You Are Probably Using Too Many Paper Towels.
Paper towels are just another form of non-recyclable paper waste and you probably use them much more often than you need to. On average, according to the US Census and the National Simmons Consumer Survey (NHCS), about 45.3 million Americans use eight or more rolls of paper towels a month. Paper towels, as a disposable product, are inherently wasteful (especially the more absorbent, layered brands) and can contribute to deforestation. Plus, they’re expensive – the US accounts for nearly half of the consumer market, according to data provided by The Atlantic – and if you’re not composting them, use them when you don’t just need to add another chunk of trash to our huge landfills .
You may return to the habit of using a napkin or paper towel to clean up spilled liquid, or wiping down the sink when you could use a sponge. I personally had to reconsider my addiction to paper towels after I experienced Thanksgiving at my sister’s home that didn’t have paper towels. As I cleaned up one spill or mess after another with a sponge or tea towel instead of paper, I started asking myself why I would even use paper towels at all. Then, as the ham started leaking all over the rack and floor, I remembered that yes, sometimes you want to be able to wipe up the mess and throw it in the trash can. I’m not suggesting that we give up paper towels, but we could all probably use them less often. Here are some examples of when paper towels are worth it, and others when you’re probably better off grabbing something reusable.
Towels or sponges are more effective on rough surfaces.
Using paper towels on rough or textured surfaces like mortar is a waste of time. The paper towels will tear or leave particles, exacerbating the mess you are trying to clean. Use a sponge or cleaning brush for these tasks; it will withstand the pressure needed to clean that rough surface and you can use it over and over again.
Use a towel to pick up stains on carpets.
It’s the same with wiping carpets. It is better to wipe the stain on the carpet with a towel or washcloth rather than a paper towel. Paper towels are not absorbent, and if you press them into the rug (or, God forbid, try to wipe the stain), you will only add shredded paper towel fibers to the mixture. Instead, buy wipes that are more absorbent and absorb spilled liquid better and leave no residue.
Use microfiber on glass, mirrors and electronics.
Your electronics usually require a softer touch than rough paper, and the same goes for glass and mirrors. Tiny fibers of paper towels can scratch touchscreens and glasses. Instead of wiping game controllers , tablets, mobile phones, and other surfaces with a paper towel, use microfiber cloths.
Use a cloth for small spills and mess.
It can be difficult to wean yourself from recklessly using a paper towel to clean up small mess and spills, but these are the times when you might be best off picking up a reusable cloth instead.The paper towelcommercialsconstantly remind us how much they absorb spilled juice and milk, but you can use a washcloth or sponge to wash off the orange juice just as easily and probably more effectively – Swedish kitchen towels are a good alternative; they are reusable and absorb many times their weight.
Wiping my hands
Chances are, you don’t use paper towels in your home bathroom to dry your hands (that would be a huge waste of paper!), So there is no reason to use them this way in the kitchen while you cook . The sink is right there; Lift leftover food off your hands and then pat dry on a kitchen towel. By the way, do not use paper towels to dry dishes.
Use paper towels for lubrication
On the other hand, removing grease can cost one or two paper towels. Fats and oils such as olive oil, butter, bacon grease can stain the fabric and make it difficult to reuse. Use a paper towel to remove excess grease or other substances that could make the cleaning cloth unusable. And you can still change your habits to use them less often (for example, placing greasy bacon on a metal wire rack rather than a paper towel).
Clean up pet clutter with paper towels
When your puppy has an accident or cat is coughing up a ball of fur, it can be difficult to consider grabbing a dishcloth and then reusing it to wash the countertops. Just use a paper towel and throw it all away. We aim to cut back here. You can work as hard as you want – just keep in mind that while you can wash and sanitize your washcloths often, the amount of water used to do so can negate some of the environmental benefits of not using paper towels.