Hello friends, I hope 2018 is off to a good start for you all!
I'm not a fan of new year's resolutions as I tend to break them almost as soon as I think them up :), but I did decide to focus more on producing less waste this year. My whole family is on board (which makes even small changes a lot more doable) and our first task is to work on reducing the amount of paper and plastic products we use in our kitchen.
To start things off, I decided to replace our paper towels with a bunch of fabric un-paper towels. I came across quite a few suggestions on how to make these - some were just plain fabric, others had little snaps or grommets attached. In the end I went with a simple combination of cotton fabric and terry cloth, not adding any hardware as I worried that it might scratch my dishes or counters.
I used some pretty fabric that's been sitting in my stash for far too long to make these. I even had some terry cloth on hand so the whole process was super quick and very, very satisfying.
We've been using these towels for about two weeks now and so far so good. I still keep a roll of paper towels in case we experience some super messy spills, but right now they are placed inside the cabinet instead of sitting on top as usual to help us remember to reach for fabric towels first.
We've been using these towels for about two weeks now and so far so good. I still keep a roll of paper towels in case we experience some super messy spills, but right now they are placed inside the cabinet instead of sitting on top as usual to help us remember to reach for fabric towels first.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
In case you'd like to make some un-paper towels of your own here's how I made mine:
In case you'd like to make some un-paper towels of your own here's how I made mine:
I used 1 - 10'' square of fabric and 1 - 10'' square of terry cloth for each towel, placed them right sides together and pinned around the perimeter. I then used 1/2'' seam allowance to stitch all the way around the edges leaving a 4'' opening in one side for turning. I pressed open the seam with an opening, and turned the towel right side out through the hole. I then pushed the corners out to make them nicely pointy and pinned the opening closed. I used 1/8'' seam allowance to stitch all the way around the edges of each un-paper towel stitching the opening in the side closed at the same time. I gave them all one last good press and that was it. Easy peasy.
I'm definitely planning on making a lot more of these un-paper towels in the next few days. And, I think I'll be using darker fabrics to help hide some stains this time :)
Thanks for reading friends. Svetlana
I'm definitely planning on making a lot more of these un-paper towels in the next few days. And, I think I'll be using darker fabrics to help hide some stains this time :)
Thanks for reading friends. Svetlana
These are a great idea and even a sweet way to recycle the good areas in stained dish towels or bath towels and use up fabric stash. Thanks! We all could stand will a little less waste :)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day!
Connie :)
P.S. I'm celebrating my 6th year of blogging with a Give-A-Way, come join the fun.
I love the idea of recycling old towels to make these. Great idea. I'll be making some right away!
DeleteI have plenty of older towels that I could get 2 or 3 10" squares out of!! And the hoarder's stash of cotton fabrics! Great idea!! Thank you!
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DeleteAwesome, Thanks, I've been seeing these on Pinterest and have wondered if I would like using them. {It bothers me to clean up food with cloth :)} I may have to give this a whirl.
ReplyDeleteSuper idea! My sister uses cloth towels only and had been doing so for years. I can’t imagine living without paper towels (or paper plates) just yet but maybe someday I’ll get there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder if while we eliminate one so-called problem (paper waste) we end up creating another one--laundry that uses more soap, water, and electricity.
ReplyDeleteI've been using cloth napkins for years, +40, and have heard this argument several times. The amount of soap, water, and electricity is negligible. I add the napkins to a wash load, never making a separate load for them. I am sure one could but I don't.
DeleteI wondered the same thing, but I then realized/learned it also takes water and electricity to make the paper towels, and like My Little Blue Dog below, I use one rag all day, not one for each spill. So I personally feel better using cloth, but since I was raised this way, cloth is normal for me, and therefore more comfortable.
DeleteYes, I also did some research on that and it seems anything you can keep reusing is usually better than disposable items. I just throw mine in with laundry that I would do anyway, so I don't feel like I'm using up a lot more resources to clean them.
DeleteI work with the Green Team when I can and I think this is a great idea! Less money spent, more recycling, and less trash ending up in the landfill 😊
DeleteI’ve been using cloth napkins for years. I choose to wash my kitchen towels and cloth napking and some smaller fabric rectangles I use in place of paper towels for most all uses separately. I find that the oils and ohter ingredienets in food often don’t leave the napkins/fabric completely. I have enough of them so I can just toss them in a bucket at the end of the day and run a load 1 or 2 times a week. I add vinegar to the wash water to help breakdown the oils/fats. I never wash them with my bath towels. And it doesn’t create extra washing, I run smaller loads and feel better about the cleanliness of the items in the end.
DeleteGood for you. It all starts small and then you can reduce waste. As for using more resources in laundering, mostly you can rinse them out and on waning day throw them in the wash they don't need to be machine washed each time they are used. You could always use a plastic tub in the sink for any washing of vegetables and things that need hand washing and then take the water and throw it on the garden. We do as we have lived on tank water for several decades... the upshot is tomato plants popping up in the garden in spring. Bonus.
ReplyDeletesuch great ideas, thanks for sharing.
DeleteVery cute, I hate all the money wasted on paper towels... will give this a try... thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeletegreat idea! I no longer buy plastic, but I would love to make some un-paper towels! We use cloth napkins too. I use only white towels that way if they get stained I can bleach them
ReplyDeleteyes, we use cloth napkins too. White does make sense for when bleaching is needed. Must remember that :)
DeleteGood point about the darker fabric! I have a big bath towel that needs to be retired because the edges are quite stringy. That would be a good tester for this un-paper towel. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeletelove the idea, I have a few towels like that too :)
DeleteI cut up worn out towels and use washcloths for spill mop ups. Your unpaper towels are cute and decorative....something always welcome in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWe keep all our old ratty dish towels for those big messes where you would love to use paper towels....they are stained and gross but no one sees them in the cabinet until the big mess happens!:) I can't remember the last time we bought paper towels or napkins.
ReplyDeleteMeant to also say those are adorable and would be a great gift!!
DeleteGreat idea to use some stash fabrics. I focused last year on cloth napkins and love using them for meals. Guests look a off put sometimes, but they get over it.
ReplyDeleteI know, it always surprises our guests but then they are impressed :)
DeleteThese are a great idea - and so cute too!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about making something like this for when I move to my new house! Thanks for sharing the process, hoping to reduce my paper towel use too! 😊
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea! They look great, too!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea, I also use fabric napkins which I make! Guests are always looking for my paper towels to wipe their hands, we us the dish towel hanging. With this idea I can put a stack on the counter, in a pretty fabric "box" which I will make to fit the "wipe". A great idea for a hostess gift also.
ReplyDeleteWe use fabric napkins too! Love them.
DeleteI love this idea! We moved our paper towels to the inside of the cabinet door under the sink. It's amazing how easy it was to stop reaching for them when they were out of sight. We've probably only used five rolls of paper towels in the last year. Reusable non paper towels are the best! If everyone does just a little bit, we can make a difference! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've discovered these are also helpful to wipe down the seal and doors of front loading washers! I also add a couple drops of lavender essential oil to one and throw it in the dryer to give the clothes a fresh scent. My family can't handle fabric softener and dryer sheets, strong perfumes make everyone break out.
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ReplyDeleteI thought this was a great idea. I made some up, but now the problem is they are so pretty I don't want to use them to wipe up spills! Its nice to have some new pretties for the kitchen - thanks for the tutorial!
Those are so pretty, Svetlana. In India we always use cloth napkin and kitchen towels and we still use handkerchiefs too. I live in small town and very recently, kitchen towels and tissue papers are available in supermarkets, but not in smaller shops.
ReplyDeleteWe went paper towel-less at least 6 or 7 yrs ago. Mine aren't pretty...I just bought a few packs of cheapo dish wash cloths from walmart for mess cleaning or wiping or dish wiping. Then I made a bunch of pretty tea towels with fun quilt cotton patterns on the front, and a plain white muslin on the back.
ReplyDeleteEvery am, I toss the day prior's tea towel (it hangs on the stove, for us to dry our hands), and the day prior's dish wash cloth. My kids and dh know the rules for both....if used to wipe up messy, then rinse and hang on the sink. If used on the floor, toss in the laundry and get a new one.
I have a roll of in case paper towels, cause I learned they are easier to use if a kid gets sick on the floor (ew!), Dog or chicken poop gets carried in on someone's shoes, or we need to wipe excess grease from the cast iron. Otherwise, in all these yrs, I've NOT MISSED paper towels at all, AND I save us $14-16 a month in not buying paper towels...which is $168-192 A YEAR we don't spend on things we toss in the trash!!
My original few packs of dish wash cloths cost me about $21, and lasted a good 4yrs! We still have a few left, which are used more for rags.
beautifull view
ReplyDeleteI was so inspired by your post on Pinterest about Unpaper towels that I found two old towels, some flannelette and started sewing! I made 12 for my kitchen and am totally wrapped in this idea! Now the rest of the family will be getting these for Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteNice, easy, perfect directions and pattern. Decades ago I quit using paper towels — don’t allow them into the house! One drawer holds dish towels & cloths for actually washing/drying dishes, & one has held “clean-up” older, stained/cleaned, ugly towels & rags.
ReplyDeleteSave The Trees was my reason — can’t stand knowing how many trees die so we can clean up 1/2 cup of spills & then throw them away. Now that we know how much trrees are crucial, huge captors of our carbon pollution (climate changes slower with more living, bigger trees), I’m even less able to use paper towels or napkins.
Your super-simple method here is going to change those mostly really ugly clean-up drawer contents into fun, show-off, can live on the counter (i.e. easier/faster to grab/use) and cute up the kitchen — Thank you so very much, BRAVA!
Btw, I’m now halway thru making an even 2 dozen of these as a gift for my niece’s fiance (and her), giving them to him on Fathers’ Day. He’s (rightfully) on kitchen duties 1/2 the time & even w/2 youngsters they’ve been agreeing with my rants (LOL) about wasting Trees. These will definitely help.
Thank you sooooo much for making cleanup so much prettier.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for this helpful tutorial. It was really so beautiful. Thanks
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This tutorial is very helpful about un paper towels. Keep it up
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Definitely going to make these. Last year at lent we gave up paper napkins and I made us each some embroidering initials on them, I made fabric rings to pop them in and we reuse them throughout the day, or maybe more than a day. We gave up cling film too, using glass jars and Tupperware I've had for 40 years! Love this ideal, I didn't want velcro,snaps or other extras. A basket on the worktop with these will be great. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that you will be able to help me out. I use fabric napkins all the time. It is the paper towels I have hoping to cut out. I am really struggling with it though! I use paper towels for one thing. GREASE! I use cast iron a lot. To season the pan, one has to rub oil onto the surface of it. I also use paper towels on a plate to catch grease from pan-frying bacon. If I were to use fabric for these purposes, the towel would get completely nasty. It then becomes harsh on the environment because I have to rinse out all the grease with a ton of soap and water. Do you have any suggestions on how to solve my Fabric Paper Towel problem?
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