I Tried Reusable Paper Towels That Are Better for the Environment—And My Budget

I’m always looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. But if there’s one thing I never thought I could eliminate from my kitchen, it’s paper towels. Unfortunately, they make up at least 50% of my weekly trash output, and they’re always the most expensive item on my grocery bill.

That’s why when I learned about reusable paper towels—also called paperless towels—I had to give them a try. To see if it’s possible to eliminate paper towels completely, I put away my trusted throwaway cloths and tried these reusable paper towels from Grove Co. for a week. Here’s my experience.

Reusable Paper Towels

These reusable paper towels are cute and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper towels.

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What are reusable paper towels?

Reusable paper towels are made from various materials, with cotton being the most common. The reusable paper towels I tried from Grove Co. are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton flannel, so they’re super soft and absorbent. They also use zero plastic packaging, making them an eco-friendly option through and through.

One thing I love about these unpaper towels is that they come on a thick, reusable “roll,” which is compatible with most paper towel holders. This feature is especially useful for folks who want to make the switch to paperless towels, but still crave that grab-and-go convenience. The best part is that they wash up easily with the rest of your laundry, making them ready for reuse in no time.

How We Tested Reusable Paper Towels

To test these earth-friendly cleaning cloths, I acquired two rolls of reusable paper towels in both the “Farmers Market” and “Wave” prints. My first thought upon seeing them was how much cuter they are than regular old white paper towels! The Wave print is a soothing blue and white print, while the Farmers Market print (my personal favorite) features fruits and veggies against a blue background. Both patterns disguise any lingering stains very well.

For this test, I decided to go all-in and put up my real paper towels for a full week. This gave me the most accurate picture of what switching over to reusable paper towels would look like.

Cleaning

Obviously, the most important paperless towel test is how well they hold up to spills, and these didn’t disappoint. They readily soak up spills, work well for drying hands and offer an easy, scratch-free way to wipe down my espresso machine. The soft cotton doesn’t feel too flimsy, either—it’s just the right thickness for most messes. You can also double them up for super soupy spills.

While these paperless towels tout their ability to fit onto any paper towel roll, they unfortunately didn’t fit on mine. I have a Simplehuman holder that doubles as a surface cleaning sprayer, and the roll was slightly too small for it. While that was slightly disappointing, it didn’t diminish my overall experience.

Despite the roll snafu, I’m still happy with the versatility of the paperless towels, especially in the kitchen. They work well as napkins and dishcloths, too! Plus, the patterns are a good distraction from any stains. That said, I rinse mine off in the sink before tossing them in the laundry to minimize stains.

Washing

The best thing about these reusable paper towels is—unsurprisingly—that they’re reusable. To wash them, simply toss them in with a load of laundry and wash as you would with any other kitchen towel. You can even pop them into the dryer for a tumble dry! As a bonus, they didn’t shrink at all after sending them through the wash. They did wrinkle a little, but they straightened out when I put them back on the roll.

When they’re clean and ready to sop up more spills, simply wrap them around the roll one at a time by lining up the end of each towel with the end of the last towel you wrapped. They stick to themselves, so they stay nice and tight until they’re ready to use.

I recommend getting a waterproof bag for your used towels and a sticky hook to hang the bag under the sink. This helps keep the dirty towels out of the laundry pile and out of sight. If you don’t want to splurge on something fancy, repurposing a simple plastic grocery bag also does the trick.

Waste Reduction

Unless you plan on washing them every four or so days, I highly recommend you grab a couple of rolls. Each comes with 12 towels, which might be enough for some families, but definitely not for mine. I used two and a half rolls during my week away from paper towels, which was super eye-opening. How many paper towels end up in my garbage every week?!

If it wasn’t enough for me to notice the difference, my husband even commented on how little trash we accumulated during the week. Upgrading to unpaper towels really does make a significant difference for us self-described paper towel addicts!

While I was impressed with how they performed in the kitchen, there are a few things I just can’t bring myself to use them on. Bathroom cleanup is one thing. Another is pet messes. Because of this, I can’t see myself totally eliminating paper towels from my house. However, having unpaper towels in my cleaning rotation does significantly cut down on my paper towel use, which was my main goal.

Pros

• Sustainable and eco-friendly
• Cute patterns
• Lint-free
• Double as dishcloths and napkins
• Machine washable
• Roll back up for reuse

Cons

• May not fit all paper towel rolls
• Not suitable for pet messes

Final Verdict

Using reusable paper towels in place of regular paper towels was less difficult than I thought. In fact, I actually ended up preferring them to real paper towels when it comes to kitchen and coffee bar cleanup. They’re equally as absorbent as a typical two-ply sheet of paper towel. Plus, the pretty patterns disguise any lingering stains that remain after washing. Being able to toss them in the wash with my towels is the cherry on top.

Where to Order

Reusable Paper Towels

Swap regular paper towels with these reusable paper towels to save money (and the planet).

Shop on Grove Co.

Those looking to cut down on their paper towel usage can snag a roll of 12 reusable paper towels on Grove Co.’s website. They cost around $30, which is about $2.50 per paperless towel. Considering I spend around $16 on a pack of paper towels every couple of weeks, that’s a total bargain.

FAQ

How to wash reusable paper towels?

Washing cotton reusable paper towels is as simple as tossing them in with your laundry. You can also tumble dry them before rolling them back up!

How to roll reusable paper towels?

While it may seem complicated, re-rolling reusable paper towels is easy. To begin, wrap one towel around the roll, overlapping the ends. Then, line up your next towel with the end of the rolled towel and roll it towards you until the second towel is wrapped around the first. Repeat for each towel.

What are reusable paper towels made of?

The materials each resusable paper towel brand uses differs, but Grove’s reusable paper towels are made from 100% organic cotton flannel.

Why You Should Trust Us

As an expert shopper, I spend a lot of my time testing new gadgets and trending kitchen products. However, my most beloved products are those that help me reduce waste in my home. Some of my favorite tests include silicone bowl lids and produce keepers. In addition, the shopping editors at Taste of Home have tested tons of other reusable organizing and kitchen cleaning products, including silicone bags, Swedish dish cloths and shopping bags.