I thought I would be freaking out. I actually didn’t even finish the roll. But let me back up and tell this story right. Let’s rewind to over one year ago. We had just bought a very large pack of paper towel rolls from Costco and I was not pleased to discover that each was individually wrapped in plastic. We didn’t even use paper towels very much anymore. I long ago switched to microfiber cloths for cleaning and use washcloths to clean my kids faces after they somehow smear every bit of their dinner on it. The cloths did a much better job, didn’t fall apart, and were easily washable. To make the transition, I started slowly by first collecting old wash clothes and rags so they were ready to go when a mess arrived. Little by little the more I reached for them the easier it became to remember they were there until one day I forgot about the paper towels altogether. Honestly, at that point in time when we made the Costco purchase, I was buying the paper version more for our extended family and other friends that visited rather than for our own use. But yet, we couldn’t resist buying more when we ran out. After examining my feelings on the subject I came to the conclusion that I was afraid of what might happen if we didn’t have paper towels around. Really the only time I use paper towels is when my dog vomits. Also, since that large purchase we started potty training my third child (and still are) and the paper towels were a crutch for the grossest of the gross messes. It’s just so easy to throw it all out! The other reason, which required a lot of digging to discover, was a fear of judgement. Everyone would think I’m weird that I couldn’t even offer them a paper towel for a napkin. I would somehow be characterized as that weird cloth lady or the strange one of the family ( I probably am anyways!)
I searched around and could not find any brand of paper towels from any nearby store that were not individually wrapped in plastic. Even the Green Forest 100% recycled paper towels at my local health food store are wrapped in plastic. And I didn’t think it was worth buying a pack from Amazon that is still overall wrapped in plastic and then shipped using additional resources. So, I have decided to take the plunge and vowed not to buy paper towels again. When one of my children inevitably spills something at a meal, I reach for a dry hand towel or washcloth to wipe up. And those really yucky messes? Well I started using old bathroom towels to sop up what I can, then water and another cloth to clean it, and then Bac-Out enzyme cleaner to help break it down. After that I use another old towel to absorb up the remainder, sprinkle with baking powder if it needs deodorizing, and then when dry, I vacuum it up. So far it has worked well, there has only been one very yucky, brown, dog mess that required a professional carpet clean. Admittedly, I did try paper towels on that mess, but they didn’t help the situation.
So, just the other day I noticed that the paper towel dispenser was running low. I checked the overstock supply in our coat closet and there were no more. I actually smiled. Even though I titled this post “my last paper towel”, I couldn’t even remember when I last used one. I was getting sick of the dispenser taking up room on my counter so I took the remaining paper towels and stashed them up in a cupboard (just in case a really super duper messy mess occurs) and put the dispenser in our donation pile. And the storage in our tiny coat closet just got a lot bigger!
How about you? Do you think you can live without paper towels? I guarantee it is much easier than you think. The environmental reasons are clear. Lots of single use plastic that is not able to be recycled. Most are made from new sources of paper (a.k.a. cutting down trees) and the recycled varieties still take a lot of energy and water to produce and ship. Not to mention the time and money you spend shopping. So, I give you the first Green Life Philosophy challenge. Read below and give it a try.
GLP challenge: Stash your paper towels out of reach for a week. Really hide them so no one in the family can find them. Whenever you go to reach for one, think about why it is needed and what you could use instead. I guarantee you will realize you already have something reusable on hand that will take care of your needs in a much more environmentally friendly way. Or maybe a small purchase of some cleaning cloths or cloth napkins would better satisfy your needs. Take a few minutes to move supplies to your kitchen or other area so that you are ready for the next opportunity. Having a system in place is key. I also have a bucket in my laundry room for used towels so I can wash them once a week, or right away if it is a smelly mess. If by the end of the week you are suffering, then by all means pull out the paper again. Otherwise see if you can continue a little bit longer. And you will certainly get no judgement from me if you get caught in a really yucky situation and need to go diving to the back of your cupboard for the paper!
My own next challenge that I’m working on is to tackle other paper products. I’m working on facial tissues now and will share my experiences soon. One on my “no compromise” list, though, is toilet paper. I will not be trialing reusable toilet paper anytime in the near future, but if anyone out there has, let me know. I would be very interested to hear about it!
