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Paper Towels Vs Cloth Towels: Which is Better?

Are cloth towels better than paper towels? The answer might lie in your values. As many people, like myself, are becoming more eco-conscious, tossing that single-use paper towel into the trash might begin to spark a bit of green guilt – that bad feeling you get when you know that you’re needlessly adding garbage to the landfill.

Paper towels are easy and convenient; use them once and toss them into the trash. But cloth towels have many more benefits. Since cloth towels are reusable, they are more long-lasting, economical, and eco-friendly than paper towels. More importantly, paper towel production requires cutting down trees. Additionally, once you use a paper towel, you usually throw it into the trash, which gets dumped into landfills.

Even though I’m biased due to my eco-friendly values, I’ve broken down some pros and cons, as well as price and hygiene issues, for you to evaluate yourself below.

Comparison: Paper Towels Vs. Cloth Towels

PAPER TOWELSCLOTH TOWELS
EASY TO USEYesYes, but cleaning is required.
COSTGenerally expensive due to their single-use nature.
$1 to $1.52 per 100 sheets.
They must be purchased regularly.
The initial cost might be similar to a roll of paper towels. But they last longer, making them more economical in the long run.
On average, $1 per towel.
Replacements are needed less often.
HYGIENICYes, for the most part.Yes, if used only once and then laundered.
ECO-FRIENDLYNo. Most are made from trees and are not recyclable.
The lifecycle ends in a landfill unless composted.
They can only be composted if they are not contaminated.
Yes. If you buy natural fabrics like cotton & linen.
They are compostable if they are not contaminated.
STORAGEStoring in bulk can be challenging
if you have a limited amount of space.
Requires drawer space or baskets.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Quick Options: Climate Pledge Friendly

My kitchen Countertop: Which do you like better?

paper towels on a paper towel holder located above the kitchen sink.
A cloth towel hanging on a paper towel rack near the kitchen sink.

Click here to read: ‘The Best Replacements For Paper Towels And Napkins.’

How Hygienic are Paper Towels?

Unused paper towels are hygienic, right? Well, think again. According to a WebMD (linked here) article, researchers at Laval University in Canada tested six brands of commercial paper towels, the kind used in public restrooms.

Surprisingly, they found bacteria in all of them, but the paper towels that were the most contaminated were those made from recycled material.

As surprising as that was, I don’t know if that data translates to paper towels for the home. Most people assume that paper towels out of the package are sanitary.

A different study reported by NCBI (The National Center for Biotechnology Information) discusses the ability of paper towels to remove germs from hands after washing. The general consensus was that paper towels do a good job of removing bacteria from the hands after washing.

How Hygienic Are Cloth Towels?

I thought that cloth towels are a perfect option, but according to a Time Magazine article titled, Your Towels Are Way Dirtier Than You Think, it is extremely easy to soil cloth towels with bacteria:

  • Not washing your hands well enough and then drying them with a cloth towel. In this way, you could transfer fecal bacteria to the towel.
  • Leaving your towels wet after drying off. Bacteria from your body can be transferred to the towel. If left wet, bacteria stay alive.

As you can imagine, since paper towels are usually only used once, they would probably be more hygienic than a “used” cloth towel.

Cloth Towels Can Be Single-Use too

I want to make a case for using cloth towels; they can also be used only once if you choose, and there would be no prior contamination.
For instance, you can keep a basket of washcloths in the bathroom. After each use, you can toss them into a laundry basket and wash them when full.

How To manage Cloth with Raw Meat

When you clean your counters after prepping raw meat, it is essential to immediately remove that towel from your work area when you are finished. Here is my process:

  • Wash down counters with a washcloth, hot water, and soap dish.
  • Next, rinse the washcloth in hot water.
  • Hang it dry.
  • When the washcloth is dry, toss it into the dirty towel bin.
  • Please don’t use that cloth on anything else until it is machine washed in hot water and detergent.
  • Use the “sanitize” setting on your washer and dryer if you have one.
  • If not, wash it in hot water and dry it on “hot” in your dryer.

Germs in Sponges and Cloth Towels

You’ve probably heard about germs in sponges before, but this article in The Daily Mail says that scientists have found up to 20 million germs per square inch in sponges and 1 million germs per square inch on cloths in the kitchen. For this reason, I recommend hanging your kitchen washcloths and towels to dry at the end of each day and then toss them into the bin for washing.

Additionally, if you’re going to wipe down surfaces like your appliances, it’s better to start with a fresh cleaning cloth and NOT the washcloth in your kitchen sink.

Coincidentally, Bounty brand paper towels are currently running an ad simulating that using your kitchen washcloth to wipe down appliances is akin to smearing your appliances with butter and oil.

That’s why you should always start cleaning with a fresh, clean cloth.

Paper Towels: Single Use & Not Recyclable

Everyone knows that paper towels are only single-use, but most people aren’t aware that paper towels cannot be recycled. I discovered the reason is that the paper fibers are too short to turn into any other products. Another reason paper towels cannot be recycled is they are usually contaminated with food and other substances.

Paper Towels Become Landfill Trash

Used paper towels will most likely be thrown into the trash, ending in landfills. According to the EPA.GOV, “In 2018, landfills received 17.2 million tons of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) paper and paperboard. This was 11.8 percent of MSW landfilled in 2018.”

Paper Towels CAN be composted

Luckily, paper towels CAN be composted, as long as they are not contaminated. Please click my article here on how to compost paper towels properly.

Click here for a Related Article: Can You Compost Paper Towels?

Cloth Towels: Washable and Reusable

Cloth towels are reusable, economical, and long-lasting. But, as I mentioned earlier, you do have to wash them. Therefore, you have to take some things into consideration like:

  1. Water: The cost of water used during the washing and drying process can vary based on the region and the local water rates.
  2. Electricity: The cost of electricity used by the washing machine and dryer can also vary based on the type of appliance, its energy rating, and the cost of electricity in the area.
  3. Detergent: The cost of detergent used to wash the towels can vary based on the brand and the amount of detergent used.
  4. Wear and tear: Over time, washing and drying cloth towels can lead to wear and tear on the towels and the appliances, leading to potential repair or replacement costs.
  5. Time: Washing and drying cloth towels take your time and effort, which can be considered a cost, especially if you value your time.

The costs associated with washing and drying cloth towels can add up. However, it can still be a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option compared to using disposable paper towels in the long run.

I keep my hand towels and dish towels in a basket in my kitchen. After I use them and they are soiled, I hang them to dry. Once dry, I toss them into a bin until I have enough dirty towels to make a full wash load. I wash my kitchen towels separately from the rest of my wash.

You can also hand wash your washcloths in the kitchen sink and hang them to dry for use the next day. But, because of the germs that still might remain, some people recommend putting them in the microwave to disinfect them.

Laundry Tips for Washcloths, Hand Towels, and Cloth Napkins

Where to Store Clean ClothsWhere to Store Soiled ClothHow to WashHow Often to Wash
Washcloths, Hand Towels,
and
Cloth Napkins
dry in a basket or drawer-rinse first
-then hang to dry,
-then toss into a holding bin
-wash in hot water & detergent
-separately, or
-wash with other kitchen hand towels and cloth napkins
-Dry “hot”
Wash when you have enough dirty cloths for a full load
Laundry Tips

Watch how paper towels are made

Paper towels are made from trees. They can be made from recycled paper, but this only sometimes the case. And if it is, you’ll have to pay a lot more for paper towels made from recycled material because, unfortunately, that is an advertising tool. It may also cost more money to produce; I’m not sure.

Georgia-Pacific, a paper manufacturing company, has been kind enough to tell us exactly how they make paper towels “FOR US” in this 60-second YouTube video. According to them, they make paper towels for companies like Brawny and Sparkle. Take a look at this enlightening video.

Information directly from their YouTube video: Want to see how paper towels are made? Go behind the scenes with GP in 60 seconds to see what goes into making paper towel products like Brawny® and Sparkle®! Absorb how our facilities create paper towels that roll onto store shelves and into your home. Wood gets chipped, screened, soaked, and cooked to produce pulp – another product we produce. The bleached pulp gets fed into a huge paper machine and is squeezed, rolled, and dried into raw paper called parent rolls. These giant rolls get perforated and embossed to make it stronger and more absorbent. These get rolled into logs that are paired up with cardboard tubes and get sliced into individual-sized rolls. Lastly, these rolls get wrapped and boxed to be shipped to store shelves all over the United States. Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading makers of tissue, including paper towels, bath tissue, napkins and facial tissue.

The Cost of Paper Towels

The marketplace for paper towels is as vast as it is varied. At first glance, the pricing seems relatively straightforward, but the devil is in the details. Brands frequently use equivalents such as “double rolls” or “triple rolls” to denote value, making direct comparisons daunting.

Diving into online platforms like Amazon.com can further muddle the waters, with brands deploying myriad descriptions and roll comparisons. The “X rolls equal Y regular rolls” rhetoric has become common, clouding straightforward price comparisons.

For instance, Brawny promotes each roll as equal to three rolls or (triple rolls) and offers a Tear-A-Square with 3 Sheet Size Options, including a Quarter Size Sheet. In contrast, Seventh Generation opts for an eco-friendly approach with 100% recycled paper and jumbo paper towels with right-size paper sheets. Meanwhile, Sparkle also boasts the ability to choose a sheet-size, and reports that one roll actually equals two rolls.

Another challenge arises when we consumers attempt to assess the actual value of these products based on our needs. While some of us might prioritize absorbency, while others might lean towards environmental considerations.

For a more precise comparison, let’s zero in on three prominent brands from Amazon.com and unpack their offerings regarding features and what they truly represent in the world of paper towels. Since prices frequently change, I have provided a link for you to check current prices.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Feature/BrandSeventh GenerationSparkleBrawny
Product Name100% Recycled Paper TowelsPick-A-Size® Paper TowelsBrawny Pick-A-Size Paper Towels
Rating (out of 5 stars)4.64.74.8
Price (for 24 rolls)check herecheck herecheck here
Actual Rolls 24248
Sheets per Roll156 sheets110 sheets147 sheets
Total Sheet Count33602640doesn’t state
Special FeaturesWhitened without chlorine bleach, 85% post-consumer recycled paperPick-A-Size, Modern WhiteHigh Absorbent, Pick-A-Size – 3 sheet size options
Claims/MarketingJumbo paper towels with right-size sheets, caring for the next seven generations24 Double Rolls = 48 Regular Rolls, 11 x 6 in. sheets8 Triple Rolls = 24 Regular Rolls (1 pack of 8 Triple rolls)
Comparison of Three Top Paper Towel Brands
  1. Seventh Generation: Seventh Generation is a premium choice in paper towels. Even though it’s made from 100% recycled paper, can you justify it when each roll adds to single-use waste? While it’s commendable that they use post-consumer content, we must weigh the environmental cost of manufacturing, shipping, and eventual disposal.
  2. Sparkle: Sparkle offers a seemingly affordable option for many households. However, the real cost might be to the environment. While the Pick-A-Size feature allows for customizable use, it doesn’t change the fact that each used sheet adds to our planet’s waste problem.
  3. Brawny: Brawny emphasizes strength and absorbency. But are these features worth the price, both monetarily and environmentally? Despite their robustness, these towels inevitably end up as waste, contributing to the problem rather than solving it.

Transition to cloth towels

Having to frequently purchase paper towels makes that choice even more expensive. More importantly, the environmental toll is immeasurable.

Now, imagine ordering cloth towels that you reuse over and over again. Not only do you save money in the long run, but you also drastically reduce your environmental footprint.

Cloth towels, being reusable and long-lasting, emerge as both an eco-friendly and economical choice. Let’s delve deeper into the advantages of cloth towels and some recommended options.

But first, look at this – Seventh Generation also advertises this:

advertisement for 7th Generation Paper towels:  If every household in the US replaced one 8 pack of 156 sheet virgin fibre paper towels with this product, we could help save 4,300,000 trees. 
No image, just words.

This advertisement states, “If every household in the US replaced one 8-pack of 156 sheet virgin fiber paper towels with this product, we could help save 4,300,000 trees. That’s a pretty big deal! If this is true, then the number must be much more significant for how many trees would be saved if we used CLOTH TOWELS INSTEAD OF “RECYCLED” PAPER TOWELS!

The Hidden cost of cloth towels

The unfortunate truth is that using both paper and cloth has adverse effects on the planet. As you can see from this article, it takes work to maintain cloth towels. There are also many problems with the production of cloth towels, including low wages for workers and harsh working conditions, among other things.

So, while cloth towels can be reused, their footprint on our planet and society starts long before they reach our homes. I have to admit the entire argument is overwhelming on both sides. From here, we must use our common sense and values to decide which works better for us.

The cost of cloth towels per piece varies from .83 cents for white cotton washcloths to $2.08 for nice cloth napkins. Of course, the prices will vary according to which product you choose. You will be able to find both cheaper and more expensive varieties of each type of cloth.

To help you make choices, I recommend that you look at the customer reviews. Sometimes looking at the low reviews will give you a better idea of what people don’t like.

For more help with choosing products made from cloth, Click here for the Related Article: The Best Replacements for Paper Towels & Napkins.

Type of Cloth# of cloths per packageCurrent Price (subject to change)Price Per Piece
100% Cotton Washcloths24$19.99$0.83
100% Cotton Cloth Napkins
12$24.99 $2.08
100% Cotton Dish Towels12$17.99$1.49
Cloth Towels are Eco-Friendly & Long Lasting!

As you can see, the cost of cloth products is very similar to the cost of paper towels. But the best part is, you keep them and reuse them for years! And, there’s the added benefit of choosing stylish towels and napkins that will add to your decor and enjoyment. Now, what’s better than that?

Conclusion

All in all, I’ve already confessed to having a bias towards cloth. I care about saving trees and NOT filling up landfills with dirty paper towels.

If you’ve decided to make the switch, click my article below titled, The Best Replacements For Paper Towels and Napkins. It will give you guidance on the types of towels available, including the different fabrics and sizes available.

Every person can make a positive difference by what they choose to purchase. Paper towels are an unnecessary convenience, in my opinion.

I hope you will benefit from this information and consider swapping or adding cloth towels to your routines. Thanks for listening!

MY signature - Didi