Kitchen

Reusable Paper Towels: Cost and Waste Breakdown vs Paper

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Reusable Paper Towels: Cost and Waste Breakdown vs Paper
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TL;DR

Reusable paper towel alternatives include Swedish dishcloths (cellulose and cotton), cotton 'unpaper' towels, bamboo towels, and microfiber cloths. All are machine washable; Swedish dishcloths are also home compostable at end of life.

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How much money do reusable paper towels save compared to paper towels?

Switching from paper towels to reusable cloths can save a typical household well over $100 a year: at 2 rolls a week and about $2.50 a roll, paper towels cost around $260 a year, while a starter set of Swedish dishcloths and cotton towels costs roughly $20-50 and lasts months to years. Keep a few paper towels for raw meat juices.

What paper towels actually cost

A household using about 2 rolls a week at around $2.50 a roll spends roughly $260 a year on paper towels, and sends around 100 rolls to landfill. Your numbers will differ, so count your own weekly use for a few weeks to see what switching could save you.

The reusable options

  1. Swedish dishcloths: cellulose and cotton blend
  2. Cotton unpaper towels: flannel cotton, often on a roll-style holder
  3. Bamboo reusable towels: perforated rolls marketed as reusable many times
  4. Microfiber cloths: the most widely available option

How they compare

Swedish dishcloths: A 6-pack costs about $15-20. Very absorbent, quick to dry, dishwasher- and machine-safe, and home compostable at end of life. Manufacturers say one cloth can replace many rolls of paper towels.

Cotton unpaper towels: A 12-pack with a holder costs about $25. Durable and soft, which makes them good for wiping hands and faces, though each cloth absorbs less than a Swedish dishcloth.

Bamboo towels: Convenient because they look and tear like paper towels, but they wear out much faster than cloth. Owner reviews commonly report them getting rough well before the advertised number of uses.

Microfiber cloths: Cheap (a 20-pack often costs around $10) and excellent for glass and surfaces. The downside: microfiber is synthetic and sheds microfibers in the wash.

The cost math

A starter set of reusable cloths costs roughly $20-50. Against around $260 a year of paper towels, most households recover that within the first couple of months, and the savings continue for as long as the cloths last.

Which material wins

For all-round use, Swedish dishcloths win: they handle wet and dry jobs, wash clean on a hot cycle, and compost at end of life. Keep 4-6 in rotation. Cotton unpaper towels are a good addition for households with kids.

The hygiene question

Wash cloths in hot water and let them dry fully between uses, and replace any that smell musty. For raw meat or poultry juices, food safety agencies recommend using disposable paper towels, or putting the cloth straight into a hot wash; don't reuse it on other surfaces first. Keeping one small roll of paper towels for raw meat is a sensible compromise.

The environmental picture

Paper towels are single-use and usually can't be recycled once soiled. Reusable cloths need washing, but they go in with loads you're already running, so the added water and energy is small compared with making and shipping a steady stream of new rolls.

How to start

  1. Buy a 6-pack of Swedish dishcloths (about $20)
  2. Put them where your paper towels live
  3. Keep a small mesh bag nearby for used ones
  4. Wash them with your regular laundry on a hot cycle once or twice a week

Most households find the switch feels normal within a couple of weeks.

Related Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times can you wash reusable paper towels?

It varies by material and brand. Swedish dishcloths are typically rated for hundreds of washes, cotton unpaper towels for many months of regular use, and microfiber cloths for hundreds of washes. Check each brand's guidance.

Are reusable paper towels hygienic?

Yes, with good habits: wash them in hot water, dry them fully between uses, and replace them if they smell musty. For raw meat or poultry juices, food safety agencies recommend disposable paper towels, or washing the cloth on a hot cycle right away.

What are Swedish dishcloths made of?

A blend of cellulose (wood pulp) and cotton. Manufacturers say they absorb many times their own weight in liquid, and they're compostable at end of life.

Can reusable paper towels go in the washing machine?

Yes. Most can be machine washed on a warm or hot cycle, and Swedish dishcloths can also go in the dishwasher. Avoid fabric softener, which reduces absorbency.

What is the best reusable paper towel alternative?

Swedish dishcloths are the best all-round option for most kitchens: highly absorbent, long-lasting, compostable, and inexpensive.

Sources

  • Statista, U.S. household paper towel usage statistics

Reviews & Comments

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