I have been using cloth rags for years, to minimize the amount of paper towels that we go through in our household. Using cloth rags instead of paper towels offers numerous benefits for both the environment and economically. One of the most significant advantages is the reduction in waste.
Paper towels are single-use and contribute to landfills, while cloth rags can be reused many times, cutting down on the amount of trash generated.
Keep in mind that cloth rags are not perfect for every situation! I do not use cloth rags for things like when the cats throw up, or when we are cleaning up oil. I use paper towels for any kind of situation where I don’t want to have a cloth rag saturated with something that does not wash out well – sand, oil, sticky things, pet accidents, etc.
Here are some of the great benefits of cloth rags!
In addition to being eco-friendly, cloth rags are more cost-effective in the long run. Paper towels need to be continually purchased, but a set of durable cloth rags can last for years with proper care, saving you money over time.
It is also a great way to upcycle! Most of our rags are actually repurposed fabric, such as old towels or washcloths, or clothing scraps. Fabrics and clothing can be tough to recycle, and this is a great option.
Cloth rags are generally more absorbent and durable than paper towels, making them better suited for tough cleaning tasks. If someone spills a glass of water, rags can handle the cleanup much better than paper towels
Cloth rags versatile and can be used for various purposes, from wiping counters to dusting furniture, without tearing or wearing out as quickly as paper towels. I can use cloth to scrub surfaces, like when I have to work to get something off the kitchen counter that is dried on.
I don’t have to lug home packages of paper towels from the store. We still have paper towels on hand, but I have to shop far less frequently. Also, paper towels generally have a lot of plastic packaging, and it is nice to avoid that plastic waste as well.
Washing the rags is easy. I rinse them out if I need to, and toss them right in the wash.
Switching to cloth rags helps create a more sustainable household by reducing reliance on disposable products and minimizing waste, all while being a practical, economical option.
I use a rag to clean up too. I don’t typically buy many paper towels because I think it’s is kinda expensive and I’m a cheapskate. I do use baby wipes on certain things.
Wow, Thanks for sharing these benefits and for reminding me about the upcycling option too!
I use cloth rags anywhere in the house, most especially in the kitchen. I find paper towels too expensive to use for wiping-off dirt and dust. I do upcycling too.
I think rags over paper towels is a great option! Definitely worth the initial investment because of how long a pack will last over time versus rolls and rolls of paper products.
I basically uses rags around the house, But I do use some paper towels. Just to clean up spills, even to dry my hands as well. Thanks for sharing how to upcycle too.
I have been using more cloths than paper towels! They do come in handy and I don’t feel as wasteful.
Using cloth rags is an excellent way to be eco-friendly – thank you for the reminder. I have a batch of old tshirts I was ready to throw out, looks like I’ll be cutting them up and using as cleaning rags!
We NEVER use paper towels to clean or dry. They don’t clean anything, and they’re a waste of natural resources
This is such a great way to cut down on waste! I’ve been trying to use them more in my cleaning as well and we keep a clean hand towel in the kitchen for drying hands.
I’ve never understood why people use paper towels to clean up anything. I tried it once, and it left a sticky mess. It didn’t clean anything at all. I’m all about that rag life.
We are kindred folk. In our home, we rarely use paper towels either. I think it’s so important for the environment to think about such little and easy changes to housekeeping.
Your post on the benefits of using cloth rags is so informative and practical! I love how you highlight both the environmental and financial advantages—thanks for sharing these helpful tips for a more sustainable lifestyle!
Great post and we too use rag cloths for cleaning and the results are much better than using paper towel. I too appreciate how you emphasized the importance of both the environmental and financial advantages of using rag cloths.
Totally agree with you, using cloth will help save on paper since we can use it again. This is great to help people understand why should use cloth.
It is more efficient for me to use cloth rags when cleaning. To make it easy, I made color coding for every rag that I was using and then washed them separately.
Very useful and practical tips and thanks for sharing something that we may not notice while cleaning! It’s so simple but I do thing it helps – :), consider the savings with less paper towels used.
I’m guilty of using too many paper towels. You’ve promoted me to be more mindful to use less paper. That being said I do follow your idea of repurposing old sheets, shirts and towels. It’s great to have them on hand for polishing and mopping spills.
Yyyeessss, thank you for these. Paper does fill up so much in the waste baskets and it’s a menace. The cloth rags do a god job as well but are as reusable as possible.