Paper Towels vs....
Before we moved South we lived very frugally on one salary. Cost of living is cheaper here, and I've gotten used to buying paper towels. We need to start cutting back though, and I'd like to go back but really don't remember how I did it! Sponges some, and kitchen towels. Where do you get them? Can you make them? What kind of fabric to make them? (Nearest fabric store 1/2 hour away). Does anyone here NOT use paper towels at all?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Elena on -
I know it's terrible, but I have to use paper towels... I try to be frugal about it though, but there always has to be paper towels in my house I guess. I use those Brawny Pick a Size paper towels though and I do notice that they last longer. That and I bought some microfiber Food Network kitchen towels from Kohls that are awesome. They are so absorbent that I often use them instead of paper towels...
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Permalink Reply by Jenn White on -
Elena said:
Brawny Pick a Size paper towels though and I do notice that they last longer. That and I bought some microfiber Food Network kitchen towels from Kohls that are awesome. They are so absorbent that I often use them instead of paper towels...
Thanks Elena - I know I like the pick a size too, they do last longer. I'll go look for those towels at Kohls, I think If I get good towels and sponges, I can break myself of the dependency!
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Permalink Reply by Elena on
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No problem! :) You will LOVE those kitchen towels. I could almost go without paper towels if I bought some more of these... ;)
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Permalink Reply by This Belle Rocks! on -
Another frugal suggestion would be the week's newspapers (or Sunday paper), as newsprint will not leave any lint behind on cleaning jobs. Last year's phone book is good, too. They'll pick up spills, too, but probably not as absorbent as Brawny or microfiber.
Microfiber is reusable, so it's frugal in the long run.
In addition to using the newspaper to pick up spills and spot clean, I also have quite a stash of 'scrap rags' for cleaning, too, from old cotton and flannel sheets, pajamas, etc, that are no longer usable for their original purpose.
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Permalink Reply by This Belle Rocks! on
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Oh...I don't know if you get fast food or takeout often (we do about once a week), but I tend to save the napkins that come with them. They add up over time!
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Permalink Reply by Jenn White on
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Thanks, DSB, you're right about the napkins! We don't eat out often, but when we do we hang onto everything - napkins, ketchup packets, etc. I managed to provide for an entire camping trip for my girl scouts with stuff from various places we'd collected over time!
As for the newspapers and stuff, I've not tried using them for windows, but I've heard it works great. They just seem so messy, I know I always have black hands when I'm done reading that I don't think of them as cleaning tools!
I, too, have a rag-bag full of old t-shirts and even old diapers (haven't had a kid in them for over 5 years, but they hold up well!) I should put it somewhere more prominent and use it more!
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Permalink Reply by Austinmomof7 on -
I only use kitchen towels. I have about 50 that I keep folded in a basket on the counter by my sink. My husband likes sponges, but I am a germophobe, so I think they are gross. I throw them in the dishwasher, but still don't like using them. I go through about 15-20 towels a day, but I just put them in the laundry with whatever load is in, so I am not using a separate load to wash them every day, they are just filler for the loads I already do. I probably use more than most would, but I don't like thinking that one was used and germy, so I throw it in the laundry and grab a new one. If I know that one has only been used for drying, then I have a hook on the end of my island that I put it on. I know not everyone does laundry every day, but I have seven kids, so I have to do a couple of loads every day or it would get too overwhelming. Now if I could just get my husband to give up paper plates. I don't use them, but he likes to when I am not around. I think he needs a 12 step program
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Permalink Reply by stacey on -
lol Austinmomof7 that was funny at the end but I'm with Austinmomof7 I don't like germs for one my little girl has heart problems and we have to keep the germs as low as possible but I say grab a towel. I love paper towels and we get the all the time but i try not to use them that much for one to save money and have less waste but thats just me y'all take care God Bless!!
Austinmomof7 said:I only use kitchen towels. I have about 50 that I keep folded in a basket on the counter by my sink. My husband likes sponges, but I am a germophobe, so I think they are gross. I throw them in the dishwasher, but still don't like using them. I go through about 15-20 towels a day, but I just put them in the laundry with whatever load is in, so I am not using a separate load to wash them every day, they are just filler for the loads I already do. I probably use more than most would, but I don't like thinking that one was used and germy, so I throw it in the laundry and grab a new one. If I know that one has only been used for drying, then I have a hook on the end of my island that I put it on. I know not everyone does laundry every day, but I have seven kids, so I have to do a couple of loads every day or it would get too overwhelming. Now if I could just get my husband to give up paper plates. I don't use them, but he likes to when I am not around. I think he needs a 12 step program
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