Reusable vs paper towels

Where each one works well

Reusable cloths suit ordinary kitchen life: counters, spills, windows and dusting. Paper towels still make sense for tasks where you do not want to wash the cloth afterward, such as raw meat juices or very greasy pans.

Many households end up with both, using reusables as the default and keeping a roll of paper for the exceptions.

Laundry and hygiene

Reusable towels need washing. Keep a small bin or hook for used ones, and wash them regularly with your regular laundry. Follow the care label on whatever you buy.

Avoid using the same cloth for raw meat and for wiping the counter later. If you have any concern about food handling, check guidance from a public health source rather than relying on general tips.

Materials to look at

Cotton absorbs well and is easy to wash. Microfiber can hold a lot but is a synthetic fiber, which some shoppers avoid. Bamboo blends and Swedish dishcloths are other options. Our unpaper towels guide and Swedish dishcloths guide compare the options in more detail.

If you do buy paper, our eco-friendly paper towels guide shows what to look for on the label, such as recycled content and the wrap material.

Making the switch

• Start with a small stack kept where the paper roll used to be.
• Use a color or pattern to separate kitchen cloths from other uses.
• Keep a roll of paper for the messes you do not want to wash.

How to choose cloths

Look at the weave and the weight. A tight weave handles counters, while a looser one suits drying dishes. Check the material and the care label. If you plan to wash them with towels, make sure they tolerate the same water temperature as the rest of the load.

Avoid cloths with strong dyes or prints if you wash them with light items, as the label may warn about color transfer. Pick a size that you can fold to a hand-sized pad.

Storage and household size

A single person might keep a handful of cloths in a drawer. A family may want a basket near the sink for used ones and a stack of clean ones nearby. If your laundry day is only once a week, a larger stack avoids running out. If you do laundry daily, a smaller stack is enough.

Common mistakes

Putting a damp cloth into a closed bin can leave it smelling. Hanging it to dry first helps. Another mistake is using the same cloth for the floor, the stove and the counter, which spreads dirt. Giving each task its own color is a simple fix. A third is giving up after a week, since the habit takes some time to form.

A short walk-through for choosing

Count the places in your kitchen where a roll of paper normally gets used: counters, hands, windows, pans, spills on the floor. Give each place a replacement: a cloth for counters, a hand towel for hands, a squeegee or cloth for windows. Leave paper for the jobs you do not want to wash. Run this way for a couple of weeks and see how much of the roll remains.

Which to choose

• You wipe spills and counters all day Reusable towels
• You deal with raw meat or pet accidents Paper towels for those tasks
• You dislike extra laundry Paper, or a small stack of quick-dry cloths
• You want the least waste Reusable with paper as a backup
• You want a single drawer item Swedish dishcloths or microfiber cloths