Count your daily use first
For three or four days, count the paper towel sheets you use. Most people find that a cloth does the job of more than one sheet, because it can be used for several wipes, so your cloth count is often lower than your sheet count. Take the number of cloths you reach for in a day, double it for two days, and add a few so you are not short on a busy day.
A household that cooks often or has small children will use more than a person living alone. Treat any number you read online as a starting point, since it comes from someone else's kitchen.
What changes the number
- Laundry schedule: if you wash towels every day, you need fewer. If you wash once a week, you need more.
- Fabric: thin flannel dries fast and can be rotated quickly, while thick terry takes longer to dry.
- Separate jobs: if you want one color for raw meat spills and another for counters, count them as two small sets.
- Holder or snap roll: a roll on a holder is handy, but a roll of snapped towels counts the same as a stack.
- Paper backup: keeping a small roll of paper for the messes you would rather throw away lowers the cloth count.
How to compare sets
Sets are sold by the pack, so divide the price by the number of towels to get a price per towel. Check the size and the fabric as well, since a pack of small squares is not the same as a pack of larger ones. Our reusable versus paper towels comparison walks through a cost-per-use method, and the unpaper towels guide covers fabric and care.
We do not state how long any set lasts. The maker's care label, return policy and your own wash routine are better guides. If a listing makes a green claim, the FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260) expect it to be specific.
- Count the cloths you would use in a day.
- Double it for two days and add a few spares.
- Divide each set's price by its towel count and compare.
Care so they last
Keep a small bin or wet bag near the sink for used towels, and let them dry fully before folding. Many makers advise against fabric softener because it can reduce absorbency, so read the care label that came with your set.
Sources
- Manufacturer care labels and product listings
- FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260)
See also: Unpaper towels: how to choose reusable cloth towels for the kitchen · Reusable vs paper towels · Swedish dishcloths and microfiber cloths: what each is and break-even cost · Eco-friendly paper towels: bamboo, recycled and select-a-size · Are unpaper towels worth it?