Saving Money on Paper Towels
Another expense that I try to cut back on is the use of paper towels. While, I don’t go to the extreme and never use them, I do limit their use. We don’t use paper towels to clean up spills. Instead we use towels. If I can clean with a rag, I do that instead if possible. I also purchase the select a size paper towel when I can since we rarely need an entire sheet of paper towel. I have found that these last a lot longer.
I always just thought that everyone did this, but I had a friend come over who was really surprised when my daughter spilt a glass of water, and I told her to use a towel instead. As often as my kids spill their water, I would go through a roll of paper towels a day. Instead, we just use the same towel throughout the day, and this really does help my family save money.
Those of you who don’t have the most graceful children in the world understand what I mean.
Haha, I never thought that by not using paper towels I would be considered “extreme”. I challenge you to go 30 days without them and see how big of a difference it makes. The worst case scenario is that you have to wash a couple more towels and save a few bucks.
Too funny, Monika. OK, I will have to take you up on your challenge. (-: Rene
we use dish towel also and we use cloth napkins instead of paper
My mom used to use cloth napkins. I should start that back up. Thanks for the tip, Heather!!
This is something we’ve been trying to do, too. We spend a ridiculous amount of money on paper towels. We made the switch to drying our hands with a towel instead of a paper towel, and that alone made a big difference! Thanks for the additional ideas! :)
I read some where that kitchen hand towels and kitchen sponges were two things in a home that were full of germs because they stayed damp most of the day. How often do you wash your kitchen hand towels? Do you use one a day and throw it in the hamper at the end of the day? or more than a day?
To reply to Michelle, I use maybe two towels/rags a day. If a rag was used to cleanup any kind of animal residue (egg, chicken or beef blood, etc) it’s used once and quickly put in the dirty wash bin. As for sponges and such, I’ve read on several different sites that you can get them damp and microwave them for a minute or so. It will kill any germs and the moisture prevents it from melting. I’ve never tested my kitchen for existing bacteria, but I’ve never made anyone sick either. Cross contamination is what makes people sick and I’m very careful about that.
I used to use a LOT of paper towels, but now I use my old trusty sponge/scrubber (get ‘em at Dollar Tree – just as good as the name brand) for most clean-ups. After use and a couple of rinses I just throw it in the microwave and “nuke” it for about two (2) minutes. If you do – BE CAREFUL – it’s HHHHOT!!!!!!!!