Replace paper towels and napkins with cloth.
One of the first things I did when deciding to live a greener home life was replace paper towels and napkins with cloth. The whole “living green” idea was a bit overwhelming to me at the time, but this was something I thought I could actually accomplish (remember, baby steps!).
Much to my surprise, this was an incredibly simple transition. My daughter and I came up with the challenge of using no more than one roll of paper towels for an entire month. We kept them in an out-of-reach spot under the sink instead of right on the counter, thus cutting down on the temptation. I bought some cheap and colorful cloth napkins and decorative washrags, and off we went. We were amazed that when the month was up, we still had most of the roll left. Now we are hooked on cloth. Not only does it clean better, but there’s no longer the worry of running out of a “necessity”. It’s also nice to feel like you’re treating yourself to a little something special at each meal. And of course, it saves a buck or two. We keep a roll around for “untouchables” (hey, we’ve got lots of toddlers running around…sometimes there are substances that just seem to require a disposable towel!) but we all reach for the cloth nearly every time.
If you haven’t made the transition yet, make it fun by purchasing decorative napkins with the help of your child, or just look around the house to see what you could use for rags instead of paper towels. Every little step we take in reducing our use of disposable household goods makes a difference.
