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Paper towels are the unsung hero of kitchen cleaning products. Whether it’s cleaning up spills, wiping down countertops, or picking up crumbs, they’re an easy solution to even the biggest cooking woes. However, using disposable wipes for every little job can become an expensive (and wasteful) habit. A cheaper and more eco-friendly option, reusable paper towels are a smart alternative to single-use paper rolls. We tested 20 reusable paper towels to see how they deal with sticky chocolate syrup, red wine on the carpet, and other stains. We love these products for their durability, versatility, and value.
Bamboo is an excellent sustainable resource because it is easy and quick to grow, replenishing itself in just a few months, compared to the years it takes to grow trees. Made from bamboo viscose, these reusable towels are thick and exceptionally durable: each can be used up to 50 times, the equivalent of 20 rolls of standard paper towels.
In our testing, we found that they absorbed liquids better than regular paper towels, wiping up spills with just one napkin. They are not very effective at picking up dry stains like coffee grounds, but they are very effective at wiping wine out of carpets, even if you scrub hard. We love that these towels can be washed by hand or machine with cold water. Hang them to dry before using them again. After several washes they will become softer and absorb moisture better.
They can only be cleaned by hand and may wear out faster than more expensive versions.
This affordable paper towel roll is great value for money: one sheet is equivalent to a standard roll of paper towels, and one roll can replace approximately 30 disposable paper towels. These 10.75″ x 11″ towels are perfect for catching spills, drying hands or dusty surfaces, and you can hand wash them for reuse.
At first glance, these towels are similar in thickness to disposable ones, but with a slightly smoother and shinier surface. They score very highly for quality and absorbency, absorbing a lot of moisture in one go. We noticed very light abrasion when we toweled the carpet to remove the wine, but it didn’t change its effectiveness. After hand washing, the used towels were clean, without stains or visible wear.
When cleaned by hand, they require a more aggressive wash and crumbs tend to get stuck in the waffle texture.
A more luxurious option, Mioceo reusable wipes are made from soft, unbleached 100% organic cotton. Each towel is said to replace up to 130 rolls of standard disposable paper towels, making the expense worth it. The waffle texture makes it super easy to clean stubborn or sticky stains, and you can throw it in the machine for easy cleaning.
We liked the quality of these towels: the durable fabric held up well in wet and dry weather tests. They clean up most wine spills in just one or two wipes and don’t cause wear and tear when wiping wine stains out of your carpet. Crumbs tend to get stuck in the fibers of the waffles, so hand washing requires more effort, but the washing machine can’t handle it.
These wipes are durable and easy to clean, highly absorbent and can solve a variety of cleaning tasks.
Swedish tea towels are available in 10 colors, adding practicality and pleasure to your daily cleaning routine. These 8″ x 7″ wipes are made from cellulose and cotton and are said to be equivalent to 15 rolls of disposable paper towels each. They are so durable that you can use them for almost any home cleaning task, and they can be used to clean glass, tile, wood, stainless steel, and marble without any problem.
This product does a good job of wiping up spills, absorbing approximately 90% of spills in one wipe. Although this towel claims to absorb 20 times its weight in moisture, we found that it only absorbed about half that amount—a little disappointing, but still pretty good for its size. It is very durable and can be easily thrown into the washing machine for cleaning. While this is one of the least fabric-like products we’ve tested, we still think it’s worth buying because it can handle everything.
Microfiber cloths are great tools for cleaning a variety of surfaces, and this set from Full Circle includes five cloths designed for specific uses. The difference is in the weave. One for bathrooms and tiles (complete with cleaning strips), one for dust removal, one for cleaning glass, one for greasy ovens and stovetops, and one for cleaning stainless steel. Made from recycled plastic, these durable fabrics can be machine washed and dried for reuse.
Because each towel has a specific purpose, their performance comparisons aren’t quite the same as the disposable wipes in our tests. That being said, we love how durable and absorbent these towels are, allowing you to wipe up wet spots and chocolate in one swipe. We also found the tub and tile cloth cleaning feature to be really cool and useful for getting rid of sticky residue on kitchen counters. They’re easy to machine wash, although we found the microfiber wasn’t as soft after washing. Just hang them out to dry.
Bamboo Placemats for Kitchen and Home ($10 at Amazon). These reusable paper towels are similar in design to disposable paper towels and perform almost the same as disposable paper towels. Very durable when wet, wipes spills from the carpet well. One roll is said to replace 60 disposable rolls, giving this option high marks.
Swedish Placemats Grove Co. ($10 at Grove) We love how absorbent these washcloths are, they soak up simple spills, and we appreciate their durability when wiping wine out of carpets. They are not as effective at removing thicker stains like chocolate sauce, but they are easy to clean by hand or in the washing machine.
Reusable Paper Towels from Zero Waste Store, Pack of 12 ($25 at ZeroWasteStore). The quality of these towels is excellent and washing them in the washing machine does not change that. We prefer them to pick up larger messes (like spilled syrup or leftover food) rather than absorbing liquids.
Luckiss bamboo dish mats, 12 pcs. ($15 on Amazon). These reusable towels are the thickness of a lightweight rag and function just like disposable paper towels, absorbing spills and wiping them up with just a few simple swipes. It’s durable enough to withstand some friction when wiping spills from your carpet, cleans up well after washing, and is good value for money.
While we liked that we could easily rinse the Aidea Cleansing Wipes ($7 at Amazon) for reuse, we also found them to be more fragile than other towels we tested—every towel was either torn by the end of the test or in there was a hole. . Lola Wowables Swedish Dish Cloths ($16 on Amazon) are also easy to clean, but they’re not as absorbent as they claim. They’re also less durable and less effective at absorbing spills and cleaning up debris than others we’ve tried. Finally, reusable Scotch-Brite wipes ($2 at Target) are great for scrubbing and cleaning, but they can’t compare to disposable wipes in terms of functionality. They don’t absorb or dry as well as the competition.
When choosing reusable paper towels, those made from natural materials such as bamboo fiber or cotton can feel and use most like disposable paper towels, but with the added benefit of durability when reused. Cellulose products (like Swedish dish towels) are not like paper towels, but they should be more durable and work like a kitchen sponge when wiping down surfaces. Microfiber is another great option for cleaning a variety of surfaces such as glass, tile, or wood, including removing dust.
Caring for a reusable napkin depends on its material and manufacturing process. Very thin sheets can usually only be hand washed as they are not strong enough to withstand the rigors of machine washing. As always, check the manufacturer’s instructions for properly caring for reusable paper towels to find out if they can be disinfected with bleach and when to throw them away.
Fresh disposable paper towels are almost always more hygienic than reusable paper towels because they have no chance of getting dirty. But if you clean and dry them properly, reusable paper towels are a great option for wiping up spills and other small messes. For heavy-duty jobs, choose a towel that is machine washable, use it once, then wash it again before using it for other tasks.
Some types of reusable paper towels are machine washable, but not all. You’ll need to check the manufacturer’s instructions, but in most cases you can hand wash them with liquid dish soap, rinse with warm water and hang to dry.
Again, this depends on the manufacturer’s instructions. Most reusable paper towels are hang dried; Tumble drying can damage the fibers, causing them to break down prematurely.
Bernadette Machar de Gramont is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen products. After two years at Williams-Sonoma’s San Francisco headquarters, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware and brewing tools, and interviews experts on the ground to get their opinions.
Post time: May-30-2024