How to Reduce Paper in the Kitchen

One of my most clicked-on posts and ideas is how I cut way back on paper towel usage in the kitchen. A few years ago I felt like I was going through a roll of paper towels every day and if you’ve ever bought paper towels you know that that can get a little bit pricey and wasteful. So I tried to figure out a way to get kick the habit. I rolled up bar mop cloths in a clear glass jar and put it where my paper towel holder used to be.

What’s so great about bar mop cloths?

Once I figured out how much I enjoyed using the bar mop cloths, I found them to clean better than paper towels – no streaking, no/less lint, I can clean all the counters with one cloth. And they just plain feel better – soft and luxurious.

Tips and tricks to reduce paper in the kitchen:

Stop buying paper towels and put away your paper towel holder.
Buy at least a dozen bar mop cloths, put the cloths in a container where your paper towels used to be.
Use one or two cloths every day to eliminate possible cross-contamination.
Have a plan for the dirty towels – We put ours on a hook under the sink and then in a basket when they’re dry.
Have kitchen towels that you love and keep them in a convenient place for hand drying (by the sink or dishwasher) – put out fresh ones nightly.
Use microfiber on appliances (microfiber will last through 300+ washings). I love my new Clean Mama Home microfiber cloths – the polishing cloth works amazingly well on stainless steel!
Add fabric napkins if you’re feeling ambitious – this is something that I tried but went back to paper when my youngest was a baby and haven’t gone back yet.