This is Day 44 of the Green in 365 series!
By Kim from The Soulicious Life
Paper napkins and towels are a staple in many kitchens. They are all we had in my New England colonial growing up, and I’m not alone. A 2007 study shows the consumption of paper towels and other tissue products is highest in the United States at approximately 52 pounds per capita. That’s 17 pounds higher than in Europe and more than 500 times higher than in Latin America.
While the one-time use of paper napkins and towels may be handy in a world where we are taught convenience rules, it’s also wasteful. The paper used is most-often made from virgin pulp extracted from wood or fiber and bleached to whiten the color. Therefore, the cost of paper towels and napkins isn’t just the price tag at the grocery store; it is also a tree cut down and toxic chemicals released into the environment.
Photo by Kim @ The Soulicious Life
Choose Cloth Instead
While you can find 100% recycled paper towels and napkins from earth-friendly companies these days, a better option is cloth. A small initial investment of cloth-based towels and napkins in your kitchen can make a big impact. Not to mention that using cloth napkins at home makes every meal feel a little bit fancier!
Find great deals at your local discount, dollar – or better yet – thrift store. If you sew, you can even make your own from scraps of fabric! If you are addicted to the “roll,” you’ll find lots of great options on Etsy for rolls of “Un-Paper Towels.”
You’ll be surprised at how many uses on average you can get out of napkins and towels before tossing in the laundry. Note: Guests are the exception to my rule; they always get a fresh napkin that goes directly into the laundry after one use.
To make washing a breeze, set aside a special basket in the laundry room just for kitchen napkins and towels. They come out of the laundry fresh, clean and ready for another round of multiple uses. Just be sure to use eco-friendly laundry soap and never fabric softener which will hinder absorbency.
Your grocery bill will thank you, and so will the earth.
How have you made cloth towels and napkins a part of your routine at home?
Denver-based Kim Daly, a.k.a SoulMomma, believes that an eco-friendly existence should be part of any healthy lifestyle. When not nurturing her compost bin or buying new-to-her items, she can be found discovering delicious vegetarian recipes, hiking with her family, and striking a yoga pose anywhere she can. Learn to nourish your body, your soul and the planet on her blog, The Soulicious Life.
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I have been wanting to make cloth napkins for awhile, but can’t decide what to make them out of. I have fabric scraps and old sheets, I’ve snooped around fabric but can’t seem to find anything to fit the bill. Having never used cloth napkins regularly, I’m maybe not sure what I’m looking for… Tips?
Susie–I have made cloth napkins out of my husbands old work shirts! 100% cotton–I love them (and I think about him when I’m eating lunch–how romantic is that?)
I like cotton napkins but I have also used the kids “favorite” old tee shirts for napkins–they get their own shirt! That way I always know who gets what napkin.
Be Blessed.
renee@ joyful mom recently posted..What is your life’s journey? (a guest post)
How crazy is this?
I just bought napkins at Target for 50% off. Normally I get them at Salvation Army or another thrifts shop but I found a pattern that I LOVE!
Now I can recycle some napkins that have lived through one to many spaghetti dinners
Be Blessed.
renee@ joyful mom recently posted..What is your life’s journey? (a guest post)
Great points, Renee. I love a great bargain – whether at Target or the thrift store – but if you have the talent to sew (I don’t – yikes!), nearly anything goes when it comes to napkins. PS – it is always the pasta sauce that get them isn’t it?
You’ll probably want to use cotton because it’s more absorbent than synthetics. My grandma used to buy high-quality velour/terry washcloths on sale to use as everyday napkins–so soft and cushy! (But don’t use cheap washcloths because the edges fray and curl and look bad after a short time.) Regular thin woven cotton, like calico, works great too, and if you’re willing to hem them yourself you can get the fabric cheap in the discount area of fabric stores.
‘Becca recently posted..3 Good Books on Civil Rights
Yup, I gave napkins/paper towels last spring. I bought bar towels from Amazon.com. They are a little rough to use at the table, but we got used to it. I do have a roll of paper towels under the sink for really messy and gross things, like bacon grease and vomit. I also bring up the paper towels to the counter when my mother in law visits because she’s not used to using cloth all the time. I see a HUGE savings in the grocery bill. I’ve used some cotton cloth as hankies, but not as much as I would like. I go through a lot of kleenix, so I think that’s the next on my list to go. Now, if we could only find an alternative to toilet paper…just kidding!
For everyday use I have a basket of unfolded cloth napkins on the table. We use one and if we keep it for the next meal, it stays at our place if not it goes in the laundry.
Kimberly recently posted..Circle of Moms: Top 25 Single Mom Blogs
A little change can go a long way in improving our advocacy for a more sustainable living! Using cloth napkins is a good way to start! Make sure you have clean new napkins for the guest.