One Year Using Unpaper Towels | Our Experience

[@claudiarauch2041]

I used to use cloth in the kitchen in the 70's and am reminded of not only cost savings, impact on the environment and COMFORT!!! Thank you for the inspiration to go back to cloth!

[@pennylynch913]

Cool. I'm inspired. Paper towels aren't cheap 2 buy and u use them up in no time.

[@Frugalinthewoods]

Love this video share! We are toilet paper free for the past two years now. And over a decade for paper towel, and kleenex free. We just use old tshirts, linens etc - that are not being used in our home anymore so it’s completely free! It’s brilliant. Well done!

[@rosalyntwomey7859]

totally agree with getting push back for doing things out of the norm! older family members especially seem to be far less accepting of these kinds of changes. The idea of using a shampoo bar or cutting down on meat is a bit crazy sounding to an Irish mammy :P Gonna switch to cloth soon, thanks for the tips! :3

[@crystal-jeanroat2885]

I had a reaction to cloth napkins- I had a friend here for quilt class, she asked for a napkin since she brought a snack. I handed her one, she didn’t want to use it because she was afraid to mess it up. I told her, we don’t have paper ones, and they come clean in the wash... don’t worry. It was almost like she felt she wasn’t worthy of such fanciness. But, they’re 20 years old and get used every day. They’re pastel plaid! No embroidery or fanciness, really! Just a utilitarian item that happens to be cute-ish! I have a suggestion for the messy stuff you don’t want to clean towel- save old stained/ripped clothes that aren’t donatable- cut into smaller pieces and use them to clean up the dog puke and toss it when you’re done. No guilt, no trees cut down, no cost and no washing! IF it’s a natural fiber, all the better as it will compost.

[@robinturner7528]

I had the same experience. I told her these are the “ghetto napkins” (even though I don’t have any fancy ones)

[@ameliagfawkes512]

In the UK, a napkin is the paper or cloth (plain or not) item that goes on your lap when you eat. Otherwise, for cleaning up, it's just a cloth or piece of (kitchen) towel. I've already said that I make tea towel-sized cloths out of old clothing, like my OH's white t-shirts - in the US they'd call these undershirts, I think, but my favourites are made out of old 100% cotton sheets and my daughter had grown up and out of some White Company cotton gingham curtains. I've cut up my OH's cotton shirts once the cuffs and collars have worn. I can't see me buying cleaning cloths ever again. I even have a huge stash of thread I got free from a company I worked for decades ago. I could afford to make all of these things out of lovely fabric or just buy them, but it's much more satisfying to use something you have and it would hurt my head to wipe up a spill or a greasy hob with a piece of new fabric. I love your idea of having a pile of smaller pieces of old fabric for wiping up dirty mess and just tossing. That would save on a tonne of hot water washing out cloths. I also try not to donate cloths to charity shops, because they've wrecked the clothing economy in African countries and very little of the money they make from selling our donated clothing to third parties by the kilogram is ever used for the purpose it's supposed to be for.

[@samanthaB7712]

Back in the fifties my mother used brown paper grocery bags to catch the grease off of fried foods i.e., bacon, chicken, fish, tortillas, etc. there are even ways to avoid this as well by placing a wire rack over a cookie pan or other type pan to catch the grease. Good review, thank you

[@claudiarauch2041]

Try flour cloth, it works beautifully for bacon and comes out clean in the wash, Wash on hot

[@jg1551]

Omg, my mom also. What memories. RIP Mom.

[@pamelakitchens5549]

What is flour cloth

[@jessicapearson9479]

Like flour sack material. It is usually made of straight cotton and nothing else. They make good cloth diapers too!

[@susanpwaitt]

Just to add my experience for cleaning fabric rags, etc. Long ago, I read an article. I then also bought & still use a large stainless steel stock pot which I bring water to a boil & add some generic brand of OxiClean. I let this simmer for hours with a lid on. I used to also boil/clean my son's white socks (turned gray from dirt). It was outstanding to watch how much dirt came out from this boiling process & how yucky the water became afterwards. The fabric, socks, cotton t-shits & undergarments were mostly sparkling though! Some stains could not be removed,, but the fabric was sterile & mostly sharp white. I have long tried to make minimal use of paper products like paper towels, etc. replacing with fabric, old clothing cut up & serged around the edges. Carry on!

[@sk.est2020]

For at least 18 years I’ve used cloth rags for a lot of gross jobs, I started moving to wards cloth as a teen (13/14 years) and back then never really realised how much I was helping the environment, we just couldn’t afford the luxury of paper options....so using old towels and hand washing was very common for us (in the 90’s). But over the last two years we seem to use less cloth.... and more and more kitchen paper instead. The other day I watched one of the kids pull so much kitchen paper off its roll to clean a spill, it almost finished off the entire brand new roll. Far too convenient and disappointing for me to allow this slip to be honest. Got bad reactions off people when I started using cloth nappies with my first baby, got told I was wasting water etc....I completely ignored them. Thank you so much for your video, will sew up some kitchen towels (non-paper towels) and will stop buying the paper ones. Old clothes or very worn towels will be ideal for dog/child sick clean up.

[@Lilihogar]

I'm trying to do zero waste, so I really want to do this, also bc will help me saved money.... I just run out of paper towels so I think it's a perfect time to do this.

[@JessicaSmith-gd1fu]

Leah, this video was so well timed for me. Here at age 75 I am considering making reusable paper towels. I have been making and using (3 times a day and every day) cloth table napkins since 1990. I know that if I want to actually put one of the towels in the microwave both fabric and thread must be 100% cotton. Your thoughts on just using them made sense to me. As for critics, here is what my sister said, kindly, to her daughter-in-law when she put cloth napkins on the table, "Why not?" I started with the cloth napkins because my son's class of high school seniors were really concerned about things going into the waste stream. They convinced the local school district to stop using styrofoam. He had no trouble convincing me to make napkins. That can be so much fun and it does not have to be expensive even if you have minimal sewing skills. Take your little one to Goodwill to look for children's patterned sheets to recycle into napkins. If your budget allows the same can be done at Wal Mart or a big box fabric store where you can get cotton fabric. Into the laundry they go. No worries about stains just like your cleaning towels. This is also a lot of fun for holiday themed napkins. Can you tell I have had fun with this? Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience. You have removed some of my doubts.

[@hikingwiththedog6078]

My mom used cloth napkins for every meal, and our table always looked nice. I use them, too, but my father-in-law refuses to touch them. He makes little jabs about me being "too fancy." I just make my tablescape look nicer when he does that, lol

[@sharonbelieves]

That's been my exact concern, I was concerned about the cloth napkins getting stained and smelly so I didn't use them and they just sat there. For years. I guess I just have to do it and it will be okay.

[@loganpatricknelson]

Awesome! Great tips. Not only cheaper, but also more environmentally friendly! Also don't forget about Goodwill and other thrift stores for fabric! They have tons and it's very cheap. I've made re-useable snack/bulk food bags to eliminate that plastic waste.

[@LeahMargaret]

That’s a great idea with reusing fabric from thrift stores! Thanks for watching:)

[@Kyaide]

Super helpful review. And I totally understand wanting something disposable for really nasty messes.

[@suzisaintjames]

I take two thin ones and "quilt" them together. It's surprising how soft, absorbent and comfortable they are to use now. "Quilting" them together also give you a foundation to mend holes and I put the stained sides inside the "quilt" sandwich and makes them look a lot nicer. I'm starting to think about "quilting" 2 of these pairs together to make 4 layers. I use these for the worst cleaning jobs and don't feel bad if I have to throw them away. 💖🌞🌵😷

[@katiatomsk]

Thanks for the napkin holder idea for my flannel towels. I'm at the start of implementing this way of life and I will try the napkin holder.

[@nightgazer251]

I use thrifted linen napkins at the table. I think I’ll make separate flannel and terry cloth ones for using in place of paper towels in the kitchen. Great video :)

[@LeahMargaret]

Thanks for watching!

[@suzisaintjames]

Truth is... I have dogs. So I keep a roll of paper towels (stored away) for cleaning up any of their vomit and diarrhea. I think I've had the same roll for 10 years. My husband has a couple dozen "shop rags" he saves up so he can do a small load in the washer with just those greasy rags. 💖🌞🌵😷

[@mrgarner4796]

Great ideas. I made napkins and bowl/plate cozies for my friends for Christmas. I color code my cloths for the different duties/ rooms. Kitchen, bathroom, floors, etc.

[@Mississippimeow]

I don't know what y'all typically have for lunch, but I use a bento box with a divider. Mine is just big enough for two sandwiches and a small side. It's completely (and easily!) washable and super cute.

[@LeahMargaret]

I’m definitely looking into these for my kids. Both will be in school this year, and I like the idea of saving on waste every day. I already use reusable snack bags for them. It’s great!

[@pjacksreads536]

This is a great review. I made these for my family and shared your video to explain them. Thanks

[@ashleylaurie4187]

This was a great video. I love that its an update aboiut actually using the products. I have made the switch to many reusable products but this is one i havent gotten on board with yet. I have a few, but dont seem to reach for them. I related alot to this video. youve motivated me to try again!

[@LeahMargaret]

Thank you for your kind words! So glad You found it motivating!

[@lindamcclellan8434]

You are very smart young lady. I love using towels instead of paper my husband prefers paper towels so we use both...laundry is not a problem.

[@appletinImom0f5]

Love this and it's normal for my fam.. I have 10 kids so this saves us alot!!! Keep going :)

[@LeahMargaret]

Wow 10 kids! You rock! That’s amazing.

[@CraftsByKelso]

Ten kids! How sweet!

[@BeyondSustainableLiving]

I love this. I have been using cloth napkins for years and LOVE them. I fully embrace using the pretty ones that I purchased in various prints and have not used a paper napkin in probably a decade. They really don't get that dirty. I have had no problems with them getting too stained but then again I don't have toddlers. And, if I'm having pasta or something with a tomato base, then I just use my red napkins. :-) I've been using cloth paper towels as well the past year or two and I too am having to get over worrying about stains sometimes. I got some dark terry cloth cloths thinking it would help me not worry about stains but then I don't really like black and brown colors in the kitchen like that. So you've inspired me to just go with all white! I'm excited to just go for that! Thank you for this video! Oh, and I also keep a roll of paper towels JUST for gross stuff. Sometimes you just gotta throw something out. I usually try to put everything organic in the compost but there are exceptions.

[@shelleysmith4017]

I did similar when we first started. I just keep old clothes, old sheets, ets that are thread bare in some places and cut up the rest that is usable to make disposable no paper towels for the gross jobs. Vomit, pre-potty trained littles who have had a brown leaky, during potty training, Hubby being sick, he cannot ever make it to the bathroom in time, etc. we have been 4 years paper free in the kitchen. My trouble is with tissues. When Hubby and I met in the 80’s he used cloth handkerchiefs. They were so gross lol. It took me years to get him out of using cloth for what I called his snot rags. Once he stopped, he had much fewer colds. He used the tissue once or twice and chucked it, no hanging around in his pocket all day 🤢 But now I am having a rethink and am trying to get to grips with going back to cloth hankies…but he does not understand that he needs to treat them like a paper one, use once or twice then put in the wash bin.

[@anne-marielittenberg8950]

For dinner napkins, try kitchen towels...they are big and really cover your lap. I like the cotton flat weave ones (like you would use to dry glassware) and the you can bleach them. Use the flannel to dust or for paper towel applications. Make them bigger..like double paper towel size.

[@sharonbelieves]

We have those plastic containers from Walmart with the red top. I'm not sure if they're Rubbermaid. Their around $3 for 3 long ones. I use those to put my husband's lunch in and he just washes it out and brings it home and we refill it.

[@Amritadivya]

I am thinking that I will make some cloth towels out of terry cloth rather than flannel. Flannel is usually a pretty soddy fabric and over priced as well. Better value with a fabric intended to make toweling and available in darker colors to hide stains.

[@LeahMargaret]

I’m sure terry would work better! I only used flannel because I already had it in my fabric stash and didn’t want to spend money making them.

[@naomihukes8283]

I'm making cloth paper towels right now. I have terry on one side and flannel on the other. I made lots of cloth napkins using just flannel. Has saved lots of money.

[@jaclyn4098]

I have never used paper towels in my adult life. I always just bought small kitchen rags... I dont get what this whole deal with "unpaper towels" is, as if its new.. the only upside I see to it is that you can make them pretty! And whatever size you want. Other than that I think the entire concept is super hyped.

[@LeahMargaret]

Totally-agree. I think people should just use whatever they have around the house. Which is why I made mine out fabric I already had.

[@boxgirl51]

I made some as well but my napkins are only for eating purposes. Each thing has a purpose I was thinking when I made mine.

[@yeseniacontreras8038]

Thanks for the tips. I think having a couple different types helps. I tried prefolds as dish towels but I liked fst better. I need to make some cloth napkins, my kids are messy.

[@sharonbelieves]

You're right about people giving push back when you do certain things. I was a vegetarian for several years and people really liked to challenge that.

[@tabandken8562]

Get the red shop rags for the gross stuff. They're super cheap.

[@thedrunkengardenernb]

My plan is to do cotton/flanelette napkins, flanelette/terry cloth for spills and double flanelette for toilet wipes (for use with bidet)

[@JamieAnnInTheWorld]

Thanks this was very helpful and interesting.

[@lynnettawilliams2138]

What do u use for windows and mirrors so they dont streak what kinda cloth and what kinda cleaner land rag

[@babblesp1367]

Norwex works great for that. Those are cloth as well and you just use water.

[@SableRain]

Would you recommend white fabric since it can be bleached?

[@LeahMargaret]

Yes, I would! Much easier to keep clean.

[@shelleysmith4017]

With your xmas guests or even other holidays for that matter, as it is usually the same folks coming, rather than buying paper napkins, make up some holiday themed napkins, make a few extra, just in case of extra guests. Then treat it like your holiday decorations, so pack them up when cleaned and folded in with your Christmas supplies to store away for the next holiday gathering. Keep your gungy stained ones for wiping up gungy messes and your regular ones for just general napkin use. Then you are keeping them just for special guests. Rather than keeping a spare roll of paper towels, for those extra gross jobs, old sheets, old T-shirts, shirts, even jeans, when past their best or getting threadbare in places, cut them up as disposable cloth grunge job no paper towels. Or use the cloth ones that are so stained and that you are going to chuck out when you make replacement ones.

[@ameliagfawkes512]

I still use kitchen towel (wiping out anything greasy and absorbing greasy liquid before binning/drying my hands before and after touching food, amongst other things), but I buy cotton or linen tea towels from places I visit and I have a collection. When they get worn, they become drying cloths for polishing windows, counter tops and anything I don't use a tea towel for. I add to that collection by cutting up and hemming old cotton t-shirts and even, once, a pair of good quality cotton mini-gingham curtains no longer required. I did also buy a large batch of good sized microfibre cloths about 15 years ago for using wet or dry. I cut most cloths, where possible, to tea towel sized - any smaller, to me, is just not worth the effort. I keep a bag of old towels in the hall cupboard in case we have any plumbing leaks, but you can cut those and hem them for face cloths or cleaning cloths. What I really can't comprehend is buying beautiful fabric to use for something that's going to be messed up in no time. Our grandparents would have thought that was insane. The only downside is that you have to at least try to get the stains out of cloths and wash them, so although the fabric is effectively free, it costs a small amount to look after them. Some of us are a wee bit OCD and iron them too ... I don't have a problem using paper products of any kind. Paper is "renewable" (ie "sustainable"). People need to comprehend that the United Nations' Agenda 21/30 "sustainability" narrative is a fraud, designed to take us back to the stone age. I do think "we", meaning corporations, should stop producing so much rubbish, but we, meaning us, will never be able to meet the goals of the Cabal. Clearly, the net zero nonsense doesn't apply to them as they jet around the world proclaiming catastrophic climate change (amusingly changed from global warming, because we're in a solar minimum and some of their private jets couldn't even take off because of the snow ...). By all means save money (put less of it into the hands of the Cabal) and reduce landfill, but paper towels can go into your composters, guilt free. You are composting, aren't you???

[@maries_real_world]

I made baby burp cloths n I use that for dusting. I want to make small napkins but dark colors so u can’t see the stains

[@LeahMargaret]

Great idea!

[@plamingo0312]

Question: did you have fraying edges at all after washing them?

[@LeahMargaret]

No, the edges were serged to avoid fraying. If you don’t have a serger you could use a zig zag stitch in a sewing machine.

[@pamelakitchens5549]

Does flannel work as well as terrycloth terrycloth is a pain as it gets inside sewing machine and clogs them up

[@LeahMargaret]

The ones I used as napkin towels were made of flannel and they worked well. They just won’t have as much scrubbing ability as terry cloth.

[@Kgreenyah]

I think it’s awesome and I am about to do it in my home... thanks for this!!! Gonna make cloth napkins for the dining table as well...the cute ones so if folks come over they can use them...

[@gabyramos3090]

People tell me the same thing about cloth diapering 😅 like no it isn't that much to do laundry 😂 I want to start using no paper in the kitchen and got inspired to start 😊

[@claudiarauch2041]

I loved my babies in cloth and didn't seem like as much work as disposables

[@marywanamaker2700]

Can you tell us the type of fabrics you used to make them. I’m very interested in making them. Thank you.

[@LeahMargaret]

I made them with flannel as it’s what I had on hand.

[@pamelakitchens5549]

What is a wet bag and did u say u keep them in refrigerator

[@LeahMargaret]

It’s a waterproof bag with a zipper that I keep around the handle of the fridge. It’s an easy place to throw all the dirty towels.

[@maureenharrah931]

A REALLY good fabric to use for table napkins is Oseneberg. I get it at a quilt store. It is a loosely woven fabric, so wash it on hot before you cut....or, if you are like me, I serge 18 inch squares and then launder. I originally got it because it was inexpensive and my NOW 40+ year old daughter wanted to stencil table napkins when she was 10....they launder so well, we still use them, but a few places are wearing out. I just recently bought an entire bolt of it...I am making cloth table napkins and I plan to make small " paper towel" replacements with it. Try a yard or two and see how it goes. I will keep my napkins in a basket on the island and even with the two of us, I plan to make about 36. I did grow up literally washing aluminum foil at my grandma's....and it was cloth everything at her house. In the summers when we would be there, my mom would purposely buy paper napkins and plates to decrease work when all of the cousins would be together, but routinely, everything was cloth.

[@kamicrum4408]

Me too!

[@inmyopinion6836]

People tear you down , because , they think if you are right , then they are wrong . And as we all know , only YOU are wrong , and never US ! LOL Keep up your best thinking ! It is yours and from that stand point , WE are never wrong !

[@naomihukes8283]

Do you use family cloth, cloth nose wipes, clothe pads?

[@LeahMargaret]

I do use cloth nose wipes. We use microfleece scraps. They are very soft on sore noses.

[@jborrego2406]

First I thought yeah that’s gross cloth nose wipes but I’m cheap size of paper towels above my nose I went through wet I pulled it out and let it dry out and then reuse it so I guess cloth is probably less gross then that lol

[@kareemaafteraddiction8965]

I’m going to be trying out bamboo

[@allymonami]

I am so in love with all the pretty prints of flannel unpaper towels that are flooding the market now. However, I had already made 40 white terry cloth towels for my kitchen, more than 20 years ago. Today, they are stained and raggedy now. All the stains blended in to one big grey stain. Ha. But I keep washing and keep going and never buy paper towels/napkins/tissues. Rather, I saved the money I would have spent, in a high yield savings account. After 20 years, I bought a new car. Yeah, we didn’t buy any disposable items. None. But purposefully saved that money. I had a great job and I was very frugal. Now, after 20 years, my kitchen towels are now fewer than 40, but still usable. And I am quite pleased. I can afford to sew the pretty flannel ones now.

[@amberpinckert5426]

Is it just one layer of flannel? And you serged the edge?

[@LeahMargaret]

Yes, one layer of flannel with the edges serges to avoid fraying.

[@sophiestone9144]

if there was a really dirty one, would you rinse it first or just throw it all in the bag?

[@LeahMargaret]

Definitely wouldn’t hurt to rinse it first. Make sure no food is on it.

[@terrivh]

What's the best material to use

[@LeahMargaret]

I would recommend a material that washes well and easily and can be bleached.

[@heatherweber531]

Try making your papertowls using the towl fabric from joans. Also try using your sink sponge more for cleaning up spills , stoves,cupboards ect. I only use papertowls for cleaning up raw meat spills and the dishes involvedwith that part of the process (I don't have a dishwasher). Sink sponges are washable, making them reusable. Another idea is to have flowersack ( dish) towls for drying off dishes and save your pretty hand towl for drying hands or dry off areas. I'm in the process of making a set of my own. Thank you for the inspiration. Remember that fabric while breaking down in a landfill produces , I think it's, carbon dioxide. Anyway a bad chemical or the ozone. Not sure which is worse. The hundreds of thousands of trees cut down each day to make paper towls or the amount of fabric everything thrown out each day. >Sign

[@priceandpride]

dog puke and poop is for paper towels!

[@ashleyolannadesign]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@dkglaz3056]

I never bought anything except toilet paper. Who could afford klenx or paper towels we also always used hankies !! which we always had in our pockets,purses , suit jackets! yeah that little pieces of cloth you wash daily! I used cloth diapers and always had a bread bag for the soiled diapers of course after dumping in the toilet and rinsing!!! Rubber pa 2:41 nt of course! But no one talks about getting rid of disposable diapers!!! start with the big things!

[@AnitaUnicornCat]

what about cloth diapers for baby, u will save fortune

[@LeahMargaret]

I did cloth diapers! I have a bunch of cloth diapers videos too😊

[@AnitaUnicornCat]

@@LeahMargaret so happy to hear that

[@AndreaRuralMN]

The biggest thing that's held me back on using unpaper towels is my OCD about germs, raw meat, puke and poo, and where/how to hold soiled ones before washing. Oh yeah, thinking about the particles and germs left in the washer after they're done will be a hurdle too. BUT I bought some sheets at Goodwill and will be cutting (not sewing 🤞) some cloths and I bought an 18 pack thin 100% cotton washcloths at Walmart. I can do this!

[@reginaelliott8266]

I also have OCD but have always used cloth napkins. When it comes to picking up things like puke or poop, which is rare, I just get some toilet paper and put it straight down the toilet.

[@lilhappy5493]

She looks like jessie j 🤩🤩🤩

[@beckyjames4307]

Cut. Up old clothes for the nasty things and u can toss them out

[@CeceDeAnn]

Literally it’s a paper TOWEL just use a towel am I the only person driven insane by how hard people make being zero Waste lol. Being poor when I first moved out I really never even had paper towels it was a luxury I didn’t need. I can’t think of anything I’d use a paper towel for that I couldn’t use a towel for. Drying my hands, cleaning a mess... and a cloth napkin for your mouth is fine

[@kelleymcfadden9675]

I am not an environmentalist nor do I agree with their agenda, but I am all for being good stewards of the World God put us in. I mean how did they possibly get along in this world before paper products existed 🤣 Americans are very wasteful. Even other third world countries don't have the privilege of being as wasteful as we are. They use rags for everything. My mom used cloth diapers for my younger sister and as much as I hated the smell and cleaning them out, now that I am grown, I see the wisdom and the money that she saved by not buying disposable diapers.

[@AMomNow]

I feel like you're really overcomplicating it

[@LeahMargaret]

You’re probably right🤣

[@AMomNow]

@@LeahMargaret it's basically just rags. Just wash them in the wash like regular laundry and be casual about it. Keep them in a pile in the kitchen. Very simple ❤️

[@1988fordlouisville]

Maybe sew two thin ones together😊

[@LeahMargaret]

I actually prefer them thin for napkins. But I think it’s just preference.

[@1988fordlouisville]

Oh haha i thought you ment they were getting to thin to use. 😊 have a good day!