saving Paper Towels When Frying Food

I save a bit on paper towels and the trash they create when I am draining fried foods. Rather than using several layers of paper towels, I first place a few pages of an expired telephone book on the plate, then only one or two towels. I am very careful that the food doesn't touch the telephone book pages. I can make a roll of paper towels last several weeks by doing this.

By Montana Jewel Therapy from Northwestern MT

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Second Use For Paper Towel

After washing your hands, use a paper towel to dry. Once you're done, use that same paper towel to clean the counter and sink and faucet. You'll always have a clean sink.

By Vonetta

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Use a Hanging Towel in the Kitchen

To save on paper towels, and land fill. Tie a hanging towel in the kitchen. They are hard to find, but easy to make. I use mine, when cooking and cleaning the whole time.

By Laura from Spartanburg, S.C.

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Saving Money on Paper Towels

Tips for saving money on paper towels from the ThriftyFun community.

Use Washcloths

Buy washcloths or dishcloths and use them as napkins. You can get them cheap at dollar-type stores or Wal-Mart/K-Mart/Target. When they are dirty, toss in the washing machine. That's what we do.

By Ann

Bar Towels

I stopped buying paper towels all together. I bought a stack of white bar towels at WalMart and we use them for everything from drying our hands, to scrubbing the sink, to wiping up spills. Of course, after they have been used on the floor, they go into the wash.

By Katie

Recycle Old Clothes

I have found that cutting up an old cotton tee shirt, sheet or a flannel sheet has worked great at making cheap napkins. I keep them folded in a little basket on the kitchen table so we just pull one out when we need it. Now if I have company at the table I break out the good napkins. When I have bought paper towels, on sale with a coupon, I take my serrated knife and cut the roll in half and that give me twice the towels for one price. Of course, you have watch yourself and not just use more from the halved roll.

By Cookiepom

Kitchen Towels

I keep a tea towel hanging near the sink. It would never occur to me to dry my hands with a paper towel. My grandmother and my mother never had paper towels. They always had 2 towels hanging over their sinks: one terry cloth for drying hands and one lint-free for drying dishes. Use the dish cloth for wiping up spills and for wiping counters after doing the dishes. No need for expensive cleansers either; just use your soapy dishwater. Before you go to bed each night, put the kitchen linens in the laundry and replace with fresh, clean ones.

By Kathy

Dish Rags from the Dollar Store

I realized one day that I used a lot of paper towels for little things. This not only used up money but also produced a lot of trash. At the dollar store, I bought a 15-count package of dishrags for little money. I keep them in a drawer and use them instead of paper towels for little spills and other things. In my laundry room, I have a bucket that the dirty ones go in so I can wash them all at once.

By Leigh Ann

Chefs Don't Use Paper Towels

I have been doing that with towels my whole life. My mother and grandparents never had paper towels in the home. People always look for them when they come to my home. Also as a chef, it is too costly to have them at work.

By Lou

Toilet Paper Dispenser for Small Spills

Save a empty cube tissue box, carefully open one side without making any tears. Pull out the center cardboard tube in a one-ply roll of toilet paper. This is done by just firmly pressing one end of the cardboard and pull the paper away from the tube. Repeat this on the other end. Now carefully pull out the cardboard tube. Insert the toilet paper in the tissue box. Either tape up or glue the side of the tissue box to contain the toilet paper. You can also make a slit on one side of the flap and insert the other flap, like a sealable cereal box. When you do this, the same box can be reused without having to re-tape and re-glue each time. Pull the toilet paper from the center of the roll. It is very easy to do. This is good for those small spills or to wipe foods from plates before putting in the dishwasher.

By Mike

Paper Bags for Bacon

I cut brown paper bags down into plate size squares. Cut down the sides and then the bottom and split the large size into 2 to do a good job of this. Then when I have a pile of them from 3 or 4 bags, I set them in an upright napkin holder near the stove. Place 3 or 4 of these underneath only one paper towel to put bacon on, or other fried foods!

By Melody_yesterday

Smaller Paper Towels

My husband was using paper towels galore! Usually, it was just to wipe up a few drops of water on the counter, or to wipe his hands. To slow down this waste of money, I moved the paper towel holder to another location, and tore some into quarters. I placed the quartered paper towels where he is used to reaching for a whole paper towel. It works great, and my DH can still grab something quick to clean up.

By Zballoongirl

Use A Serrated Knife For Cutting The Whole Roll

I just tested cutting one in half. A serrated bread knife works but an electric knife works much better. IKEA also has a paper towel and wrap holder that has a serrated edge that will cut your paper towels in half.

By Susan from ThriftyFun

Newspaper for Cleaning Windows

I used to clean a car dealer's office. He had me use newspaper to clean door and window glass. I thought at first he was too tight to buy paper towels but actually they do a great job. They stay drier, hold up longer and leave no lint. The Swiffer mitts you buy are great for getting up spills, and other odd jobs for which you might use a paper towel. Just toss them in the washer with other rags (from old sweatsuits, undershirts, etc) dry and reuse. Money Saved!

By Sharon

Use Paper Napkins Instead

My kids used way too many paper towels for small spills, so I began buying napkins. They are "single serving" so my boys don't use half a roll. And paper napkins are cheaper than paper towels. I can buy a 200 napkin pack for a dollar at the dollar store. Paper towels cost 50-75 cents for a 40 sheet roll.

By Lisa

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Questions

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Alternatives to Paper Towels

What are some alternatives to using paper towels? - Nancy J.

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

Here a few alternatives to paper towels:

For mirrors, windows and glass use crumpled newspaper. Down-side is having to really wash your hands after as they get covered in ink. The ink is good for glass as it coats it with a fine oil that makes the glass shine like mad.
For spills around the house just use rags. These can be made from old shirts, dress with the buttons removed or tees, old towels, old blankets or pretty much any old scrap of cloth that would just be thrown away. The best thing here is they can be washed to be reused over and over again or thrown out if just too nasty.
Dusting: Use an old sock turned inside-out. It can get in all the little grooves that your fingers can. You could also use any type of cleaner or polish with it. Then just wash or throw out if too nasty.
Soaking up a spill: On a plain floor use newspaper or a rag. On a carpet lay a rag over the spill then put newspaper on top blot.
Wiping down counters: use a rag or cloth to do this instead of a handful of paper towels. I use kitchen towels everyday. They get their own load of wash each week. The only thing I like to wipe up with paper towels is poultry mess. I then scrub the counter down with plain old soap and water, then rinse it by wiping it down with a rag with vinegar on it to sanitize.
Start a rag bag by cutting up old clothes and towels that can not be donated to a clothing shelf due to stains or holes. (The clothing shelves throw these out as they are not useful. I know, I volunteer at the local clothing shelf and we toss out entire bags of rags every week. We understand that just because people need to use the clothing shelf for clothes, which we do not charge for, does not mean that they should be made to wear rags.)
To soak the grease out of fried foods, lay a single paper towel over a stack of newspapers. The newspaper soaks up the grease better then the paper towel, which is why they are used for street-foods all over the world, you might not care to have the newspaper touch your food.

It is just a bit of trivia but, when a baby is being born and there is nothing to wrap the baby up in they say to use a clean unread newspaper as it is as sterile as can be. Mrs Kathy C. Northfield, VT (08/23/2001)

By kcohenvt

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

What I use instead of paper towels is Bar Rags. You can buy a bundle of 18 at WalMart for $5 and they last forever. I use them for drying dishes, then hang them nearby to dry. When there is a spill, I grab the bar rags and then wash and dry them with my dish cloths. I use hot water and bleach, but vinegar would work to disinfect them too. I very rarely buy paper towels; probably wouldn't at all if I could convince my husband that a soft cloth works just as well!

I also buy a $4 bundle of plain white wash cloths for my kitchen to use to clean my 3 year old's face and hands before meals and when he comes in from outside. When they start fraying on the edges or getting too worn/stained, then I convert them to cleaning rags. My kids and husband hate to throw out t-shirts (the best alternative!) so I let them keep them and use the bar towels and washcloths. The Bar Cloths (same size as dish cloths) work great for dishes because of the nubby texture; it helps eliminate the need for all the extra sponges/scratchies, etc. cluttering the sink/counter! (03/08/2005)

By bcabesa

Alternatives to Paper Towels

If I give up paper towels, what should we use for quick pick ups, spills, etc.? I don't want to be passing germs using cloth rags, on items in the kitchen. Any ideas? How can I get the rest of the members in house to go along with this idea?

By Peggy9871 from MA

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

It is probably unusual but I am a big fan of bandannas. They are so light weight and easy to clean and wash, but any fabric you like would do. I think it is good you are doing this! We can each contribute to the earth's improvement one person and one act at a time! (05/08/2009)

By Robyn Fed

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

Good for you! Here's what I have found to work best. Choose affordable washer/dryer friendly items. All can be found at yard sales, and washed daily with your laundry.

Washcloths: use these to wipe counters, appliances, sinks, anything. I use regular terry washcloths and also the crocheted ones(Cotton yarn, I make them)
Hand towels: Hang on fridge/oven to dry your hands after washing(as they get damp or "dirty" you can use to pick up anything messy), these are most versatile, you can pick up food spills and then rinse off chunks etc. before washing in washer.
Cloth Napkins, keep your eyes out for the good cotton napkins(absorbent, not thin and slippery). You can make these also (I do).
Cloth rags:Old towel/cloths etc. that you were about to throw away, keep them for one last use, like the nasty kitty/dog accidents. Cut up the towels so you can get the most out of it.

Good luck! (05/08/2009)

By Starchild in VT

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

You will so miss the paper towels! I use them still after trying to quit, because I use them in cooking and such. Unfortunately I found no solution to replacement, and this is because I was now using tea towels in the kitchen which required washing and cleaning solution (409) to be effectively "germ free". So in essence either pay small money for cleaners, or small money for paper towels. (05/08/2009)

By Dedeswrkshop

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

My husband used to love those blue paper 'shop rags', but they are about $5 a roll. They are thick and absorbent, but they go through so many. I either save or buy at garage sales the clothing no one else wants, like old flannel or plaid shirts, old frayed towels and sheets, and just cut up into the proper size. I store them in a mesh laundry bag (the kind you wash sweaters in) that the zipper had broken on. I just put a nail up under the shop rafter, and hang the bag and rags there for him. When they get too nasty for his tastes, he just throws them away. (05/08/2009)

By fatboyslimsmom

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

I use cloth diapers. Somehow after 4 kids (one set of twins) I have a ton of cloth diapers. I keep them in the kitchen in a deep decorative basket. They are great and absorbent. I throw them in the laundry and wash them as I get to a white load that needs a little more to be full. I do still use paper towels but severely less. (05/13/2009)

By brossettelewis

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

I buy cheap, thin bleach from discount store and put it in a spray bottle. A light spray on the counter tops and mop up with my cloth. I still use paper towels for other things though! (05/16/2009)

By skinnyjinny

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

Sponges work for liquid spills. They can be sanitized with diluted bleach, or microwaved wet for 2 minutes. (05/16/2009)

By merlene

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

I try to use a sponge whenever I can. Then I throw it in the dishwasher each day when I wash the dishes. Microwaving for 2 minutes doesn't seem to tackle a stinky sponge though. And newspaper DOES work wonderfully on windows. Good luck! It's hard to give up disposable paper towels. (05/16/2009)

By dubbiemarie

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

We haven't given up paper towels, but we also use the white terrycloth "shop towels" sold in (I think) the automotive department at discount stores for all kinds of clean-ups. They hold up well to laundering in hot water and bleach, which I think disinfects them sufficiently for most uses. My hubby even uses them as napkins at dinnertime. Well, when we're eating home alone, that is! :) (05/17/2009)

By ChloeA

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

Small wet dry vac from black and decker. For your hands you can use small individual cloth napkins. Then just wash with the rest of your things. White ones you can bleach. (05/17/2009)

By tb1014

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

In the long run I don't think you will save much if any by giving up paper towels because you have to have something. Paper towels you use then throw away or something you have to wash. That means either a extra load or a larger load more water more money. The cloth would have to be at least one a day maybe two a day.Why give yourself more to wash and dry don't we have enough to wash and dry. LOL (05/18/2009)

By Teresa Kay

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

On a newspaper being sterile enough to wrap a newborn in: while the printing process can produce enough heat to kill off a lot of bacteria at the moment of printing,it actually being sterile if unread is really an Urban Legend.

By the time an unread newspaper gets to the stand, the store, or your home delivery--it has been through the ( ungloved) hands of the press workers, the people who load it onto the delivery truck--the loading dock, the newspaper carrier, the store stockroom--you get the drift.

Not to mention the black and color inking that will readily rub off onto your hands. It's great for cleaning windows, but I wouldn't wrap a newborn, an animal, or anything edible in it. (06/03/2009)

By PupperMom

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

I have to say that I quit buying paper towels a few months ago and have not had any trouble giving them up. We still have a holder over our sink in the kitchen so I hang the dishtowel that I use to dry the dishes, yes I wash them with my hands I don't understand why anyone would use a dishwasher that wastes more water than it is worth, to dry off our hands when we wash them. If you have to clean up a spill they will work just fine. Just put them in the wash it's just that simple.

Also you can wash your windows with a little dish liquid in a bucket of water and dry them with a dishtowel as well. I used to work in a park as a housekeeper and that is how we washed the windows in the buildings there. Also scrap material from old clothing works fine for cleaning jobs around the house. No need to buy those sponges that just collect germs and sour anyway. Peace! (06/07/2009)

By GryphonLady

RE: Alternatives to Paper Towels

I keep a stack of cloths that I cut from old T shirts. I use pinking shears. I also keep a spray bottle full of a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar to use in the kitchen. A spray of this solution, a wipe with the t shirt cloths, and the job is done!

And as for the statement in one of the above posts "I don't understand why anyone would use a dishwasher that wastes more water than it is worth", I would have to disagree. It is just DH and I at home now. We only have to run the dishwasher every three days or so. For us, it is cheaper to use the dishwasher every three days than to wash all by hand. (03/04/2010)

By kerly87