Are Reusable Paper Towels Really Worth Buying Or Just A Waste Of Money?

Traditional paper towels are considered household staples by many, with Americans leading the worldwide consumption of these disposable products. While arguably convenient and sanitary, paper towels also have their drawbacks, including rising costs. Even if you switch over to paper towel brands that give you the most bang for your buck though, it's hard denying the negative impacts on the environment. Not only does production create more greenhouse gases, but the Piedmont Environmental Alliance also estimates that 3,000 tons of these products are sent to landfills daily. With all of these concerns in mind, you may have considered the rising popularity of reusable versions. There are arguably many benefits of reusable paper towels, but it's important to consider some of the caveats before spending more money on completely making the switch over from disposable versions.

As their name suggests, reusable paper towels are items that you can use as normal, then wash and use again. Not only are reusable versions considered just as versatile as disposable paper towels, but their biggest draws are their decreased waste as well as long-term savings. As a bonus, you can also choose from a variety of colors and prints that can complement the design of your home spaces. This alone can make reusable paper towels more appealing than the boring roll currently sitting on your kitchen counter. You also don't have to look very hard for these items, as they are increasingly available online and in home kitchen stores. What's more, there's even a Costco find shoppers are grabbing to cut back on paper towel use.

Before taking the leap and buying reusable paper towels, know that they can cost more up front. You will also need a place to store dry towels and preferably a way to hang wet ones so they can dry. One major drawback for busy households is the need to wash reusable paper towels, as this takes a bit more time and effort compared with the disposal single-use ones. Options for cleaning them include washing them with household towels in a washing machine, handwashing them, or placing them on the top rack of your dishwasher. Reusable paper towels need to be cleaned every few days at minimum to get rid of germs, or after each use when cleaning up food-related spills and other messes. A final caveat is the material — for the best sustainability, choose versions with a cotton-bamboo blend.

If you're not ready to ditch disposable towels completely, consider trying a few reusable paper towels and gradually decrease the number of traditional towels you use. Alternatively, you may also look at ways you can reduce your overall consumption. One method is to try to use one paper towel instead of your usual two or more. For example, you can fold one paper towel several times to make it thicker to clean up messes, and you can shake your hands thoroughly before drying them off with a single towel instead of several of them. Yet another option is to make your own reusable paper towels to save money and to reduce consumption.