Paper or cloth?

[bellee]

Do you use paper towles, napkins and facial tissue? Or do you use cloth?

[bellee]

Oh yeah, and why?

[Mere]

I'm really trying to make the switch from paper to cloth. Napkins are pretty easy, but it seems like there are a *few* things where you just really need a paper towel. Greasing muffin tins was one thing that came to mind...

[sagewinna]

I use paper tissues and tp, but everything else is cloth.I use non-stick spray for muffins, so I haven't had to think of another way to grease muffin tins!Oh, and they why part:

It's cheaper and much easier on the earth.

[owensmom]

I use cloth napkins until they are crusty and we bought a huge pack of bar towels at costco and I use them for everything I would use a paper towel. I do use paper kleenex tissue though, I don't use them often unless I am sick, so I'd probably misplace a hanky!

Earth friendly, baby!

[doulamoon]

for greasing pans and muffin tins, I have saved butter/margarine wrappers in the freezer...

I use cut up flannel squares from shirts, pillowcases, etc., instead of paper towels, wipes, casual napkins, kleenex (I also have some real hankies). I guess this would work for muffin tins as well, now that I think about it! I use about 1/2 & 1/2 cloth and disposable feminine napkins. We also have some nice cloth napkins, which we wash when they are visibly dirty, or someone is sick. I use paper toilet tissue, although my dh would like to use cloth. I don't know if I'll ever be ready for washing them... and I can't let him near the laundry. It's just too expensive to replace the stuff he wrecks, and pretty much impossible anyway since it's all bought 2nd hand, KWIM?

Why? Because we have no choice if we want a habitable Earth for our descendants. And, perversely, because my family of origin is soooooo shocked by it! I know, sick, right?

[michelle1k]

Paper toilet tissue and facial tissues (we have major allergies - I'd *never* have enough hankies!).
Cloth: diapers and diaper wipes, nursing pads, menstrual pads, napkins (one set for the kitchen, one set for the dining room), kitchen-cloths that hang on the paper-towel rail, cleaning and dusting rags.

Why cloth: I choose organic cotton for our bodies and the environment and similarly, the ecological impact a non-sustainable choice would make.
I grease pizza trays, cookie sheets, muffin and bread pans using a pastry brush dipped in oil. This works absolutely *perfectly*!

Warmly,
Michelle in NY - mom to ds (5) and dd (10 months)

[Sativarain1]

ok I'll be honest here, ummmm only cloth diapers, cloth wipes and leaning towards the idea of cloth mama pads (but really haven't decided on that one yet.)

I know I'm wasting money on these napkins and papertowels but we don't use them that much and I do laundry at the laundry mat and don't really want the extra right now.

and will only use paper TP. they make recycled I think thats doing my part.

Valerie

[BowenTherapist]

cloth for just about everything, i have to confess i used my dd wipes for kleenex when i had a cold this past winter and they were *so soft* i will never use tp for my nose again!
i do have a roll of paper towels hanging around, but i have had the same roll since this past fall!

[EnviroBecca]

Cloth napkins and hankies, because they're earth-friendly and they work better! Cloth menstrual pads too.

We do use paper towels for yucky jobs and cleaning spills off the floor, cloth towels for everything else. We use about 3 rolls a year of paper towels.

For greasing pans, I just use my fingers and then wash them.

I'm not sure I could ever get into cloth wipes instead of toilet paper. Maybe just for urine.... We buy only recycled and unbleached TP.