News

        We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. We may receive compensation if you click on a link we provide. To learn more.
        Incorporating reusable products into everyday life can reduce single-use waste and create a more sustainable lifestyle. For those who blow their weekly budget buying paper towels only to end up in the trash, purchasing reusable paper towels is one way to save thousands of trees and keep more money in your wallet. Not only are they as absorbent (or even better) than paper towels, but they can also be stored on a roll for months or even years, depending on use.
        “Environmental reasons aside, reusable paper towels are actually more effective and easier to use,” says sustainability expert and author of Just One Thing: 365 Ideas to Improve You, Your Life and Planet Said author Danny So. “There are also studies showing that paper towels can be very dirty and harbor bacteria, whereas reusable paper towels often have antibacterial and antibacterial properties.”
        To find the best reusable paper towels, we tested 20 options, evaluating their uses, materials, sizes, and care instructions. In addition to So, we also spoke with Robin Murphy, founder of residential cleaning service ChirpChirp.
        The plant-based, reusable Full Circle Tough Sheet is made from 100% bamboo fiber that absorbs seven times its weight and is stain resistant. These sheets come on a roll and have a beautiful gold pattern that will add style to your kitchen countertop. These sheets measure 10.63″ x 2.56″ so they are a little small, but each roll has 30 removable sheets so you won’t have to wash them too often.
        The sheets are thick, soft and feel like satin. In our testing, we found them to be highly absorbent and able to handle almost any mess we make, wiping up most spills in one motion. These reusable towels are virtually indistinguishable from Bounty paper towels.
        We remove stains with hand-washed towels, so you don’t have to worry about tough stains like chocolate syrup getting absorbed. These reusable towels are also very durable and don’t tear when we wring them out or rub them on the carpet. Please note that they will take about an hour to dry completely. Towels are available in white and patterned.
        For those who don’t need reusable cloth towels, we recommend paper towels like The Kitchen + Home Bamboo Towels. They look just like traditional paper towels, but are made from eco-friendly bamboo, making them a little thicker and more durable. They come in standard size rolls and can be mounted on any paper towel holder, so they can be easily integrated into your existing kitchen setup. Although there are only 20 sheets per roll, these bamboo towels are very valuable as each sheet can be used over 120 times.
        In testing, we found no difference between these towels and Bounty paper towels. The only exception was the chocolate syrup test: instead of absorbing the syrup, the towel stuck to the surface, making it difficult to clean. Although the towels had shrunk after washing, they were still soft and we noticed they were a bit fluffier.
        If you’re looking to switch from paper towels to reusable paper towels, Ecozoi reusable paper towels are a durable, long-lasting option. These sheets have a subtle pattern of gray leaves and are thicker and stiffer than regular paper towels. They are also sold in rolls, making them more like traditional paper towels.
        The sheets were durable, wet or dry, and didn’t fall apart when we rubbed them against the carpet. They can be reused up to 50 times and are machine washable safely. While you can throw these towels in the washing machine, they may wear out faster due to the material they are made from.
        Each sheet measures 11 x 11 inches, making it easy to handle most spills. The only problem we had was cleaning up the red wine, which was difficult to remove with towels. Although the initial price may seem high when you consider that they are reusable, with these towels you will have to wash them many times before throwing them away.
        The vibrant fruity design makes Papaya Reusable Paper Towel Packs a great addition to your kitchen. Although they don’t roll down, they have a corner hole and hooks so they can be easily attached to a wall or cabinet door. They dry quickly and contain less bacteria thanks to the cotton and cellulose blend. These towels are also 100% compostable, so you can toss them in your compost bin with your other table scraps.
        Whether the towel is wet or dry, it is amazingly absorbent. He cleaned up all spills including wine, coffee grounds and chocolate syrup. These reusable paper towels can be washed three ways: dishwasher (top rack only), machine wash, or hand wash. It’s best to air dry them to prevent wear and tear.
       While these reusable towels are quite expensive, the brand claims that one towel is equivalent to 17 rolls and will last nine months, so it’s probably worth every penny.
        Material: 70% cellulose, 30% cotton | Roll size: 4 sheets | Care: hand or machine wash or dishwasher; air drying.
        Made from wood pulp (cellulose) and cotton, this Swedish set of cloths is the answer to effective bathroom and kitchen cleaning. They are highly absorbent and can absorb up to 20 times their own weight in liquid.
        These rags feel like thin, stiff cardboard when dry, but become soft and spongy when wet. The material is scratch resistant and safe for use on marble, stainless steel and wood surfaces. We saw firsthand how absorbent it is: We put a rag in 8 ounces of water and it absorbed half a cup. Additionally, these reusable towels are superior to microfiber cloths in terms of durability. When we put them in the washing machine they were like new except for a little shrinkage. Plus all the stains are gone. We also like the value of these towels because they come in packs of 10, making them cheaper than Bounty’s bulk supplies.
        While we’ll continue to use paper towels for really big messes, we love how easy they are to clean. The only downside is that they don’t have holes or hangers to hang towels to dry. The napkins are available in eight colors.
        Essential’s Full Circle Recycled Microfiber Cloths can handle most cleaning tasks and come with cute labels so you know what each item is for. Dish cloths are sold in packs of five and can be used to clean bathrooms from dust, glass, ovens and stovetops, and stainless steel. We found these microfiber cloths to be very durable, similar to regular towels, making them more effective at wiping up stains. During testing, the rags picked up liquid and hot chocolate syrup in one wipe, unlike Bounty paper towels, leaving little of a mess behind.
        We easily removed stains from these towels and they stay in great condition between washes without fading. However, they lose some of their softness. If you need reusable microfiber cloths for wiping up spills and everyday cleaning, these are our top pick.
        If you want to reduce your daily waste and support a sustainable brand, Mioeco reusable wipes should be at the top of your list. These reusable towels are made in a carbon neutral factory and are made from 100% unbleached organic cotton.
        We find these reusable paper towels to be more absorbent than disposable ones, and we love their versatility for cleaning areas in the kitchen and bathroom. The towels are great at eliminating messes—in our tests, we cleaned up any spills with a little scrubbing and a little soap. The washer removed most of the stains, and we didn’t notice any lingering odor after they came out of the washer. The best part is that the more you wash the towels, the more absorbent they become, although they may shrink after each wash. We just wish the towels had loops to make them easier to dry.
        The Luckiss Bamboo Cleaning Cloth Set is an eco-friendly option with a large surface area that will help solve your clutter problems. According to the brand, they’re made from waffle-weave bamboo fabric that can absorb up to seven times its weight in moisture.
        During testing, rags and disposable paper towels required the same amount of effort to effectively clean stains. However, these rags couldn’t get the wine out of the carpet—ours took 30 wipes before it came clean. We also weren’t able to remove stains from the towels, so this choice might not look its best after months of heavy use.
        However, these towels are durable and won’t wear out or fall apart. The set comes in packs of 6 or 12 in six colors. Keep in mind that it is not sold in rolls, so if you want a paper towel replica, this may not be suitable.
        We recommend Full Circle Tough Sheet Plant-Based Reusable Towels because of their softness, smoothness, sleek design, and durable material that absorbs and cleanses away stains in our testing. If you need something similar to disposable paper towels, Kitchen + Home’s bamboo towels work just like Bounty’s paper towels, but you won’t have to throw them away after each use.
        To find the best reusable paper towels on the market, we lab tested 20 popular options. We started by measuring the dimensions of the reusable paper towel sheets, including length and width. Next, we tested the durability of dry, reusable paper towels by scrunching them up. We then filled the cup with water and dipped a reusable paper towel into the water to see how much water it absorbed while noting how much water was left in the cup.
        We also compared the performance of reusable paper towels to Bounty paper towels to see which cleaned better by recording the number of swipes needed to clear up a mess. We tested chocolate syrup, coffee grounds, blue liquid and red wine. We also rubbed the sheet against the carpet for 10 seconds to check if there was any damage or wear on the towel.
        After using the towels, we tested them to see how easily stains came off and how quickly they dried. After 30 minutes, we tested the towel with a hygrometer and wiped our hands with it to evaluate water absorption. Finally, we smelled the towels and noted if there were any odors as they dried.
        Reusable paper towels allow you to wipe up spills or wipe down surfaces such as countertops, stoves, or glass panels to keep them clean. The choice of reusable towels will depend on where and how you plan to use them. We recommend stocking up on a few items that are suitable for different spaces and spaces so that you don’t end up empty-handed when some items end up in the washing machine.
        For kitchen cleaning, choose roll towels or towels with hooks for easy access. If you need to wipe down a particularly dirty area, you can choose a Swedish washcloth, such as the Wholesale Swedish Washcloth Set. Testing has shown these towels to be durable, effective, and easy to clean, so you won’t have to deal with a dirty reusable towel. Microfiber towels are another versatile cleaning product that can be used in a pinch from dusting to drying and scrubbing.
        Reusable paper towels are made from durable materials such as bamboo, cotton, microfiber, and cellulose (a blend of cotton and wood pulp). However, some materials are better suited for specific cleaning jobs than others.
        Seo recommends using reusable cellulose paper towels because they are the most natural and environmentally friendly material. Although microfiber is a less environmentally friendly material because it is made from processed plastic fibers, it is a very durable option that can be used for a longer period of time.
        Reusable paper towels come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on your needs, you may want a more compact option or one that covers a larger surface area. Smaller reusable paper towels such as Swedish napkins measure about 8 x 9 inches, while microfiber cloths and some brands of bamboo reusable paper towels measure up to 12 x 12 inches.
        The benefit of reusable paper towels is that they can be cleaned and used over and over again. Care methods for different materials and types of reusable paper towels may vary, so we recommend that you carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions before washing.
        Cleaning reusable paper towels is as easy as rinsing them with soap and water in the sink. Some reusable paper towels are machine washable, ideal for cleaning deep stains and nasty messes, while other reusable paper towels can be thrown in the dishwasher.
       “Microfiber should be washed separately with detergent, not bleach or fabric softener,” says Murphy.
        Grove Co. Swedish Placemats: These Swedish Placemats are from Grove Co. cleans up dirt as well as any paper towel and has an adorable floral design. The rag becomes stiff when dry, but becomes more pliable when wet. Although they handle stains well and are easy to clean, sheets take a long time to dry.
        Reusable paper towels from the Zero Waste store. If you want to go paperless, consider Zero Waste reusable paper towels. When it came to absorbency, we had mixed results: While the towels were better at wiping up dirt, they didn’t absorb liquids as easily.
        If you want to minimize your daily disposable waste, reusable paper towels are a worthwhile investment. Although they cost more than disposable towels, you can use them multiple times and save money in the long run. Additionally, many options (mostly bamboo) come with rolls that can be placed in a paper towel holder to look like traditional towels.
        Based on our research and testing, we recommend reusable microfiber, cotton, and cellulose cloths due to their impressive absorbency. In our absorbency tests, a pouch of Swedish dishcloth, made from bulk cellulose and cotton, absorbed an impressive 4 ounces of water.
        The frequency of use and washing will affect the lifespan of reusable paper towels. Typically, you can reuse them 50 to 120 times or more.
        This article was written by Real Simple staff writer Noradila Hepburn. To compile this list, we lab tested 10 reusable paper towels to determine which ones worked best for shoppers. We also spoke with sustainability expert Danny So, author of Just One Thing: 365 Ideas to Improve You, Your Life, and the Planet, and Robin Murphy, founder of residential cleaning service ChirpChirp.
        Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed the Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product bearing this seal has been vetted by our team, tested and rated based on its performance to earn a spot on our list. While most of the products we test are purchased, we sometimes receive samples from companies if we are unable to purchase the product ourselves. All products purchased or shipped by the company undergo the same strict process.
        Did you like our recommendations? Check out other Real Simple Selects products, from humidifiers to cordless vacuum cleaners.