Roughly two weeks ago I took $14 of our grocery budget and invested into washcloths.
A strange investment, I know. You don’t want me in control of your 401k!
I kid.
Not really.
Seriously, these washcloths are amazing. They are not your typical run of the mill washcloths.
- First, they’re white.
- And, they’re square.
- They’re made of cotton.
- They were cheap.
- They’re brand-name (the store’s).
- They’re from Target (pronounced Tar-zsay).
See, totally high-end and very extraordinary washcloths.
🙂
These washcloths are so magnificent that they are now our official “napkins.” We used to use paper towels, or on an extra special occasion, a real paper napkin. But now we use washcloths.
When company comes over for dinner or if we’re hosting a special occasion, no longer do we feel inferior because our company has to wipe crumbs and sauce off their face with paper. No sir-ree! Our company can feel ultimate pleasure and comfort while wiping their face AND be reminded of a bathroom at the same time!
How’s that for hospitality?!
Did you hear that washcloth napkins are all the rage? Yep, they sure are.
(Don’t bother Googling to verify this – they’ve been slow to update their search results.)
Don’t you want to do what’s popular too? Why should you invest in super-cool, ultra high-end exceptionally remarkable white cotton washcloths?
Cloth napkins cost less.
For the average family of four using one paper towel each for three meals a day, one roll would last 13 days. At 52 sheets in each $1 roll, the cost of cloth napkins becomes significantly less expensive (free) after 182 days (or just over six months).
Cloth napkins look better.
Company isn’t impressed when we rip off a paper towel, tear it in half and tuck the ripped piece of paper gently under their forks and knives. Now everyone gets their own full-size napkin. We could get extra fancy and fold it into a fan and stick it in their water glass!
Cloth napkins last longer.
Cloth napkins are not a one-time-use and toss item. They cover way beyond one spill and can even last beyond one meal (if it’s not spaghetti). Even used to the maximum capacity, cloth napkins end up in the hamper, not trash, which means…
Cloth napkins produce less trash.
Cloth napkins can be used and washed and reused until they shrivel apart, and even then they can become “heavy duty” rags. Less trash = better for the environment.
Kids can’t rip apart cloth napkins under the table.
There’s something soothing about ripping pieces of paper apart into tiny little pieces. That soothing factor diminishes when you’re the one cleaning them up.
How does the “average” family integrate this posh commodity into their ordinary lives?
1. Search for a good deal at low-end joints. Think Walmart, Target, Goodwill, garage sales, etc. Expect that these will get very dirty and come up with a fair price. The high-end washcloths mentioned above were on sale at Target, $3.23 for an 8-pack. I thought 40 cents each was fair.
2. Aim for plain. Flowers and patterns are cute today, but won’t always be in season. Solid colors will stand the test of time and increase your odds of not having to replace them later. Why white? It matches everything, always.
3. Buy several. 32 seemed like a good number. Enough to last us through a few days without having to wash, but not enough to make laundry more of the chore it already is.
3. Wash before use. This should go without saying, but since someone in my family is guilty of wearing new clothes without washing them first (ahem), it’s worth mentioning. Wash the washcloths in cold water and dry.
4. Fold and put not too far away. Keeping the washcloths in a closet upstairs is a great way to not use them. Re-purpose a basket or tupperware container or toy box or something to hold the napkins. Fold them neatly and place them inside the container. Keep the container in a central location to the dining table and/or kitchen and make sure everyone in the house knows where this location is. Don’t keep it a secret.
5. Wash regularly. Keeping them clean will make them look newer longer. Wash dirty washcloths at least once a week. Save money and time by washing with other dirty towels and rags too. Another reason to go white? If they become so stained that they’re no longer worthy for company, let them soak in bleach in the kitchen sink. Two outcomes: white washcloths and a clean sink.
6. Put paper towels out of sight. Because out of sight is out of mind.
We have been using cloth napkins for 6 years and I love it! Yes they get stained but who cares. I just try to give guests ones that aren’t. I wash my cloth napkins with the towels. We also use cloth wipes for the kids face and cloth bibs. We put a wet bag on the banaster by the kitchen/dining room to hold our dirty napkins so we don’t have to run downstairs to put them in the laundry. Our clean ones live on our countertop.
I have also found that after holidays they can have great discounts on napkins that are not over holiday looking.
I know I have saved tons of money buy doing this and now hate the feel of paper napkins. Plus every time I use one at someone else house I feel like I am adding to the landfill. You will be surprised that you will take out your garbage much less when u switch to cloth.
LOVE that you don’t care if they get stained. Isn’t the point of a napkin to get it dirty so our clothes and face aren’t?
Looking forward to the post-holiday sales. I’d like to add some towels to my collection for messes that need something bigger than a washcloth.
I’ve noticed a decrease in trash in the one-month we’ve been doing this so far – I can’t imagine the long-term benefits!
We’ve used washcloths for napkins for several years now. We usually have some paper napkins stored away for when we have guests who might not appreciate our stained napkins. But I love the money it saves us and it’s super easy.
Very thoughtful to have paper stored, as to not offend company. Good tip Steph!
We use cloth. We switched about 20 years ago when money was so tight at our home, i was even making homemade soap from hamburger grease. Our first cloth napkins were a mis matched assortment made from scrap fabric.
A few years later, when our budget was not so tight, we could buy paper napkins but my husband never likes to use them because cloth napkins just work better.
Our current cloth napkins are from thrift stores, we’ve had some very nice ones from yard sales too.
We use a fresh one at every meal and they are just not a big deal at all to launder.
Wowzers, homemade soap from hamburger grease?! Does this make you smell like a hamburger too? LOL.
Very much on board that cloth simply work better and not any more of a burden to clean. I wasn’t able to find any in my price range (uber-cheap) at my thrift store, but my area tends to be pricier than most. C’mon after holiday sales!
I’m liking the white washcloth idea. I’ve tried ‘cloth napkins’ before and they were too wimpy. I like this idea!
These washcloths are definitely not wimpy, and I know exactly what you mean. Some cloth napkins just can’t get the job done. The absorbancy (and cleaning) of washcloths is very effective!
Love this post. You are hysterical! 🙂 I have been seriously considering switching to cloth napkins. I gave up paper towels years ago so napkins would be my last big thing to do away with. I have some washcloths like yours already. May have to give them a try.
Do it! Jumping ship is the hardest part. You’ll be SO happy that you did it though and you’ll wonder why you didn’t jump sooner!
We use cloth napkins, but I also have a roll of paper towels for those nasty cleanups that seem to occur with some regularity in my kitchen. 😉
I think a spare roll may be kept in my closet too, just.. in.. case…
Love this article…you are too funny. We recently switched to cloth napkins too. I’m not much of a thrift store shopper, but I found some great ones there and paid next to nothing for a whole week’s supply!
Thanks Peggy! Next to nothing is a GREAT price!
I love this idea! And I didn’t really realize that my husband and I don’t use paper napkins or paper towels or *anything* to wipe our faces at home mealtimes. Are we just that clean? Not always… I hope that doesn’t mean we are barbaric. Lol! Here is a tip though– don’t buy tissues or paper towels or paper napkins, and keep a roll of toliet paper around in case you need to blow your nose– and you’ll find that you rarely have a job that requires more than a dishcloth or a square of toliet paper. You know, sometimes you need a disposible square to squash a dead fly or something.
I also like using washable hankies. I am filing this paper napkin idea away for when kids come. I think it is brilliant (and will definitely be needed then)!
Love cloth napkins! We still keep paper towels on hand for grease clean up since it’s cheaper than replacing cloth when you can’t get the grease out. Another big saver in our family is what we call family cloth. It replaces toilet paper. I cloth diaper with cloth wipes and it was the next step. We keep toilet paper on hand for company. Also use cloth feminine care. Maybe it’s too crunchy for some but I wouldn’t go back. My husband gripes if he has to use toilet paper to wipe so yesterday I had to make more family cloth because what we had was enough.
Also can’t live without my sock rags. I use them for everything and they are always getting replenished. This is what I use to clean the bathroom, dirty stove, floors, you name it. I only buy high cotton content socks so plenty absorbent. Make them slightly damp and they’re perfect for dusting furniture, shelves, etc.
Love your new napkins and what a great idea!
I never would have thought of using high end wash cloths as a substitute for either cloth or paper napkins!
I currently use a VERY high end paper napkin (much thicker than most – hate flimsy paper napkins!) and I DO have some nice cloth napkins that we use for special occasions but we are looking for ways to cut costs and be greener in our home that will work for us, so may consider this in the future!
Thanks for sharing at Inspire Me Monday at
Create With Joy
Great post. You left out the part about having unique napkin rings so each person can identify and reuse his own napkin for that week! :o)
Ah, nice touch!!
Oh my gosh! Thank you for posting this comment! I have been searching the Internet for a solution to this problem because it was just one of the last Little logistics keeping me from switching over! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this! I’ve recently run across a couple other bloggers who’ve made the switch from paper to cloth and I’d been seriously considering doing the same. Now…I think I’ve made up my mind! 🙂 No more paper napkins for us! Thanks again for this informative and persuasive post!
You’re welcome Jessica!
Great post! I hadn’t thought of using dish rags for napkins, but I grew up in a family where both grandmothers always had cloth napkins, and I continued that tradition 🙂 My mum taught me to use scrap fabric to make napkins (with a serger you can make pro edges, or use your regular sewing machine to make a rolled hem), you can even pick up bits of fabric from the second hand store in funky colours and designs!
A great suggestion Danielle. Makes me wish I knew how to sew!
Thanks for sharing! I have been contemplating switching over to cloth napkins and I think you may have given me the push I was needing:)
Do it, do it, do it! *push* 😉
Love this. We use cloth napkins all the time. I like to call them our “fancy napkins”. Nothing upscales a take out pizza like a vintage white linen napkin 🙂 Seriously, that is what we use! I love them and figure if they get stained, they get stained. I must buy more though, good idea to stock up!
I’ve used cloth napkins for about four years, and love them! I buy solid color ones after the holidays and embroider them. I have also bought them cheaply at yard sales. I have a rotation and bring the older ones to work to use at my desk during lunch. They last and last–and I somehow feel more “special” using a cloth napkin.
Thanks for linking this up with Show Your Stuff, I hope you come back and link up again on Friday.
We’ve been contemplating on switching to cloth so this helps out a lot! I know what you mean about little pieces under the table, lol. Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Love this Tiffany! We do this with a mix of washcloths and cloth napkins, reserving paper towels only for pet messes and such. Thanks for sharing it with us at Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday!
We have some cloth napkins and we also have UNpaper towels. They are next to the paper towels (that dh likes to use) but I tell the dc to reach for the unpaper towels first. I used a friend’s serger(?) and made short work of it.
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
Love this! We use cloth napkins, too, for the most part. I love to sew them, they add such color to the table. I’m sure the washcloths clean even better, tho. 🙂
If I could sew, I would have gone that route too. My sewing skills stop short at a button, and even those turn out pretty awful looking, lol!
We have been using cloth napkins for what feels like forever.Comforting that others are catching on:) Thanks for explaining it so well and inspiring others 🙂
http://handfulofellers.blogspot.com/2009/04/earth-day-post-frugal-living.html
Excellent idea. I found you on The DIY Dreamer. I will definitely be back, and hope I can persuade you to share this post and link up to my Blog Fest: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/10/farm-girl-blog-fest-3.html I would love for you to join the party!
Thanks for the invite Lisa!
Hey,
Here in India we use paper napkins only on occasions because they are expensive comparatively and have been introduced recently
My mom , grand mom and me all have been using cloth napkins mainly cut from old cotton bed sheets (you can get a huge pile just with one old sheet)..old towels are cut for wiping kitchen counters and home dusting .
Indian
Indian food has lots of colours like of turmeric , chili and so staining is always there and hence it’s better to use recycled napkins than new ones for me . Economical and durable .. I just have to give a straight stitch to the edges (I don’t sew too….)
Using an old (or even thrifted) bed sheet is a fantastic idea. Given the colors in Indian cuisine, having some solid colors would be nearly a necessity. Non-sewers unite!
Sauce stains (I make a lot of Indian inspired food, so yellow is a common stain) led me to dark colored napkins. After, oh, 15 years with ragged face cloths as napkins, and making a tie dye of the freaky bad kind, I first picked up a handful of navy blue and forest green washcloths.
A few years later, kiddo moved out and I upgraded to actual napkins.before, I merely had four for company.
Because my hierarchy was cloth flat weave napkin- terry cloth- stained of either- paper.
White may bleach, but navy, forest, black and dark purple hide those stains!
And they wash beautifully in a sink of slightly sudsy water.
Do dishes, drop cloths into rinse water, add a touch more soap, agitate a few minutes, soak overnight, agitate again in the morning, rinse, wring, hang on drying rack.
Unless you had a big party.
Then use a washer for your sanity.
But less than eight? Hand wash!
I love this idea. Since my dog seems to shred every paper product in the house – it’s like he’s telling me to switch. Right?!?!
How long do you think you can get out of a cloth napkin before it frays away to nothing?
Has anyone made the switch back to hankies too?
Found you at the linky party – A Glimpse Inside.
Yep, I think your dog is sending you signals. 😉 I think the longevity of a napkin will depend on its quality. I try to put newly washed ones at the bottom of the basket to help even the wear. It would be interesting to compare up front and replacement prices. My first inkling is to go cheap up front, since all napkins will get dirty and stained, regardless of their quality, and you’ll want to replace them eventually because of the ick factor.
Haven’t tried hankies yet – I use toilet paper, lol.
I bought cloth napkins, 100% cotton, about as heavy as two thicknesses of quilting cotton. They are stained but still in very good condition over 10 years later. I bought 8 and we are a family of 6 so they have been used a lot. About 5 years ago I added 8 new ones in a different color but I don’t care for them as much because they come out of the dryer with the hemmed edges super wrinkled, the old ones don’t wrinkle. I do not know why, they are both 100% cotton, both have a deep mitered hem.
I agree with you. I’ve use cloth napkins every day for many years, only using paper cocktail napkins for a party. I even use cloth napkins for our Christmas buffet. I have had a friend or two who thought using cloth napkins was “putting on airs”, but I assured them I wasn’t. LOL It’s just that I like cloth, and as you said, they’re less expensive and “greener”.
Visiting from No Minimalist Here,
Babs
We switched to cloth napkins about a year ago. Ours are thrifted. I like to have a variety so each person can have a different color or pattern. Church sales are a great place to find them cheaply, especially if the congregation is older. I’ve learned that we only like 100% cotton, for feel and absorbency. Our paper towel alternatives are made from flour-sack towels; they work great and dry so fast that they don’t develop a sour smell like thick towels sometimes do.
Ah, church sales! Our area has a large elderly population too. Great idea!
I love cloth napkins if they are the right kind. Some just smear everything around. Most of the time we use paper.
Partying from Create, Craft, Love. This is a good idea. I like cloth napkins. The other idea is the buy tea towels and cut them and make 2 out of one. I don’t know which is cheaper. Enjoyed your post and humor.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
Thanks Sue!
We have been using cloth napkins for years. You will be so happy that you have change from paper to cloth. I find an amazing selection for mere pennies at thrift stores.
You’re right – now that we’ve been using them for a few weeks, I’m so glad we switched. I check thrift stores if it’s convenient and plan to pick up some solids.
This is such a fantastic post Tiffany! We currently use paper but you make some excellent points for making the switch Thank you so much for sharing at Mom on Timeout!
I grew up in a household were we dined on fine china every evening…my mom worked for a catering company so this was our life. When my children’s friend come to dinner they all have made comments about our dinner routines (family style dinning) with cloth napkins, porcelain plates…white of course, stemware because everything is better in a wine glass
I love cloth! We’ve been using washcloths as napkins since our daughter was born 2 years ago. They are wonderful! A great place to get uber-cheap washcloths is IKEA. (10 for $4) We just bought 20 more since some of ours are ready for the rag bin. 🙂
My family and I have been using cloth shop rags I purchased for free with a coupon for 3 years now. My husband now believes it was the best idea I ever had. We have three children and one on the way now. So paper towels would be a wasted expense. I purchased a king size flat sheet at Goodwill for $2.99 and 3 yards of a cotton fabric for $1.99 at Salvation Army. I washed the sheet and cut it along with the fabric into 72 cloth napkins. Right now they are pinned waiting to be sewn into our double-sided napkins. Tomorrow I will purchased three spools of thread for $1 at Dollar General and get to sewing. Since our family is going to be a family of six soon I plan to purchase another sheet and fabric to make even more napkins. Thanks for the awesome post. You also encouraged me to use a large sheet towel I received from Target with some extra fabric I have to make some dish towels. We also have handmade dish cloths to wash dishes and clean up spills along with handmade cleaning cloths for cleaning around the home.
I so enjoy hearing how large families take something small like cloth napkins and really applying the concept to their lifestyle. It’s encouraging for the smaller families – if a family of 6 can do it, surely a family of 2 or 3 can try!
Love cloth, we’ve been using cloth napkins that were collecting dust and I scored a pile of durable linen napkins for cheap at an estate sale. For durability, real linen is worth every penny, they are twice as old and show half the wear of the cotton
Thanks for the tip Kimberly. Our cotton ones are getting dingy and need a good bleaching for sure. Tempting to have some for everyday use, then a nicer set for company. In either case, very glad we switched!
I’ve been using cloth napkins for about two years now! We began using them to save money, but now I genuinely prefer the feel of cloth napkins to paper. My parents were worried about me when I served them dinner with cloth napkins for the first time and now bring a roll of paper towels over when they come to eat because they think it’s strange we use cloth.
Wow, seriously? Should our parents be the ones used to using cloth, not us? Too funny Heather – thanks for the laugh! Maybe having them over often enough will make them change their minds in time.
Yes, your personality plays right through stale text and I like the idea. I once had this idea but I didn’t stick with it. Long ago, when I discovered rags were better than sponges (because sponges harbor bacteria, I unashamedly bought hoards of cloths. Since my home is ALL guys without my proper training (I failed in the consistency of discipline and routine area as I was experimenting/discovering things myself)I cannot get them to use my color coded rag system–think Brooke Shields in the movie “Bob the Butler.” This wont stop me from trying again. I will go purchase some high end ones just for paper towels–only we use paper towels for cleaning and that and tomato sauce will be where the stains come in. However, that magic little duo of peroxide and Dawn (1/2 n 1/2) DID get red wine out of a fabric placement after it sat unattended for 24 hours–so maybe I could keep the white. Chlorine and my well water will turn them that funky yellow tint color. The Chlorine molecules bond to the iron so you have to buy a product called “iron out”–but I am wondering what that does after it goes down my drain and if I have to buy all that just to wash my rags then it may cost the same as cheap paper towels. I really want the wash cloths to work and to feel frugal and more self reliant;so I will try this. Confession: We have no system for dirty kitchen rags and they will get that stinky mildew smell (remember the bacteria from sponges?)What a domestic hypocrite I am! Does anyone have a system for keeping rags CLEAN at all times? I am locked into sniffing the dish rag, rinsing & wringing it out to add it to the laundry pile where the wash may or may not get it out because I rarely use bleach. School cafeterias use a bin of hot soapy water next to the sink to soak those cloth rags into (You know how the kids get the duty of washing the tables?)Maybe that’s what I’ll do–just need the discipline part to keep it working instead of giving up. Thanks for a boost of encouragement.
Thanks Melanie 🙂 I’d go with the Dawn/peroxide mixture instead of the bleach to avoid yellow, pipes, etc. I’ll share my system for keeping rags clean, although it’s not anything grand. When dirty, toss them on the floor by the washer. When I have enough rags for a load, OR when I’m already washing towels/shoes/hiking clothes, I wash them. It’s usually within 2-4 days. If I use it for dairy though, it needs to get washed nearly ASAP otherwise the old milk smell lingers.
This is an old question but for anyone reading: I soak all kitchen cloths in a pail of the hottest water my kitchen sink will give, along with a few drops of dish detergent. Come laundry time, I dump the lot into the washing machine. I was having smell issues but this takes care of the smell.
Try soaking in hot water & white vinegar, then and some baking soda. It helps get the mildew-y smell out of towels.
I have wanted to switch to cloth napkins but have little support from DH. We use cloth diapers and cloth wipes for our daughter, but he is not supportive of cloth napkins because of the initial investment. I figure I would buy one pack. I start using it for me and my daughter. Then he will buy in–mostly from guilt. I have looked at Target for the ones you referenced in the article but can’t find them. Can you give more information about them? You call them washcloths, but all I find is terry cloth. I look in napkins and all I see is overpriced for 4 napkins. Please help!
They’re “Room Essentials” washcloths, in the bath towel section of the store. I tend to see them on an endcap rather than in the isle itself. They’re white cotton square, definitely not terry cloth. They’re not the fancy napkins because those are WAY too expensive, but they’re perfect for everyday usage in our family. I am considering investing in a set of 8 nicer napkins though for company, but that will have to wait until a free $10 from Kohls comes in the mail, lol!
I switched to cloth napkins this year – trying to be “green.” We love them. I also switched to cloth “paper towels” Ikea has these great, cheap, cotton dish towels. I bought a bunch and keep them on the counter in a basket. Now whenever I need to reach for a paper towel, these are right there. (I do keep a roll of paper towels under the sink – every once in a while you just need a paper towel, right?)
We’ve begun using our dish towels as cloth paper towels, but I would imagine having a set designated for that purpose would keep them looking nicer, longer, lol. Yes, we still use paper towels for things like greasy spills and bacon, but one roll lasts us a REALLY long time!
Love this post! We switched to cloth napkins, but i went with solid black — dont worry about stains and they still go with everything, lol. We also recently switched to terry cloth towels for general/household cleaning as well as i got a good deal on a big pack at a bulk store. Those i got in white so i could bleach them regularly for sanitation reasons, and i didnt care if they stained permanently. It is amazing how much money is saved by making small changes like this. 🙂
I’m right there with you Amanda! Some of our towels are starting to need to be replaced, so I might consider navy blue next time (didn’t see black). But even with a good bleach, they’re working out great!
We purchased 3 sets of small dish towels to work as absorbant napkins. Each family member has their own cabana-stripe color: red, yellow, blue. I keep them rolled up in an old condiment tray on the kitchen table. My daughter and husband LOVE their marinara sauce, but it sure gets all over the napkins! Here’s what I do to keep them from staining: right after dinner, I do the dishes. After the dishes are done, I thoroughly rinse the napkins, put about 3″ of HOT water (as hot as it comes from my tap) in my small dishpan, rub some Dawn into the stains and put the napkins in to soak. I don’t make suds. Just Dawn right on the stains and napkins into the HOT water. When I come back later to put away dishes before bed, I rinse out the napkins, ring them as dry as I can and put them in the hamper for the next day’s laundry. (Yes, I do one load of laundry every day 🙂 ) All the tomato sauce stains are 90% gone before the napkin hits the laundry. Hope this helps!
I love this! I am so doing this! Thank you for the cleaning tip, it will save me a lot of work. 🙂
I use waffle-weave cotton for napkins. It’s really absorbent and still looks “elegant”. It comes in colours, but I go for white so it can be bleached, and I’ve been using them for about 5 yrs now. I don’t have paper napkins or paper towels in my house.
I get old towels (from a thrift store if I don’t have one when I need one) and cut them into 6ths or 8ths and run a quick stitch around all the edges. These are my rags, so no need for paper towels at all.
If I go through a drive-through (extremely rare), I’ll save the paper napkins from the bag and keep them in the kitchen in case I have a messy spill that I really don’t want to use a cloth rag for.
Washcloths for napkins? That’s definitely practical, but not so pretty. Since I like pretty and frugal, I go to my local thrift stores and buy real cloth napkins. I get them for 25 cents each (or less if they are on clearance) and I like to buy the darker colors to hide stains. If I paid 4 plus dollars a piece for napkins I would never use them for fear of them getting stained, LOL. My kids like to help me pick them out too. For that price we can get seasonal napkins plus any color they like, I’ve even found embroidered napkins. And if we have more people over we can mix and match the colors and patterns. It’s fun!
That’s awesome that you found napkins at your local thrift store Karen. I looked for ages and never found them!
If you’re having trouble finding them at your thrift store, you can easily cut up an old sheet or thin towel and just hem around the edges. One towel can make a dozen or more, depending on the size you like.
You can also do it with an old tablecloth that may have a stain or two. Just cut around the stains BUT make sure if it’s a tablecloth that it’s made of an absorbent cloth, not VISA treated, as that will only spread the mess, not soak it up.
I found many over a few years at garage sales and thrift shops. I keep the nicer ones for company and use the more casual mismatched ones for everyday. When company comes, they think I’m spoiling them!!
I agree with the reader that buys them at thrift stores. I don’t like the idea of a wash cloth on my face, too rough and not nice looking. I wouldn’t choose white either because they’d stain right away so even when you bring them from the laundry freshly clean they’ll look dirty I bought cotton napkins for $1 a pair at the Dollar Store at least 6 years ago as we were living in our old house and we’re still using them. I love the idea of cloth napkins though, sorry about my comments about the wash cloths.
If you can sew, you can buy a fat quarter at Wal-Mart, and, for about a buck, you can get 2 good-sized dinner napkins out of it. Just sew some seams down around the edges. I send cloth napkins this way in the kids’ school lunches. The fat quarters come in Super Man, Star Wars and Spiderman prints. You could even do seasonal napkins this way. If you’re feeling really crafty, you could attach some ribbon or rick-rack along one side 🙂
I have started using old rags to clean my bathroom sink, but I still use paper towels and cleaner for things like the toilet and floor.
So here’s my quandary: how do you suggest I clean out my iron skillet? This is possibly the last use for paper towels that I just can’t come up with a solution for. I cringe to think about throwing a grease-soaked rag in my washer machine :O
Hi JC! We have been on a cloth-only program for a few years now, and I also love my CI (it’s all I have aside from a few enameled CI pots). I currently use some plain white shop towels I got in bulk from Sams club a few years ago. When I wash my CI, I just wash it as normal (I even use *gasp* SOAP!). When I need to re-grease it after washing, I have no problems using one of my towels to spread the very thin layer of grease on my skillet and tossing the towel into the bath towel laundry. No Ill effects yet!
I first heard of the cloth napkin rage from Zero Waste Living. I almost never wash my CI, makes my morning eggs taste amazing. I’ve been using a neat tip I found online: just dump some salt in the pan, warm it up and rub it down with a wet towel. Seasons and debrids the pan, just dump the extra salt out.
Thanks for replying, nice to meet you 😉
We’ve used cloth napkins for years, and don’t miss buying paper napkins one bit! I get all mine from secondhand stores, which is the only affordable way to buy cloth napkins. The side benefit is that I’ve been able to buy napkins that match the seasons. So over thanksgiving/Christmas we use red, green, or Christmas-y napkins, over the fall it’s fall colors, spring is spring colors etc. All bought secondhand, all dirt cheap, and it’s so fun to keep changing out the colors/patterns.
I have started doing something that is really handy and saves on paper towels (even though I usually never buy paper towels, but I do buy paper napkins). I have some of those thin cotton dish towels, similar to the really thin baby diapers. I hang one on the door under my kitchen sink, and I use it all week after the dishes are washed, to wipe the counters and around the sink and faucets. It is not for drying hands, because it is used for wiping the grime off of the sink, and it is very convenient, and dries quickly. I used to use the towels for drying hands and dishes, but they got soaked so quickly with so much use that it wasn’t pleasant to always be drying your hands on a wet towel. I started to get rid of them, then I realized that I could use them as un-paper towels, and it is very economical.
Thanks for sharing Jeanetta!
When company comes over, where do they put their used napkins? Do they leave them on the table after the meal, or do you have them place the napkins in a specific spot?
We make a pile on the counter and one of the kids takes them upstairs after dinner.