I thought I had mentioned this on here before but I couldn’t find it so, if I did, sorry this is a repeat.
Back when paper towels and toilet paper were in short supply, I told myself I was going to find an alternative for both. I know there are some alternatives to toilet paper but for now, I’m still not fond of the idea of anything other than toilet paper but, I’m pleased with my alternative to paper towels.
Someone mentioned on FB the other day about using these and it reminded me that I should probably order another package. I asked Vince if he was happy with the “shop towels” and he said he is so I ordered another bundle.
It’s these shop towels from Amazon (affiliate link):
Amazon says they’re 12″ x 14″. I think mine are probably about 11″ x 13″ now after much washing and drying. They aren’t as big as most dish towels but I was finding that I’d use a dish towel to dry my hands, I’d use another one to wipe up a drip on the floor, then I didn’t want to get the two mixed up – one is still fairly clean; one needs to go in the wash basket. I keep a 5 gallon bucket in the laundry room closet and toss these in there. Mostly they’re just wet – I don’t use them for stinky stuff. I still keep paper towels for stinky raw chicken, or wiping the grease out of a cast iron pot or draining bacon. I don’t want any more grease than is necessary to go into the septic tank and I don’t want stinky towels to sit for a few days and it wouldn’t make much sense to run the washer for a few towels.
If it’s just us and no guests, we use these for napkins too. I keep these in the side pocket of the front and back doors in both our cars, along with plastic grocery sacks in case we have to clean up a drippy spill.
You get 150 of these towels for about $35.
I had bought a bunch of cloth diapers to clean up Oscar’s messes, which thankfully rarely happen these days. I didn’t want to use the same towels to clean up after him, as what I used in the kitchen – even though they got washed. Those diapers were about like using a piece of waxed paper to clean up a spill – worthless. Either I got the worse ever cloth diapers or something. I finally got the idea to use a Sharpie and make a big “X” across some of the clothes. Those are the ones I use for messes that I would want to never use again around food. I wash them separately and store them separately. There are even some in the garage.
I think they were a good investment and we’re now using way less paper towels. With them, I don’t worry about another paper towel shortage.
montanaclarks says
Even before covid and various shortages we purchased a bidet toilet seat–it attaches to your toilet, uses the same water supply as the toilet and needs to be plugged in to an electrical outlet. BEST purchase ever!!! Even Mike loves it!! We have one in the master bath of both houses. Significantly reduces our toilet paper use!!
Christina says
Hi Judy, sadly after my initial moment of ,” I am getting these” looked on Amazon UK and the cost here is equivalent to $67 + !, So I am counting cost of how much I pay on paper towels against the price of these towels before I commit.
Nancy H. says
Christina, if you sew this type of thing is fairly easy to make from thrifted towels. Or if you can find a good deal locally on hand towels. Just cut them in half and hem one end. The description of these makes them look a lot like flour sack towels so I suppose you could find that and cut them smaller also. You don’t have to do 150 all at once do a couple at a time and soon you will have enough. I have been making napkins for the table. (The US definition of napkins.) Now I have way more than I need but can’t seem to stop making them. That has cut down on my paper usage. Now I will need to do a few of these towels.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Well, that’s crazy. Of course, I have no idea what y’all have there but Tractor Supply and farm type supply stores often have similar towels. These are much more absorbent than the napkins I’ve made from cotton quilting fabric plus I love having one thing – napkins, kitchen towels, etc. One lady said she keeps them in a tidy little stack in her bathroom, along with a decorative basket so guests can use them instead of hand towels that keep getting used several times, and then toss the used towel in the cute little basket.
I hope you can find something similar that’s more reasonable. Also, as far as comparing to the cost of paper towels, I doubt I’d buy them if they were too much more than paper towels but don’t forget you can use these for years and won’t ever have to be searching for paper towels again. I don’t know if you had the shortages there like we had here.
Laura says
I would like to see a post about your napkin making. 🙂
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I don’t do anything to them. I just use them as they are.
Donna in KS says
Granddaughter-in-law asked me to make burp cloths for a brother of hers and his wife having first baby. She brought me fabric she wanted used and diapers she bought. OMGoodness, I was stunned, I could not believe what Gerber is selling for diapers these days! These wouldn’t even hold an infant’s bowel movement! I used three layers plus the desired fabric. The industry has “pushed” parents to use the throw-away diapers that are going into the country’s waste/trash areas. No wonder we need to be concerned about waste disposal. I still have diapers from my sons that I use as dust rags, etc., several adequate to use for original purpose!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Thank you. I had never used cloth diapers. These are Gerber. I kept thinking . . how on earth are these effective as diapers? I washed them and dried them. Didn’t help. Washed in extra hot water. Nope, didn’t help either. Honestly, I used them to clean up Oscar messes and all it did was smear the pee around and never absorbed any of it. I’d sometimes just toss one on the floor and step on it and it still absorbed nothing.