reusable napkins?

[maestramommy]

Well I promised myself once I was done with diaper laundry, I'd take the plunge for reusable napkins, and maybe paper towels. We go through napkins like there's no tomorrow, and it's making me cringe.

Where can I buy napkins in bulk that look decent but hold up well in the wash? No IKEA around here. What about "paper towels?" What is a good sub for that? I have a tone of prefolds but they are really too big/thick for that purpose.

[azazela]

We've been using cloth washcloths for this purpose for almost two years now and I really like it. I mostly use Quilter's Nappies (http://hyenacart.com/stores/QuiltersNappies/index.php?c=43) from Hyena Cart and love her stuff! She stocks pretty regularly and has an FB page as well. I prefer sherpa backed ones for cleaning the baby but the velour backed ones work just fine for the rest of us. I got a cool horizontal napkin holder from IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80045448/) and they stay in a stack on the kitchen table until I do laundry. I have a wetbag hanging on my stove for the dirties. I have wetbags from this Sweet Slings (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSlings?section_id=7463762)on Etsy that I bought as a part of a coop, but if I did it all over again, I'd get Monkey Foot Designs ones. I don't think she lists them but she definitely does the kitchen ones as customs. Her Etsy shop is on vacation now, but you can look on here regular site here (http://www.monkeyfootdesigns.com/catalog.php). I have a few of her wetbags for other purposes and they are awesome.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0d909b3127ccefaec195edf3500000040O02AbuWrhu4ZsQ e3nwM/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0d609b3127ccefaac0b9e198a00000040O02AbuWrhu4ZsQ e3nwM/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[trales]

I have a bunch from Homegoods and Crate and Barrel, they seem to last forever.

[Liziz]

I just buy the very cheap multi-pack washcloths from Target or Walmart (like these: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-18pk-Washcloth-Bundle-White/16610932. It's cheap and it works great -- they hold so much more than paper! They definitely don't stay looking very nice, but I just bleach them and don't worry about it too much -- when we have company over I usually pull out the paper for them.

[hillview]

We got 48 un paper towels from this etsy vendor
http://www.etsy.com/shop/madeintheredbarn?ref=seller_info

We've had them for 4 months and they are GREAT. We have cut WAY down on papertowels, a roll every 2-3 days to <a roll a week. we use them for napkins and for clean up. They wash up very very well. I got one of their little houses and put it in front of the actual paper towels. HIGHLY recommend.

[traciann]

I tried using the washclothes from Target but they didn't work out. I bought these from etsy and have been SUPER happy with them. Athena Creates on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92592824/organic-bird-e-towels-with-bright

I bought a set in January and have been using them for everything since then. Cleaning counters, bathrooms, windows, mirrors, napkins...I fold them and have them on the counter in a dish where my paper napkins used to be and its been working out great! I am always doing laundry so I just throw the wet or dirty ones in the washer. They are thin and dry quickly. I haven't bought paper towels at all since I purchased them.

[Aishe]

For paper towels we use microfiber towels from Costco. They sell a 36 pack and they're super cheap IIRC. They work great! I don't know how we ever lived without them. We've had our napkins forever, but I think most of them probably came from Cost Plus.

[crl]

I have been using cloth napkins for years now. We got ours at World Market on sale for cheap. I highly recommend red as the worst food stains are red and so they don't show on my red napkins.

I still use paper towels for somethings, , but I try to use rags more. I have cut up old undershirts of Dh's for the grosser tasks and old cloth baby wipes for wiping down faces and hands and the table and such.


Catherine

[DebbieJ]

For paper towels we use microfiber towels from Costco. They sell a 36 pack and they're super cheap IIRC. They work great!

:yeahthat: I recall them being with the automotive stuff.

[Kindra178]

I got DII sets from Amazon when I made the switch. They aren't selling the same package I bought but these are similar:

http://www.amazon.com/DII-Everyday-Basic-Napkin-Daffodil/dp/B0026IBEDG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330912530&sr=8-2

Yes, they are wrinkled, but have held up so well. So soft. I literally hate using paper napkins anymore. IF you don't wrinkles, then you have to buy polyester ones. They are awful napkins. Rough, don't work as well, etc.

Etsy has some great options. I got some flannel lunch size to pack in DS' and my lunch.

I posted awhile back about my paper towel addiction and got some great ideas. I went to WS and purchased new towels. Although I am better, I can't really break my paper towel addiction. Here is my old post with some great ideas:

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=395968&highlight=cloth+napkins

[AnnieW625]

Cloth napkin wise ours are from Bed Bath and Beyond, we got them for our wedding 9 yrs. ago and they have held up well, but I need to get some more. I think they were the house brand. I would love to upgrade to the Williams Sonoma ones because I love their textiles, expensive, but soo worth the price.

Our kitchen towels are a mix of a bunch of different brands, Target, Williams Sonoma, BB&B, and Crate and Barrel.

For paper towels, which we use about a roll every week and a half, (if that) and we use the select a size paper towels, which if need be also double as occasional paper napkins for use in the house, and daily for DD1's school lunch.

[Kindra178]

We've been using cloth washcloths for this purpose for almost two years now and I really like it. I mostly use Quilter's Nappies (http://hyenacart.com/stores/QuiltersNappies/index.php?c=43) from Hyena Cart and love her stuff! She stocks pretty regularly and has an FB page as well. I prefer sherpa backed ones for cleaning the baby but the velour backed ones work just fine for the rest of us. I got a cool horizontal napkin holder from IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80045448/) and they stay in a stack on the kitchen table until I do laundry. I have a wetbag hanging on my stove for the dirties. I have wetbags from this Sweet Slings (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSlings?section_id=7463762)on Etsy that I bought as a part of a coop, but if I did it all over again, I'd get Monkey Foot Designs ones. I don't think she lists them but she definitely does the kitchen ones as customs. Her Etsy shop is on vacation now, but you can look on here regular site here (http://www.monkeyfootdesigns.com/catalog.php). I have a few of her wetbags for other purposes and they are awesome.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0d909b3127ccefaec195edf3500000040O02AbuWrhu4ZsQ e3nwM/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0d609b3127ccefaac0b9e198a00000040O02AbuWrhu4ZsQ e3nwM/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I just ordered Sweetslings wetbag. Thank you.



We got 48 un paper towels from this etsy vendor
http://www.etsy.com/shop/madeintheredbarn?ref=seller_info

We've had them for 4 months and they are GREAT. We have cut WAY down on papertowels, a roll every 2-3 days to <a roll a week. we use them for napkins and for clean up. They wash up very very well. I got one of their little houses and put it in front of the actual paper towels. HIGHLY recommend.

Great idea. Love the houses idea.

[Globetrotter]

I bought a bunch at deep discount at BB&B (using extra 20% coupons). I see them on clearance all the time!

Used ones (and used kitchen towels) go under the sink in a very inexpensive plastic tub I got from Ikea. I don't know if it's this one, but it looks like this (except it's red):
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60206319/

[Uno-Mom]

We've mostly dropped paper towels. Our goal was to save cash, not the planet :) so we did the cheapest replacement: cut up old bath towels and a flannel sheet. The terry rags work best. We keep them handy in the kitchen, in one of those plastic IKEA thingies meant for storing plastic bags.

Our rags are much too ugly and ragged to be used for table napkins, though.

[citymama]

Crate and Barrel
Pier 1
William Sonoma
Bed Bath and Beyond?
Target? I'm not sure of these last two, just guessing
(IKEA ones we had were like sack cloth - avoid!)

We only use reusable table napkins here, except for birthday parties and the like. Ours were gifts that my MIL got in France and they have been amazing - held up for 10 years of *daily* use and still look great! We have about 24 in constant rotation.

[maestramommy]

For paper towels we use microfiber towels from Costco. They sell a 36 pack and they're super cheap IIRC. They work great! I don't know how we ever lived without them. We've had our napkins forever, but I think most of them probably came from Cost Plus.

Doh! Why didn't I think of that?? We bought a pack for CDing, and only used half the pack! Thanks!

That house towel dispenser looks very cool. I wonder if the microfiber towels would fit in there. All these options!

[bandgsmama]

for the gifting grace fans, these are available http://www.giftinggrace.com/ultimate-tear-off-cotton-napkins $6

[m448]

We also use the microfiber cloths from the BJs auto section. I love how scrubby they are when wet and we take much longer to go through a roll of paper towels now. For napkins I made some double layered flannel/quilter's cotton napkins several years ago. I think i made around 40 and recently i bought some larger single layer cotton napkins on eBay from a wholesaler that are so large I'll going to cut them into 4 and do a rolled hem around the edge.

To store the microfiber cloths I bought this plastic bag dispenser from bb&b several years ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/marielle448/IMAG2684.jpg


The dirty cloths go in this bin which is just a 9ish gallon open trash bin right next to our trash can. Wet cloths get hung on the side and knocked into the bin when dry. Cloth napkins go in here too. I wash these about twice a week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/marielle448/IMAG2687.jpg


I have too many microfiber cloths to fit all in the bag dispenser so the extra clean ones are in this mesh bag in our laundry room

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/marielle448/IMAG2689.jpg

[calv]

I just buy the very cheap multi-pack washcloths from Target or Walmart (like these: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-18pk-Washcloth-Bundle-White/16610932. It's cheap and it works great -- they hold so much more than paper! They definitely don't stay looking very nice, but I just bleach them and don't worry about it too much -- when we have company over I usually pull out the paper for them.

I too purchased about 18 washcloths and they're great. DH doesn't use them but the kids & I do. it's easy and great way to save. I won't give up on my select-a size paper towels but also do love the napkins. easy to wash/reuse :)

[Melaine]

We have a combo of thrifted, clearanced and made by me napkins. Just don't get the kind that are kind of slick, they are useless. 100% cotton is best. They are really easy to make, I like them more like luncheon size I guess. My Target also had some really nice patterned napkins on clearance last week.

[sntm]

I got napkins from http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveForEarth along with some reusable sandwich bags and have been satisfied. The UnPaperTowel company at etsy is local to me, though, so I may consider them for the future!

[Globetrotter]

I also got some gorgeous napkins on sale at PB but ended up returning them because we use the plain ones on a daily basis and I thought these wouldn't get much use.

WS had them on sale after Christmas but they were still expensive. World market often has them on sale, and you can join their rewards program and get coupons from time to time.

[daisymommy]

Cloth napkins: BB&B brand natural color cloth napkins. I think they come 4 to a pack.

Paper Towels: Un-paper towels from Etsy, microfiber cloths for sopping up spilled drinks and for household cleaning chores.

Cloth wipes in a basket for wiping children's hands and faces.

William's Sonoma striped kitchen dish towels and the smaller size hand towels for wiping off counter tops, kitchen table.

We only go through 1 roll of paper towels each month.

[maestramommy]

Just curious, for those of you who've been doing this a while, you mentioned that you still use paper towels. What do you use them for?

[hillview]

Just curious, for those of you who've been doing this a while, you mentioned that you still use paper towels. What do you use them for?
my mom uses them often she cannot get used to the cloth. I really only use paper when I am out of the cloth or forget and grab paper. Oh and I use paper for say patting down raw chicken or cleaning poop/puke up etc.
/hillary

[m448]

Well my husband goes along with any newfangled thing I have up my sleeve but toilet paper and paper towels are sacred to him. We use cloth diapers, cloth wipes, cloths for the bathroom cleanup, kitchen cloths, cloth napkins and even cloth pads for me. However for seasoning a cast iron pan, cleaning up some heavy duty grease or an awful dog mess ffrom either end ;), we use paper towel. That and sometimes the cloths are in the wash and we used every one (despite owning about 3 packages of cloths from BJs LOL) so it's good to have the backup.

Believe it or not once I showed him that microfiber works best wet and wrung out he now prefers the cloths in the kitchen over the paper towels.

[maestramommy]

Oooh, thanks for reminding me about the grease! We make bacon once a week and I usually wipe out the dutch oven with a paper towel. We try to keep as much grease out of the drain as possible on account of the septic tank. And I guess there are a couple of other messes that were better disposed of in the trash than in the sink:tongue5:

[Melaine]

I also still use paper towels sometimes: dog messes of any kind, blotting grease (like bacon), and bugs (we're in the south, so not that rare). DH uses them slightly more often than I do, but we still use way more cloth than paper by far.

[Uno-Mom]

Just curious, for those of you who've been doing this a while, you mentioned that you still use paper towels. What do you use them for?
Our dirty cloths go in an open laundry basket. Sometimes Sprog decides to "help" with laundry and rummages in there. So, we use paper towels for truly nasty stuff like blotting meat or the rare times we use a toxic cleaner.

[AnnieW625]

Kind of a hijack, but do they make the un paper towels or cloth napkins in a traditional paper napkin size? The size of a traditional paper napkin vs. our cloth dinner napkins is a much better size for a smaller child and or toddler.

[tarahsolazy]

I use my old Birdseye flat dipes for paper towel replacement. I used them to stuff pocket dipes and for burp cloths and they are perfect. Soft, absorbent, don't attract lint like microfiber. I do dust with microfiber, though. Our napkins are made by my sister from 100% cotton.

[trales]

Paper towels are still necessary in my mind for body fluids and meats/ fish.

I keep my napkins in a basket near the table and when the meal is over I put them in the washing machine or laundry basket, same with soiled kitchen towels, washcloths for dishes and placements. I usually do laundry every other day they hang out in the bathroom on top of the washer.

[Kindra178]

Kind of a hijack, but do they make the un paper towels or cloth napkins in a traditional paper napkin size? The size of a traditional paper napkin vs. our cloth dinner napkins is a much better size for a smaller child and or toddler.

Look for lunch size cloth napkins to get a more child friendly size. There a ton of Etsy or Reuseit.com. We used an Etsy seller called FactoryFree. The seller was awesome to work with.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FactoryFree?section_id=6561265

[nfowife]

saw these wetbags on babysteals and they look like they might be useful- keep unused napkins/paper towels in the clear outer pouch and dirty ones go in the wetbag center portion. Has a clip to hang on the stove handle or a kitchen cabinet.
http://babysteals.stealnetwork.com/

[AshleyAnn]

I quit papertowels years ago. I just use cheapo washclothes from walmart. They are bleach spotted and stained but they do the job.