What Made Me Finally Quit Paper Towels Forever

When I first moved into my own apartment, I created a goal to finally set up my space the way I wanted to and invest in pieces that were important to me. That included cutting down on purchases I deemed unnecessary — like paper towels. 

See, I live in a studio and space is extremely limited. (Every single square inch has been packed to the brim.) So I need to find smart solutions to make do with the limited storage I have. 

Paper towels are one of those bulky household items that tend to take up a lot of space — especially considering how many you might need to clean up a mess. They also can be surprisingly costly. If you buy them in bulk, from Costco for example, you can score a better deal. But who has room for that giant 12-roll package? I certainly don’t. Rather than just sticking the pack in the corner or on the floor (where it would be an eyesore), I set about finding a better option — one that also wouldn’t be as wasteful.

How many times have you gone to rip off a paper towel and accidentally ripped off too much? Or not enough? If you have a tiny spill, you don’t need a whole sheet, but they’re perforated in a way that you can’t maximize exactly how much you need, so the majority of the perfectly good sheet just ends up in the trash. 

Paper towels have become a ubiquitous kitchen standard, but the more I thought of it, the more I realized how flawed they are and wondered why they’d become the default option. After scouring the internet online, I found my solution: Un-Paper Towels. 

Un-Paper Towels are a paper-free alternative to paper towels made from 100% organic cotton. Essentially, they are rags you can use for this dedicated purpose. While there are many variations out there, I purchased my set on Etsy. 

Because they’re made out of cloth, their absorbency is far superior to a paper towel. Got sticky food residue on your stovetop? Un-Paper Towels can really get in there without ripping or tearing like a typical paper towel would. Nor do you have to grab a new one when the one you’re working with gets too saturated and just starts spreading the mess around more — just rinse it out and start again. They’re far more durable than the most heavy-duty paper towel could ever be. The softer fabric also feels nicer on the hands and is gentler on your surfaces too. And, very importantly, they’re machine-washable. 

I purchased my set over three years ago and have seen no signs of fraying or decline in their absorbency. Plus, they came packaged in a cute bow, and you can customize the colors of the rims. (I went for the blues and greens pack.) 

Un-Paper Towels are handmade in the United States, so you can purchase confidently knowing you’re supporting a small business. Best of all, you’ll end up saving a ton of money! Once you buy a set, you’re good to go. 

Use them just the way you would use paper towels! I store my set in a bin under the sink and just grab one whenever I need it — it ends up taking less space on your countertop than a huge roll would. I mainly use mine in the kitchen and for wiping up any hard surfaces, but you could buy multiple bundles for different uses in the house, like the bathroom. 

You’ll also get far more use out of an Un-Paper Towel than a single-use paper towel. If I’m just using one to wipe down the counter, I can easily flip it to the other side and reuse it until it’s really dirty. Then I just swap it out with a new one. 

As they get dirty, I store them in a little bag and wash the load once I get down to my last one. Easy-peasy. (Same goes for napkins in my household — I have a stash of cloth napkins that I use in rotation and wash whenever I’m getting low.) I sanitize them in a hot water setting so they’re extra clean, fold them up, store them away, and they’re ready to use again. 

Trust me: Once you’ve made the switch, you’ll never buy paper towels again. (I know I haven’t.) Your wallet and the trees will thank you.