4 Best Reusable Paper Towels for Every Task Around the House

Want to cut down on paper towel use and embrace eco-friendly habits at home? Discover the staggering waste statistics and explore our four best reusable paper towels for every possible task you can think of around the house that will make cleaning easy and effective while minimizing waste.

Why Are Paper Towels Bad for the Environment?

Paper towels are single-use products with a significant environmental footprint. In the U.S. alone, over 3,000 tons of paper towels are discarded daily, adding up to about 254 million tons of waste globally each year. Producing one ton of paper towels requires 12 trees and 20,000 gallons of water, making them highly resource-intensive.

Once used, most paper towels end up in landfills, where they release methane as they decompose. Even compostable options often contain synthetic fibers that make composting more complicated.

Good news? I've researched and found 6 of the best reusable paper towels to make ditching single-use ones easy while keeping billions of pounds of paper out of landfills.

Can I Recycle Paper Towels?

Despite being made of paper, most paper towels are not recyclable. Once used, they become contaminated with food, grease, or cleaning products, making them unsuitable for recycling programs. Additionally, many paper towels are made from low-quality fibers that have already been recycled multiple times, meaning they can't be processed further. To reduce waste, it's best to replace disposable paper towels with one of our 6 best reusable paper towels. 

Composting paper towels is possible, but only if they are free from chemicals, cleaning products, or synthetic materials. Paper towels used to wipe up food spills, water, or other organic substances can be composted in a home composting system. However, many commercial paper towels contain synthetic fibers or are stitched with polyester thread, making composting more difficult.

Do Reusable Paper Towels Really Work? 

Yes! Reusable paper towels work surprisingly well, and in many cases, they’re even better than disposable ones. They’re super absorbent, durable, and can handle everything from spills to scrubbing. Plus, since they’re washable and reusable, they save money and reduce waste.

I recommend looking for reusable paper towels with a wide weave, as they absorb water instead of just pushing it around. Bar rags are a great option for this, and you can keep them in a small basket for easy access.

Before paper towels were invented in the early 1900s, people used rags or cloths to clean up messes and wipe their hands. But once paper towels hit the market, clever advertising convinced people that rags were unsanitary, leading to the widespread shift to disposables.

How to Switch to Reusable Paper Towels

There are several simple steps that you can take to create a more sustainable kitchen environment and eliminate paper towels altogether:

• First, you’ll have to stop purchasing paper towels.
• Next, you can utilize fabrics you already own.
• Or you can opt for one of the reusable paper towels we’ll share below.
• Set a washing routine. Keep reusable towels in a separate hamper (a bucket works too). Having more towels means fuller loads and fewer wash cycles.
• Buy or make natural cleaning sprays for a toxin-free clean.
  
• Organize your towels into categories like drying dishes, floor, countertop, dust, electronics and bathroom.
• Add a drying rack to your pantry or a wall hook to hang towels after use.
• Educate household members about the benefits and proper usage of reusable paper towels.

Are Reusable Paper Towels Expensive?

At first, switching to reusable paper towels might seem pricey, but considering the rising cost of disposables, they’re actually quite competitive with brands like Viva and Bounty. Plus, they pay for themselves over time, saving you money in the long run.

Let’s do the math: A 12-pack of paper towels costs around $24.99. Even if I stretch one pack per month, that’s still about $300 a year. Switching to reusable paper towels eliminates that expense—making them a smart investment!

Best Fabrics for Reusable Paper Towels

The best reusable paper towels are made from FSC certified, compostable, and highly absorbent materials. Look for:

• Organic Cotton – Soft, absorbent, and compostable.
• Hemp – Naturally antimicrobial and highly durable.
• Linen – Quick-drying and long-lasting.
• Cellulose Blends – Popular in Swedish dishcloths for high absorbency.
• Bamboo Fabric – Sustainable and durable.

Limit microfiber towels to cleaning electronics, as they shed microplastics into waterways during washing. If using microfiber, choose upcycled or second-hand options to minimize environmental impact.

The 6 Best Reusable Paper Towels For Any Purpose

Looking for the best reusable paper towels? Here are top-rated brands that offer sustainable solutions for every need.

1. Full Circle Renew Reusable Paper Towel

• Purpose: Cleaning Glass and Screens
• Features: These microfiber cloths are perfect for streak-free cleaning. They feature handy hanging loops and labels for each task: bath + tile (with scrubbing stripes!), dusting, glass, grease (for oven cleaning and stovetops), and stainless steel.
• Sustainability: Full Circle Renew Essential Cloth is known for its commitment to sustainability, using GRS Certified recycled plastic diverts (6 plastic bottles from a landfill).

2. SCANDI Swedish Dish Cloth Set

• Purpose: Cleaning All Surfaces - Countertops, Floor and Bathroom.
• Features: These dishcloths are made 100% compostable. They are highly absorbent and can be washed and reused many times.
• Sustainability: SCANDI Swedish Dish Cloth is crafted from FSC® certified cellulose and waste cotton, emphasizing their commitment to responsible material sourcing. All their products are plastic free, packaged in compostable, recycled paper.

3. Aunt Martha's Food Prep and Glass Towels

• Purpose: A smooth, lint-free cloth perfect for drying dishes, hands, and delicate produce. Also great for food prep tasks like straining stocks.
• Features: Only available in white (great for embroidery), highly absorbent, fast-drying, durable, and large. Includes a hanging tab for easy storage.
• Sustainability: Made from 100% cotton, Aunt Martha's Flour Sack Dish Towels can be washed and reused many times before being composted at the end of their life.

4. William Sonoma All-Purpose Towels

• Purpose: Highly absorbent, no-frills towels designed for everyday use.
• Features: Made from high-quality materials, these towels offer exceptional durability and absorbency. They add a touch of luxury to your home at a reasonable price. Plus, they feature a convenient loop for hanging and come in a variety of colors (visit their website or store for color options).
  
• Sustainability: William Sonoma's All Purpose Towels has a long history of craftsmanship, ensuring their products are made to last. Their all purpose towels are made from 100% cotton and can be compostable at the end of their life.