We use paper towels in our house. I really don't like using a germy towel, so I buy recycled towels and if people only use the paper towel to dry their washed, clean hands off, we put them in a pretty little basket. I use them to Windex the TV, glass, clean out ashtrays, clean the sink area, clean up a spill, and the list can go on and on! Seems like I'm always finding a new use for them!
So I feel like am doing part, granted a small part, but I believe that if we all just make small changes, it will add up to something much larger! Small steps are easier for a lot of us to make and to stick with. By doing this little trick, I cut my purchasing of paper towels in half.
By RoamingEskimo from Vanceburg, KY
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My husband and I also reuse paper towels that we've used just to wipe some water up around the sink. This has cut our usage down quite a bit!
I also save our slightly used paper towels if they are not dirty. Such a shame to take a nice new paper towel and clean up a dirty mess like grease.
I store them in the grocery bag I have hanging that I collect the daily recyclables in. While they absorb any moisture left in cans etc. they are still good enough to clean up a dirty spill.
This is not a good idea. Proper handwashing requires washing hands thoroughly for a set amount of time and then using abrasion to dry. This final step is necessary because it removes trace germs and dead skin. Small unnoticed paper cuts with invisible spots of blood, improperly washed hands (you cannot guarantee that each person thoroughly washed and rinsed all the germs away) are all reasons to use and toss.
A better idea would be to cut old towels, washcloths, clothes, t shirts into hand-size cloth towels. put them into a basket, and then wash each one after each use. you could label the basket to say that these are freshly laundered and disinfected towels for their use.
I personally would rather use cloth towels, but I suppose if you must use paper, this is better than one use. I think a freshly laundered towel is much more satisfactory to dry with than paper.
Hubby hides his once-used paper towels (easy to do with a blind chick like me, lol!) I've learned to hoard my barely-used paper towels. If I'm not wearing something with a large pocket, I'll get up and tuck the mostly-clean paper towel into my robe pocket, which hangs on my bedroom door within easy reach. (Our house is small.) We also use the Choose-a-Size brand, which in itself tends to cut usage. It isn't much, but it's the best I can do. Of course, when he isn't looking, I'll gladly use cloth.
I guess I don't understand, some of you say you don't like using cloth towels because of spreading germs, but you will reuse paper towels. Besides being gross, what's the difference, either way aren't you spreading germs.
I'm much like aloham58. After washing and drying hands, I save the paper towel for later. Before I toss it I can use it again for either wiping away drops of water on the counter or splashes on the mirror. Or I hold onto the damp paper towel to wipe my hands when I'm eating a sticky finger food. I dust off items or clean my chihuahua's teary eye face or wiping up sticky stuff like jelly, honey or sugary liquids that may have dripped on the floor.
I take damp paper towels that I've used to wipe my hands, clean up water spills or veggie juices from my cutting board (ie. cucumber liquid, etc.) rinse them, then dry them in the oven overnight. I place them on the oven rack and the pilot light from my gas oven is all it takes to dry them completely. Germs need a wet environment to grow in, so the heat takes care of that. The next day they're bone dry and ready for another go round for counter, stove or floor clean ups.
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