Paper Towels vs Reusable Cloths – The Ultimate Wipeout

Absorb the facts before you blot.

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💥 The Great Kitchen Debate

Every kitchen has its cleanup champion:

• Paper towels: quick, easy, bin-bound

• Reusable cloths: thrifty, washable, forever damp

But which is truly the eco-friendly winner?

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🌍 Environmental Showdown

🧻 Paper Towels

• Made from trees or recycled pulp

• Often single-use

• Usually non-recyclable once used (especially on food or cleaning chemicals)

• High energy and water usage in production

• Often packaged in plastic

The average UK household uses over 100 rolls a year.
That’s a forest’s worth of soggy disposables.

🧽 Reusable Cloths

• Made from cotton, bamboo, or microfibre

• Can be washed hundreds of times

• Lower long-term cost and waste

• Uses water and energy in washing – but less than making new paper each time

• Some (e.g. bamboo cloths) are compostable at end of life

A single reusable cloth can replace dozens — if not hundreds — of rolls of paper towels.

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💡 What Works Best (Real-World Tips)

• Use cloths for everyday wiping, drying, and spills

• Keep a separate cloth for food mess vs bathroom use

• Wash cloths at 40–60°C with your regular laundry

• Let them dry fully between uses to avoid smells

• Reserve paper towels only for the truly gross (like raw chicken or pet mess)

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Final Thought

If you’re wiping up something cleanable… maybe don’t create more waste in the process.

Paper towels are convenience.
Cloths are commitment — to your wallet, your kitchen, and the planet.