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06-09-2009, 08:02 AM
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I stopped using paper towels!
Hello,
I have posted about my struggles with meal planning and budgeting, but I should also celebrate the sucesses, right? I have been paper towel and napkin free for over two months. It wasn't that difficult. I bought terry cloths for the kitchen and a litghter version of terry to use as napkins. I drop them straight in the washer machine when they are dirty (but not too dirty, if that is the case, I rinse them before I drop them in the wacher) they get wached with the next load. No more money spent on that. I also replaced ziploc bags with ziploc containers for sandwiches and sliced fruit. What other consumables have you eliminated from the shopping list? 
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06-09-2009, 08:14 AM
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That's great!
I am not sure we have ever particularly bought napkins, paper towels, and plastic bags. We also stay away from disposable cleaning products (I have a pile of rags/ old wash cloths for cleaning). What we have been trying to do lately is buy more food in bulk (i.e. apple sauce and yogurt). If you think about it, not everything has to be bought in a serving-size portion. We use small, reusable plastic containers for lunches, etc. Knock on wood, but I don't think my kindergartener has lost one item either. I figured we may switch to zip lock for a while (thinking it may get expensive with lost containers), but he's done well.
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06-09-2009, 11:51 AM
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We don't buy popcicles anymore--bought a reusuable mold and use it with juice and canned fruit leftovers.
I never bought diapers--used cotton ones. We now use rechargeable batteries. I make our own laundry and dish soap (unless I can buy for free with coupons) and keep refilling the same old milk jugs with the soap.
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06-09-2009, 11:54 AM
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Can I have the laundry and dish soap recipe?
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06-09-2009, 11:56 AM
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The dishwasher one you may need to adjust if you have hard water or a water softner.
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06-09-2009, 01:12 PM
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I went to the thrift store and bought three large towels and cut them in different sizes. I hemmed them on a friend's sewing machine (too lazy to do it by hand. Hehe) and I use them in the kitchen as pot holders, dish rags, etc.
My brother hates cloth napkins so we use both cloth and paper napkins. When my boyfriend and I move into our place in July we will use all cloth napkins. We rarely use ziplock bags anymore, but I am looking for an alternative for that. I normally wrap sandwiches in aluminum foil and toss the rest of the food in my lunch bag. I don't use disposable pads or tampons- I use a Divacup and cloth pads instead. Cheaper than buying pads and tampons each month. A friend of mine says that instead of using fabric softener, you can put a tennis ball in the dryer with the clothes and it will soften the clothes just fine. I've never tried it. Several years ago we used rechargeable batteries- I should start using them again.
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06-09-2009, 02:50 PM
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Cassandra - why not just tupperware for sandwhiches? I have some "disposable" plastic containers. I don't know when, where or why I got them (wasn't for sandwhiches) but they are really perfect.
I like the "disposable" reusable plastic because I find it to be plenty sturdy, but cheap enough with the kids (who do lose things). My dh bought some of those "disposable" sippy cups that came with lids. We use those for all our snacks and yogurt/sauce as I mentioned. We just kind of repurposed those but I need to buy more!
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06-09-2009, 03:05 PM
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I do use paper towels but not real frequently. One reason to have them is for particularly nasty things like oil. This never works well with a cloth that you then have to wash. Guess you could do those by hand.
__________________
"Those who can't remember the past are condemmed to repeat it".- George Santayana.
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06-09-2009, 03:12 PM
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I'm with greenback, I do use paper towels, but only rarely. I normally use either a washcloth I keep in the kitchen, or the kitchen towels (which get significant use).
Also, I've never bought paper/plastic plates, cups, or silverware. My family would always keep a bunch of those on-hand for "quick use", but I've never seen the point. I have enough dishes/glasses/silverware to use them whenever needed, and I can just wash them afterward. Even for my lunches that I bring to work, I keep a couple sets of metal silverware in my lunchbox.
__________________
"Praestantia per minutus" ... "Acta non verba"
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06-09-2009, 03:24 PM
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I pick up most 'nasty stuff' with newspaper. I don't buy newspaper but the local newspaper keeps on delivering samples to see if I'll subscribe.
I do own plastic silverware as part of my hurricane preparedness (FL) , but I think they are from 4 years ago. My next step is to switch to cloth diapers, especially now with a second baby on his/her way... I use swiffers for dusting, I don't know how to break my addiction to them... Baby steps... 
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06-10-2009, 09:34 AM
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06-10-2009, 12:45 PM
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Swiffer 'Sweater'
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Swiffer cloths can be made from most any soft cloth!! Or knit one into a swiffer sweater! Great gift too, but I don't knit. Saw this idea from some etsy sellers. I am so dumb not to realize you don't have to keep buying those stupid throw away swiffer wipe things. Last edited by pretty cheap jewelry : 06-10-2009 at 12:46 PM. Reason: change material
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06-10-2009, 02:28 PM
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Cassandra, when I'm near a Whole Foods, I buy wax paper bags for sandwiches. One could also use wax paper with a small piece of tape, which is, of course, plastic! OP, great job on reducing your paper usage!!
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06-10-2009, 03:11 PM
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06-10-2009, 04:03 PM
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06-10-2009, 04:39 PM
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I'm speaking of cooking oil and the occasional spill on the stove or floor. I know newspaper works but isn't as absorbent as paper towels. I don't get to upset about using a few paper towels for this. I use paper towels conservatively and don't worry beyond that.
__________________
"Those who can't remember the past are condemmed to repeat it".- George Santayana.
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06-10-2009, 04:43 PM
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For oil on the floor, I'd use a paper towel, too. Newspaper takes too long to soak it up. You can't thoroughly wipe a spill with newspaper. On the floor you need to get it up quick before someone slips on it. So I'm with you on that.
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