It occurred to me recently, as I was cleaning up some mess I made, that I use too many paper towels. The NRDC estimates that if every household in the United States used one less roll of paper towels, we could save 544,000 trees.
But what’s the alternative? Well, first, there’s recycled. The NRDC has a fantastic buyer’s guide of brands to shop for, and some to avoid. Buying recycled is one easy step we can all take.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can replace paper towels altogether. I did some digging online, and found that people have done a variety things, including buying reusable versions like twist sponges or rags, or even making their own.
Have any ideas for how to use fewer paper towels? Let us know!
I try to use a dishtowel whenever I can. Even for household cleaning. The only time I use paper towels is when I need to clean or pick up something really nasty. {as I look at my dogs)
I rarely use paper towels myself. I’m a big fan of a cloth rag. I find they wipe up spills and messes much better. Keep a few around. Just rinse off the towel when you’re done, and throw it in with your laundry for a good, deep cleaning.
AllGreen, GreenHL, I definitely agree with you guys. One of the ideas was to have a bunch of shop towels that you could leave under the sink or something. I think I would be much more likely to use rags if I didn’t need to wash / rinse when I use it.
Speaking of paper waste, check out this great new site I found! They will tell phone book companies to opt you out of their phone book distribution list! I tried it and it works.
Sign up to help us at YellowPagesGoesGreen.org stop the unsolicited delivery of the Yellow and White Pages!
Consumers can now “opt out†of receiving telephone books at http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org. Our organization will contact the publishers and inform them to stop delivering the books to your doorstep.
This is a FREE service for consumers.
We work with state and local governments on ordinances concerning the delivery of unsolicited telephone books. http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org is not against the telephone books but the delivery of 5 pounds of paper to people’s doorsteps every other month!
We shouldn’t have to bear the cost of recycling something we didn’t ask for in the first place! If we want a phone book, we will ask for one!
I found your blog via Google while searching for car wash guide and your post regarding aper towel, kill a tree. at Things That Make You Go Green looks very interesting to me. I could not believe the amount of quality material on this site. The site is extremely eyecatching and pulls the reader straight it, the articles are great quality and are very professionally written. I have seen too many of these sites where it looks like they pay an 8 year old to do the writing – Not this one. Your site is easily the best that I have seen in a long while.
I just wanted to say thanks for the neat info on your website. I’ve designed a corn maze using the international recycling symbol, encased in a circle of maze. I promoting it as a MAZE WITH A MESSAGE. At the twelve information sites through out the maze I am addressing the topic of going green and stewardship of our Earth. I love the tidbit you had about “use a paper towel, kill a tree.” I too believe each of us can make a difference and we need to hold each other responsible. You can check out my maze at: http://www.fullcirclegallery.net. Thanks again, Brenda
I must say, that I can not agree with you in 100%, but it’s just my IMHO, which indeed could be wrong.
p.s. You have a very good template for your blog. Where did you find it?
I’ve wanted a bonsai tree for some time – now I have enough info to get started!
car jacks
Thanks for the feedback (and compliment on the template). I think the important message here is not to waste, which hopefully we can all agree with.
We’re using a WordPress blog, but one of the blog owners (Paul), custom designed and tuned the layout himself.