We have had a few spring like days here in Nebraska. I love it! It is making me think about spring cleaning! I will be having radiation the next 6 weeks, so I will have to do mine in baby steps. I am planning on working in a different "zone" of my home each week, 15 minutes a day. Hopefully by the time I'm done with radiation my house will be de-cluttered and sparkling clean!!
I was inspired by this post at Clean Momma. She is someone who knows sparkly clean! I loved the idea of getting rid of paper products. It kills me to spend money on paper towels, and we were going through them like crazy! I do still keep one roll around for those nasty type spills, you know, like when you accidentally drop an egg? Or when the raw chicken leaks onto the counter? Yuck!
Both the jar and the cloths are from Target. If I did it over again, I would get a more quality cloth, like these
. If you are an Amazon shopper, and want to buy the jar, here is a link.
. If you are an Amazon shopper, and want to buy the jar, here is a link.
Clean Momma also got rid of paper napkins and cloths to wash her children's faces. She said she is saving at least $20.00 a month by not having to buy paper products!
Even though I am not a fan of bleach, I do occasionally bleach these white cloths. I also started keeping the jar under my sink, as I wanted a bit more counter space. If I had more room, I would for sure keep it on the counter, it is handy and I think the jar actually looks pretty!
Are you getting the itch to spring clean?
De-clutter?
**I'm happy to be linking to these parties.
I stopped using paper towels, too...
ReplyDeleteBut this idea you have here it's really awesome! Thanks for sharing. I'm stealing it from you :-)
I switched to UNpaper towels (not my word; learned on the internet) last year--Like you I still have the paper for really bad messes and for when we have company-- I've used cloth napkins for years-- and don't mind washing, not really extra, just toss them in with the towels.
ReplyDeleteI've written about personal cloths and since retiring we use these too, in the bathroom.
Gross by some peoples standards-- but like I say, GROSS IS RELATIVE!
Thanks for sharing--
Don't work to hard when your doing your 6 weeks-- take time for yourself, the hubby, and the kiddos. Housework can wait.
Luv ya!
in Christ~
Pat
Just ordered the Amazon ones. Thank you for this idea. The jar makes is so, so cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out! Check out the new paper towel alternative I talked about on my post today:
ReplyDeletehttp://cleanmama.blogspot.com/2011/02/cleaning-find.html
Great idea! I love them in the jar on the counter, our counters are small but I might have to try it anyway! I think I would still go with the Target ones, I think they are 100% cotton and not polyester which I would prefer not to buy. Take care and I understand the spring cleaning thing, but like Pat said, housework can wait. Theresa xoxo
ReplyDeleteI admit I use paper a ton more than the average person. I know because when I am at my friends' homes, I never see paper towels. Still, white, cloth towels are so nice. The jar is a great idea. I just keep a huge bundle in a drawer.
ReplyDeleteI have slowly started my family on a path of using cloth for napkins and to clean up spills - I know i am buying less paper towels and paper products which makes my wallet smile!! I also made small flannel cloths for my daughter's lunchbox (and mine when I work) and they are so nice and soft to use...I would never go back to a paper napkin!!
ReplyDeleteI have tried this too. Not a huge success with the hubby, but since I am the one home most of the time it has really cut down. I LOVE the jar...now on the hunt for one too!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your radiation treatments, I continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers!
Love all the comments!
ReplyDeleteI will try not to overdue with the spring cleaning--today was my first treatment and I have to say, I feel pretty tired tonight!!
Erin, my hubs didn't like it either. He still uses paper towels but not a big deal since I do most of the cleaning!:)
Very cool look with the clever jar! We use so many paper towels. I have been wanting to try to buy less consumable things like that. We have switched to cloth napkins. I am going to give the cool jar and reusable towel thing a try. (I don't think the hubby will be thrilled....he does love the paper towels....and he cleans up after every dinner.....I guess we can keep a roll around just for him.....wouldn't want him to stop his after dinner routine for the sake of being green!) :) I can not wait to Spring clean either. I look around my house and we have accumulated SOOO much this winter. Out it goes! I want to be a minimalist. AHHH. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks Amy!
Love the jar idea. Very practical, cute, and green -- love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your idea on this, I am writing a post right now on how your inspired me to get these dish towels!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! One other that might come in handy - especially for those households with more than one person in the house: Use color-coded napkins/hankies/towels. Have the napkins all be of a different design/color, so that each person is "assigned" one for the week. That way less get used and washed at the end of the week. :)
ReplyDeletewww.RecycledGrace.etsy.com :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/74887135/everyday-recycled-color-coded-cloth
Any tried and true ideas for managing the dirty/used ones?
ReplyDeleteAmy - love your blog. Same question as above...how do you manage the dirty ones? I've been keeping a stack of rags under my sink in place of paper towels. I run into the problem of allowing each rag to dry out before placing it in a dirty stack on top of the washing machine. Thanks! Get your rest.
ReplyDeleteI hang it over the sink faucet, which allows it to dry overnight. I then have a small mesh laundry bag (very small, meant to wash socks or personals in, that I have hanging on a hook in my pantry. Works well. I need to get back to this habit. When I was in treatment we went back to paper towels since others were cleaning my house more than I was!
ReplyDeleteRe: Dirty Ones...we go through a roll of paper towels a week. I would say an average of 20+ per day. How do you dry your hands, wipe the babies nose, get the booger out of the cats eye, clean the counters, mop up a spill etc and just have one wash cloth hanging on the sink faucet over night?
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I don't want to dry my hands on the same cloth that wiped up boogers or cleaned the stove top.
DeleteWe're pretty good at using rags for cleaning up messes... unless it's an especially icky accident like raw meat or involves toddler poop. Mm. We have a small garbage bin on the landing going down to our basement, where our washer and dryer are, so when it's full of rags I do a load.
ReplyDeleteI cloth diapered my two kiddos, so we have a stash of cloth wipes which I use to clean their hands and faces. I hang it on the faucet during the day then put it in a wetbag which hangs in the bathroom.
We DO have tissues for blowing noses, though. :)
Screw saving money, I'm more excited about the eco-friendliness of this. This is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually kind of sad that nobody else is excited about this for the same reason... :(.
What happens when they get all stained and gross looking and grey.....not so pretty on the counter then.
ReplyDeleteDo any of you have alternatives to using paper towels to "drain" bacon? or other greasy moments? My darling husband drives me to distraction with his use of 4-5 paper towels when he cooks (and that is not counting when he cooks bacon), especially since I find them all over the kitchen. His answer is always 'I wasn't through with it yet'. My question is if you aren't through with it yet, why do you have more than one?
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to be more conscious of how much paper we're using in our home. A couple of years ago I went to cloth napkins, my husband still doesn't like them, and training visitors on their use is another thing... people really don't understand that napkins can be used for more than one meal (and actually we frequently use them for several days). Messy little kids, messy food items (ribs?), and ill people are a different story, and I get that, but generally adults wipe their hands or lips once or twice a meal. When we lived in Europe years ago and stayed at 'bed and breakfast' type establishments you were expected to use your napkin for several meals. You cloth napkin users, what are your rules? Our kids are grown and out of the house so it is probably easier for me than those of you with little ones.
Soak them in hot water with ivory soap before washing them.. you will be amazed at how white they turn out - i hate using bleach, esp on my children's little white socks and leggings.. has to be ivory soap for some odd reason.. but it works amazing.
ReplyDelete