Last week, in my 100 Ways to Save $100 post, I talked about using less and I briefly mentioned how we've eliminated paper towels from our home. Little did I expect that this simple remark would result in a number of emails asking how we have done this.
You want to know how we've eliminated paper towels from our home? Well, here's the answer: I just stopped buying them. Seriously, that was it.
About two years ago or so, I realized that paper towels were one item I could never find that great of a deal on and I most assuredly never seemed to be able to snag them for free. I also realized that these were an item many people lived without for thousands of years, without being the worse for it.
So I talked to my husband and asked him if I could do an experiment: could I just stop buying paper towels and see if we missed them?
You know what? We never really even noticed. When we needed to clean up a spill, we just used a towel. When we needed to wipe something up, we used a rag. And so on. I keep a drawer-full of towels and rags in the kitchen handy for these types of things.
Honestly, the only times I've realized we didn't have paper towels were when someone was at our home and they asked for a paper towel. I'd just tell them we actually don't use paper towels, but the rags or towels are in the bottom drawer in the kitchen.
We've received quite a few reactions of shock to that statement. It seems as if the thought of living without paper towels is a pretty foreign idea to most Americans. Oh well, I guess it wouldn't be the first time we've been classified as weird!
Now, I'm not writing this to make the case that all of you need to quit buying paper towels. However, I share it as an example of how there are many things we've come to think are "necessities" in life which really aren't.
How about trying to live without some of these things and see if it really is that difficult or earth-shattering? You might be surprised to discover you don't even miss these once-considered "necessities".
What about you? What simple things have you eliminated from your life and found you didn't miss them at all? Tell us about it.
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That’s a great idea! Thankfully I was able to stock up on tons of paper towels a while back at CVS for free, so we will never need to buy them. But doing with out them would be pretty easy too.
I actually use paper towel for alot of things, wipes, coffee filters and for spills. So i don’t buy wipes or coffee filters:)
We use rags at our home in the Philippines. We do have paper towels or TP’s there but we prefer to use rags more. paper towels are only out when we have parties or something like that. We also have TPs in my mom’s business office and even at home but I preferred to use water and soap there.
Now I am using TPs here everyday and I try to use rags as often as I could instead of papertowels.
Crystal, I am not shocked with what you family is doing. I actually think you are smart and very simple. Using rags instead of papertowels are no big deal for me. You are not weird.
Definitely dryer sheets. Never use them. We live in the south so its pretty humid most of the year. In the dead of winter (all 4 weeks of it) we get a little static and I might use some I bought on clearance. But the rest of the time we just don’t need them. And they aren’t cheap!
I lived without paper towels for years but really missed them when it came to blotting bacon or anything greasy. So what do you do with greasy foods that need to be blotted or drained? And giving bacon up is not an option LOL!!!
I am always amazed when people ask for paper towels in our house too. I keep a roll around but the only thing I use them for draining fried bacon.
I recently made the same decision! AND the same thing happened in our house! We never missed them! We are pretty messy so we had to have a lot of rags on hand – but I LOVE washing the rags and thinking about how many tress I am NOT killing by re-using the rags!
Hi! We also gave up paper towels. It was only last month, out of necessity mostly, and like you, we have not missed them too much. The only thing is that we have a cat that is older and throws up a lot. It is kind of gross to clean up that kind of stuff with old rags, and then have to rinse it out, but I am doing it! I doubt I will ever go back to buying the paper towels. Also a long time ago we gave up dryer sheets. Just this week I tried the vinegar suggestion, but really our clothes and towels are always fine with neither.
Thanks for the post!
Carla
We have a house cat so we have hairballs – I use carpet cleaner and it’s just easier for me to use a paper towel with it than to add to my laundry pile with an item that I can never totally get the chemical smell out of. I wish I could make it work for us now to forgo paper towels, but until our geriatric cat finds the big litter box in the sky, that’s an expense I can’t cut.
We have cut out using liquid fabric softener, though, which saves us a good bit. I just started using dryer sheets that are torn in half.
I would love to quit paper towels, but I guess my biggest obstacle that I would see is that frequently (even with paper towels in the house I try to use rags/towels first), I reach for a rag or towel, and the drawer is empty. I don’t have a huge supply and we have 5 children. Even doing laundry 5-6 days per week, I cannot ever seem to keep enough dish rags and towels in the kitchen. I’ll get all caught up on laundry, have the drawers full, and in 2 days, it’s empty again. Since we have so many kids, I’ll do darks one day, whites another, towels another, etc., so I’m not doing towels every day. Do you have a huge supply, or do you have a suggestion for obtaining a huge supply on the cheap?
Several years ago I stopped buying paper towels as well. I buy when I run out and I think I bought a 12 pack the last time I purchased them and I have not bought anymore for over two years. I just keep them way up high in a closet.
Instead we use towels and I use microfiber towels for cleaning. The only reason I keep some still in the house is for the jobs that would ruin my towels – i.e. we just redid our bathroom and there was nasty stuff to clean up, so I used paper towels to do this, also I use them when I cook bacon.
The other thing I very rarely buy is baby wipes. I buy a very large refill pack and keep one tub in our van and then one for emergencies in the hallway closet – this would be when I haven’t refilled the wipes container yet. We use cloth wipes – much more economically smart for us.
I don’t miss paper towels at all either and also have been surprised at this. I just use rags and I have tons of them. I also stopped buying paper napkins, although this might be harder for folks who have younger children at home. I always used the better grade PTs, which were expensive and am glad not to be spending the money.
I have one roll of paper towels tucked away in the back cupboard. I use those for making bacon in the microwave. Other than this I have not used paper towels since the day my son said “why do you waste your money on paper towels … they are costly and are bad for the enviorment”. You know … he was right. I have not missed them.
Paper napkins. I only buy them for birthday parties, etc now. We use cloth all the rest of the time. It is not that much work to throw them in with the rest of my kitchen/bathroom laundry and it takes about 2 secs to fold them with the rest of everything. I have gotten them on clearance for practically nothing and also at yard sales, etc. I have even made some to match holidays by sewing around the edges of just plain old cotton fabric. I feel like we are helping not only my budget but the enviroment as well!
I really like having paper towels and I feel they are totally worth the price. I probably pay $20 or less for the year on them and I think they are worth every penny.
I stopped buying liquid hand soap since I could never find a good deal on it and the kids would play with it in the sink and make a huge mess. I’ve replaced it with my endless supply of free Buddies soap and actually like it much better.
We also use very few paper towels. There is a always a rag or towel handy. I use flour sack towels for cleaning windows and it works much better and less waste.
Not weird at all!! I just realized how wasteful they are too… do I really need to use 2 an hour each time I do something? I just use rags & dishcloths for everything now. I do have a roll in the house – but that’s about it. It’s lasted for several months & only use it when trying to de-grease bacon after cooking or other random uses!! It’s great! Less cost. Less waste. Don’t even notice the ‘lack of’ either!!
I haven’t bought paper towels in a about a year. And your right, once you live without it, you realize it not necisary for your day to day living. Growing up my Mom never bought paper towels and we made it just fine without them. Once I started my own household I was determined to not live as poorly as my parents had. But then I realized I was just wasting money, pouring it down the drain so to speak. I’m happy to say I don’t need all those fluff items I thought I did 10 years ago!
We actually stopped using paper towels about a year ago. I still keep them in the kitchen, but one roll lasts a very long time. I use rags like you.
I ran out of swiffer cloths for my swiffer sweeper about a month ago and decided to find a way to live without them. I have used a microfiber cloth on my swiffer sweeper instead of them. The microfiber attaches just like the swiffer cloths, though the microfiber is just a little bit bigger. They work great and I just shake them out in the trash afterwards and then throw them in the wash. Love that!
We never buy paper napkins. We use cloth napkins and I wash them. I have several so I only wash them once a week and then hang to dry in my basement.
Kleenex!
We go the old-fashioned handkerchief route, with a slight adaptation (because we don’t buy those either!)– we have so many soft, thin burp cloths and baby washclothes that we just use those. They’re much softer, contain the ‘goods’ better, AND it’s easy to tell whose is whose and keep them separate when we have more than one sniffly soul around the house. When my little ones have a cold, their ‘handkerchiefs’ get tucked into their jeans pockets so they’re always handy, and replaced when needed. So easy!
I don’t miss Kleenex one bit. The soft clothes feel better on sore noses than even tissues with lotion/aloe.
Hello,
We keep paper towels in our home but seldom use them. My husband and I grew up using rags, dishclothes, and towels for all our clean up needs. Out of habit, we just reach for the old standbys and not the paper towel.
Somebody must be using a lot of paper towels though.
Each week at the grocery store I see people loading upon them. If you are currently a big pt user, you could save yourself a little extra money buy changing to rags.
Take Care,
Trixie
http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/
I appreciate this post a lot, as we ran out of paper towels before I went on vacation, and I struggle with whether or not to buy them again. They are convenient mostly for wiping up things that we don’t want to use a “common rag” for, like when chicken juice spills on the counter, or when we are wiping down the sink or toilet. But I think if I get organized enough and have a stack of “rags” on hand, the ones I only want to use once could go into the laundry after I’ve used them – they shouldn’t take up too much extra space.
Guests are always shocked to hear that we don’t have paper towels, napkins, or use disposable tissues (I do keep a box in the guest bathroom for company, but the rest of us use hankies).
Sometimes people make a huge fuss about not wanting to mess up a towel or pretty napkin, and I just tell them I would rather wash one that buy one that we have to throw away!
I also keep a basket under the kitchen sink to toss the dirty towels/dishrags/napkins in and I empty it every other day, when I wash the whites.
I did a ‘paper towel challenge’ months back. I put a post-it note on my paper towel holder with the starting date. I wanted to see how long I could make a roll last. Every time I saw that post-it note, I tried to find a different way to clean up a spill! It lasted 20 days (which is a long time with a “clutsy” toddler and you’re a paper-towel addict!) I’ve since made them last longer and longer and should be paper-towel free soon! I should just go “cold turkey” like you and just quit buying them!
Cable TV — We just gave it up cold turkey about 6 years ago. We haven’t missed it! We get a lot more done in the evenings. With the new digital converter, we get even more channels with our rabbit ears antenna. But we still don’t turn on the TV much any more. We’re quite satisfied with that decision!
You are not weird! We started using towels and rags instead of PT when my son was born three years ago. I was just trying to cut back. We didn’t completely get rid of the PT, but we use only a couple of rolls per year now. I was just tired of trying to find deals on them, then breaking down and spending $15 per month or more at the warehouse clubs. I’ve almost convinced my husband to switch to cloth napkins, too. Only problem – I got such a good deal at CVS (!) that we are stocked for the rest of the year at least.
I stopped buying paper napkins. We just simply use cloth napkins. It helps that it is only my husband and I and our (almost) one year old. But the cloth seems to be just as good ore better than paper napkins. I also feel just a little bit special using them
A ditto on dryer sheets. My husband used to use them but since I started using 3 old tennis balls in the dryer, the clothes are soft enough. And his skin has cleared up (I think he has was sensative to one of the ingredients).
I can’t give up the PTs though. I use them for cleaning up after chicken and pork prep. I think we go through less than a roll a month.
Obviously regular towels clean up spills better, but the one job I’ve never thought of a replacement for paper towels for is draining bacon and greasy stuff. I’m thinking it would ruin a towel. How do all you non-paper towel commenters drain grease?
I did the same thing with paper napkins. I bought two sets of inexpensive dishrags and I have some cloth napkins that have been given to me over the years. We started using the cloth napkins while still using the paper napkins. But as we got used to the cloth we stopped using the paper. So I started buying less. I haven’t bought any in months and I’m sure I’ll never buy them again. Now I’m doing the same thing with paper towels.
Pam! When I read the ingredient list one day, it freaked me out. Then I waited to find a good deal on some, and didn’t find one for 6 months. During that time I realized, I really don’t need it! I’m sure if you did a ton of gourmet baking, it might be a necessity. For me, I just use butter or oil to grease baking dishes and it has been fine. Great post, Crystal!
Great article Crystal. My husband and I are nearing retirement and I am going over every expense with a fine-tooth comb. I decided, as you did, that papertowels could easily be done without. I have a million rags and save the worst of them for the really icky clean ups and then throw them away. The rest are just given a good washing and then back in the rag bag they go! Makes me feel just a wee bit smug!
I’ve thought about eliminating them; I could do it for cleaning certainly, but what about for food? What do you do if you need to soak up the grease from meat or something like that?
I personally have cut way down on the use of paper towels, but I still buy them to keep some on hand. I use washcloths bought specifically for the kitchen to wipe up spills and wipe down the table and counters. Paper towels are used sparingly, and like you mentioned, it’s usually when someone comes over and asks for them. I do find them handy to blot pizza grease and to wrap fruit in when we’re on the go. But like any other disposable product, there are more environmentally and cheaper substitutes out there!
We have done without paper towels for years! I will buy them these days if they are .50 or less. We only use dryer sheets in the winter, and we use wash cloths on our swiffer (I find it really works better).
We also do without a store bought all-purpose cleaner around here. I have used the vinegar/water/tea tree oil solution for years now. I love that my children can help with the cleaning and I don’t have to worry about what they are spraying!
Awe, yes – the paper towel! We rarely, rarely use them – like a couple rolls a year if that! I have a drawer FULL of towels and rags for dirtier jobs. As well, we rarely use paper napkins, instead I have a wonderul selection of cloth napkins. We do not own a microwave, and *gasp* live well without one. We do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets at all – I use dryer balls and vinigar in the wash if in need of a softener. We never swiffer anymore – I use a broom and vacuum daily. I guess a back to the basic vs the conveniences! Great post!
We gave up our satellite television last spring after deciding we really didn’t watch enough television to justify the $50 a month. We bought a set of rabbit ears, and soon afterward we found some at a garage sale for only $5, so my husband returned the other set to the store. We don’t miss satellite at all and I like knowing that my children have less access to some of the more questionable content on tv now.
I don’t think I have EVER bought paper towels. They are way to expensive and its so much easier to use a towel or rag. Plus we have a huge stash of cloth napkins so the need just isn’t there.
God Bless,
Katie
http://www.1200ayear.blogspot.com
We don’t use PT very often but I do still buy them..they’re used mainly like other people said, for draining greasy items, or for when someone is sick in the house. In that case I keep a roll of PT and trash can by the bathroom sink. I have 3 little ones who aren’t always the best about washing their hands really well (especially when sick) and I think using a reg. towel just keeps the germs around even longer.
I have tried to go without paper towels several times in our house, but it just doesn’t work well for us. However, we don’t buy LOTS of other things and get that puzzled look when we tell someone. It makes me laugh but also makes me proud every time I realize we are “beating the system”!
Hi, we decided to go without some things to see if we really needed them or not, we got rid of the toaster, and now that the TV needs a new box we didn’t get that either, we figure we are not going to pay someone to put filth in our house , I do not want my son watching even the commercials , we also use rags instead of napkins and paper towels, my grandmothers come over and can’t function in my kitchen without them, but we do very well without them. My husband says that if the microwave goes out, we won’t get another one, we have never paid for a microwave , they have always been given to us. With times the way they are we are also trying to go with less heat. We use candles that we make out of old candles and crayons to help heat our house , electric oil- filled heaters and keep the thermostate low. It works pretty good.
I also have (mostly) stopped buying paper towels, napkins, and swiffer cloths. It never really occurred to me to use cloth napkins… I just stopped buying them because it seems we’re always with an excess of napkins after dinner out! Servers end up bringing you a huge stack that you don’t use and you might as well take them because otherwise they’ll just be thrown out. Eating out once every week or two seems to keep a constant enough supply to satisfy our needs.
I’m a rags and microfiber cloth person as well. I say mostly doing without buying those things because I must admit that I bought a multi-pack of paper towels because I just bought a house that hadn’t been lived in for a year and needed some cleaning! Plus having to clean out my apartment, I knew they’d come in handy. I am happy to report though that even with all that cleaning, we only used 4 of the rolls
The rags still took the brunt of the storm!
Also going to mention the loads of scratch paper I end up with from coupon printing, etc. Who needs to buy those notepads anymore?
My husband is actually the one to get us to stop using papertowels because it is wasteful and not good for the environment. I still miss them sometimes but we make it work. You tend to realize how you waste papertowels when you dont have them. I use to use one papertowel for drying my hands when cooking and sometimes I would have to dry my hands five times..thats a waste when you have cloth towels….
Great post. I’m sure it was your blog that originally wanted me to get started on this challenge many months ago. I grew up with paper napkins out for dinner each night, and paper towels in endless supply. However, hubby and I rarely use napkins at dinner (basically only with pasta and other very messy meals) so my Halloween clearance napkins are still around
He was a bit reluctant at first, but will now use rags to clean the bathroom and even the kitchen floor. Although he hates rinsing them out and using them again (like, halfway through doing the floor) and will use a fresh one, but it’s better than PT.
Currently we do have a few rolls on hand, and use them mainly for wiping the counter with lysol after cutting chicken or other meat to prep for freezing/cooking and for cleaning cat puke. Like another poster said, it’s gross to rinse out a rag while doing that, but I commend her for her effort at it! Maybe someday we will get there.
My mom buys the large pack at SAMS so I do purchase a few rolls from her for $1 each when I need a couple, but really they last a long time (large roll, nice quality) So yes, good to have on hand, and I’m not sure when I’d be willing to go cold turkey, but I feel I am doing what I can.
Also, as for Swiffer, I am going to either knit or crochet some covers for when our last box runs out. What a waste!! Not just the environment, but the cost too!
You are not weird to me. Or maybe I am just weird, too? LOL. We do not buy many disposable products — no plastic water bottles. No paper napkins. Never bought dryer sheets — who needs ‘em when you dry on a line? We’ve gone without paper towels in the past but are housebreaking a new dog so they’re back in our life. I’d like to lose sandwich bags — I pack my kids’ lunches every day but haven’t found an alternative that works as well. Any suggestions?
I do not think you are weird for not buying paper towels, I think it is weird that so many people have to have them. I do still use paper towels only for washing around the toilet as that grosses us out to have that in our washer and what if we grab that rag later for something in the kitchen, but I have torn up old sheets etc and used those to wipe around the toilet.
On getting large quanities of old rags, check second hand stores. They will tear up the old clothes they get and sell bags of rags.
Something we have given up that most people live with on different occasions would be phones, we lived without a phone for awhile, electricity – we lived without for a while, running water which we lived without, refridgerator etc. But we did it for 4.5 years and have it all now again and it is nice to know we can go without it if we needed to.
Do you use napkins? We use paper towels for everything. We use them as napkins, plates (if we’re eating something that we don’t want to waste a plate on), and cleaning rags.
Great post! I don’t buy paper towels either because of the cost. Like you, we stick to towels and rags. Thanks for showing me that we aren’t the only ones that are “weird”!
Similar to your removal of paper towels, we have removed disposable napkins. My husband’s grandmother gave me about 20 cloth napkins this past summer, and I decided to try using those exclusively once we ran out of our paper napkins. We haven’t bought any more paper napkins since! I love using cloth, and they don’t take up any extra money – just throw them in the wash with whites/towels/sheets/whatever! I LOVE THEM!
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