how to stop using paper towels on kitchen countertop

The Day I Learned How to Stop Using Paper Towels for Good

/42 Comments/in , , /by Mary Hunt

It all started with one nearly empty roll of paper towels and a messy patio on the morning of a dinner party. I didn’t realize it then, but that little moment of scarcity would spark a lifelong habit shift and save me hundreds of dollars over time. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop using paper towels without feeling deprived, here’s how one small change made a big impact.

how to stop using paper towels on kitchen countertop

Years ago, I had a frugality wake-up call—something I admit to needing from time to time. It’s so easy to get sloppy when we’re surrounded by abundance and a seemingly endless supply of everything.

It was the morning of our annual Holiday Dinner Party. I had limited time and a long to-do list, including “clean patio chairs.” Those chairs had been through a few rainstorms and were looking rough. I grabbed my cleaning supplies only to discover I had just one roll of paper towels and it was half-used.

Normally, this shortage would have sent me on a quick trip to the store. But at that time, I didn’t have a car during the day (my husband and I shared one). Walking to the store wasn’t an option, so I decided to make do with what I had.

The Simple Swap That Changed Everything

I carefully tore off three paper towels. I scrubbed, cleaned, and, out of habit, almost tossed them in the trash. But instead, I flattened them out, smoothed the wrinkles, and kept cleaning. What started as irritation turned into a little personal challenge: how long could I make those three towels last?

To my surprise, the chairs ended up sparkling clean, and I still had towels left. That small win shifted my thinking. I realized how often I used things mindlessly, simply because I could.

That day, scarcity made me resourceful and proud. I began asking myself “What if?”

  • What if I treated everything as if it might run out?
  • Would I be more thoughtful with errands if gasoline were scarce?
  • Would I measure the laundry soap instead of eyeballing it?
  • What if this was the only tube of toothpaste for the foreseeable future? Could I make it last?
  • Would I throw away half a pot of cold coffee or freeze it in ice cube trays for later if some rare beetle destroyed the world’s coffee harvest?

That simple “make do” moment was the beginning of a lasting mindset shift.

How to Use Bar Mops for Everyday Cleaning

how to use bar mops terry towels white clothes for everyday cleaning

That single roll of paper towels turned into a wake-up call that changed my attitude about abundance and waste. Over 20 years later, I haven’t given up paper towels completely, but a single roll now lasts me about six months. The secret? Bar mops.

A bar mop is a small white 100% cotton terry cloth towel, basically a cross between a washcloth and a dish towel. You’ll see them in restaurants and bars because they’re tough, absorbent, and endlessly reusable.

In our home, I use bar mops for everything I once used paper towels for:

  • Cleaning up spills and wiping down counters
  • Drying dishes or washing windows
  • Dusting furniture and cleaning baseboards
  • Detailing the car
  • Scrubbing grime or polishing fixtures
  • Even as napkins or hot pads in a pinch

They’re strong, inexpensive, and surprisingly satisfying to use once you get the hang of it.

My Routine for Keeping Bar Mops Fresh and White

I have a small hamper under the kitchen sink, where I toss used bar mops. I use many every day, and with abandon. When the hamper gets full, I launder them.

My laundry routine:

  • HOT water
  • ½ cup borax
  • 2 tablespoons liquid laundry detergent
  • Heavy-duty cycle
  • Extra rinse
  • White vinegar in the final rinse (in the fabric softener reservoir)

Now and then, I pretreat serious stains, and once or twice a year, I’ll add bleach. The secret to keeping them sparkling white is that half-cup of borax and washing them often before stains set in. Used daily, they don’t mildew or discolor.

When one gets too stained, it graduates to my husband’s workshop as a shop rag. Nothing goes to waste!

Where to Buy Quality Bar Mops for Less

You can find bar mops almost anywhere these days, but a few places consistently offer good quality for less.

How many should you start with? It depends on how often you use paper towels. If you go through a roll a week, try starting with two dozen bar mops. If you find yourself running out before laundry day, add another pack. Experiment until you find your perfect number.

I have six dozen bar mops. I fold them in half and store them standing file drawer style in a kitchen drawer with the fold up. This makes them easy to grab. In our home, bar mops need to be super handy.

Save $11.00
Utopia Towels 100% Cotton Kitchen Bar Mops, Pack of 12
Utopia Towels 100% Cotton Kitchen Bar Mops, Pack of 12
    $29.99 $18.99
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    Why Living with Less Feels So Much Better

    What started as frustration over running out of paper towels became a bigger lesson in mindful living. I realized that when we treat things like they’re unlimited, we tend to waste, not just money, but energy and gratitude.

    Living with a sense of intentional scarcity doesn’t mean deprivation. It means appreciating what we have, using it fully, and finding satisfaction in simplicity.

    For me, the humble bar mop became a daily reminder that less can truly be more for my wallet, for the planet, and for my peace of mind.

    Question: What’s one disposable item you’ve successfully replaced with something reusable? Share in the comments below.

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    42 replies
    1. Jan says:

      I have been using my own shopping bags for ten years now. I got a set of 10 at Amazon in 2015 and they are still going strong. Now with grocery stores charging for plastic bags, I save every time I go to the store! But you have to watch, several times I’ve had cashiers try to charge me for the bags thinking they are something the store provides for sale.

      Reply
    2. Suzy Charto says:

      I never used paper towels but now I am really using them a lot. I have started making sourdough and I use the paper towels to wipe down everything because I am afraid of dough going down the pipes. I try not to use too many but if anyone has any ideas I am open to them – thank you

      Reply
    3. linda says:

      i saved my newspapers and now have a supply of about two years worth. i keep it in the laundry room where i have easy access in case anything leaks or overflows. after i soak up all the spilled water, i separate them to single pages and dry them for reuse. i no longer get a hard copy newspaper as it’s too expensive, so my supply has to last for the rest of my life. at 75, i think that’s reasonable. i refuse to go out and buy [my least favorite phrase in the english language] something that will be used as a rag, unless it is paper towels, but i use them sparingly. my son uses them as hankerchiefs, as he claims tissues fall apart and he ends up with a hand full of something nasty. i have never had success using terrycloth for windows or drying dishes–no matter how old the towel, there is always lint left behind. when my dishcloths [floursacking, sold four for a dollar at the dollar store] are too stained and ratty, they get recycled into cleaning rags. when i moved to pennsylvania from new jersey, my water bill increased by ten times, so water conservation is necessary. i catch the water that runs while waiting for the warm water in empty kitty litter jugs and use it to flush.

      Reply
    5. Virginia says:

      It seems we have a lot of T-shirts with holes (that can’t be donated), cotton nightwear, towels and socks that have outlived their intended use. I cut them up, removing pockets, seams, hems, etc. Socks I leave as they are so they can be slipped on my hand. These small pieces are useful for all kinds of cleaning jobs, cleaning wood furniture, drying veggies and so on. They can be tossed in the washer or finally tossed out when they have outlived their second life. (When I do occasionally use a paper towel in the kitchen it usually ends up in the compost pot.)

      Reply
    8. Francine Harvey says:

      I was recently introduced to Swedish Dish Towels available thru Amazon. They are biodegradable, washable and can absorb incredible amounts of liquid compared to usual paper towels.

      Reply
    9. Virginia S. DeWitt says:

      25 years ago I quit using paper towels . Instead I cut up any old piece of clothing, linens scraps of fabric. No kidding, so far, so good. My daughter is a caregiver and she uses scraps of soft fabric for what she calls ” butt rags”. Says paper wipes are too rough for delicate bottoms. I used to spend $4 a month for the paper towels, At that price I have in my pocket $1200 to spend om something more fun! Wish I had put it in a savings acct., but not that good at this game yet.Do have a stash of real good cash though THANKS to you!

      Reply
    11. Diane Vosburg says:

      A similar idea – During the pandemic I decided to do away with communal hand towels in bathrooms and kitchen. After all, do we really all sing Happy Birthday through twice while soaping up our hands? I purchased several dozen white wash cloths and small baskets to set in each sink area, as well as small lidded trash cans to throw them in after a single use. When they accumulate I wash them with other whites. We have had far fewer colds and flu than past years and I think the single use drying could be a reason. I’m sold!

      Reply
    12. atk says:

      I decided a couple of years ago to quit my paper towel habit. I use washable, reusable bamboo paper towels (Amazon) and bar mop towels that I purchased at WalMart. The paper towels can be washed in the machine, although I prefer washing them by hand in the kitchen sink. When they start to fall apart I use them for other cleaning jobs around the house and then pitch them. I am still using my first roll, that I started in September 2022. I use the bar mops as hand towels in the kitchen, and change them out daily. I have been happy with the bar mops and the bamboo paper towels.

      Reply
    14. Kathy says:

      I purchased dark gray bar mopes from your link, I’m doing pretty good at trying to break paper towel habit, I mess up every once in a while..but I just love the towels..thanks for amazing idea!

      Reply
        • Genevieve says:

          Mary, why do you use white bar towels? Is it just your preference? I was leaning towards the dark grey or brown, just because they would not show the dirt as much.

        • Mary Hunt says:

          I love white. All of my household linens are white … sheets, towels, duvet covers. Everything matches, everything can be bleached. Just a personal preference. (And by the way, our wedding was also … all white)

    15. Estelle Stone says:

      I LOVE the idea of using Bar Mops for everything. I do have one problem, however. I don’t have room underneath my sink for the dirty ones. It is a really big pain to run into the laundry room each time to throw the dirty ones in there each time. Any other suggestions?

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Set a hamper/container (preferably one with a lid) in a convenient out of the way spot in the kitchen. That should work just fine.

        Reply
    16. Becky says:

      The hard part for me is to remember to use them rather than going first for the habitual paper towel! I’ve even tried to hang a few over the roll of paper towels, but that didn’t work very well.

      Reply
    17. Betty says:

      I bought soft, white cotton cloth at the fabric store, cut it into 6-inch squares, and zig-zagged the edges on my sewing machine. I use it in place of facial tissues. I rarely buy tissues, now. The hankies are very absorbent!

      Reply
    18. crabbyoldlady says:

      If there are no paper towels in your house, what do you use to drain things like any fried food? I seldom fry anything, but even a lowly hamburger can be greasier than expected.

      Reply
    19. Pat says:

      I recently purchased the bar mops through your Amazon link. However even after washing before use they shed significantly, making these rather difficult to use for window cleaning. I hope over time they get broken in and stop shedding.

      Reply
    20. Nina Koch says:

      Your use of bar mops certainly saves on paper towel usage but running a washing machine is not cheap. Do you actually save money?

      Reply
    21. carol webb says:

      Here is a simple way to keep cast iron skillets seasoned. I have two. After something is finished baking in the oven I coat the skillet bottom and sides lightly with Crisco. Put skillet in oven and let it set until oven is cold. If you have to, you can turn oven on 350, pop skillet in, turn oven off and wait until cold. Your skillets are already to go when you need them

      Reply
    22. H. Rice says:

      Regarding your paper towel post: I use Scott Rags in a Box, $12.99 for 200 10 x 12″ sheets (less than one cent per sheet). They can be used wet or dry and are re-usable. No need to launder and recyclable because they’re paper. On box can last six months. Can be found at home improvement box stores. In the upper Midwest that’s Menard’s.

      Reply
    23. Sharon Deters says:

      After just one or two washings my bar mops no longer absorb water. I make my laundry soap by your directions and use hot water. I have even boiled my towels, no luck. Coke added will remove any greasy smell and I have tried most everything I have come across. I got my mops at Walmart and wonder is that might be part of the problem. Will the quality of material make that much difference? Even my dish cloths won’t absorb water. We have soft water and I use vinegar in the rinse. HELP

      Reply
    24. Bonnie says:

      You’ve also recommended using microfiber cloths for cleaning. When would you use a bar mop and when would you use a microfiber cloth?

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Microfiber is for absorbing water, i.e. washing windows, wiping floors dry, polishing things clear. Once you start using bar mops you instinctively know when to use them (like all the time!).

        Reply
    25. Lynne Powell says:

      We are currently experiencing a severe drought. We are under water restrictions and have been for several years. Washing bar mops daily would be out of the question. Even if I limited the number to several times a week, that would put me over the limit of water usage. This is an ongoing problem for many areas in the west.

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Well then, I guess you need to load up on paper towels! Have you ever calculated how much water your washer uses? I choose to do frequent loads of bar mops, but you could certainly limit that to once or twice a week and add them to your regular white laundry.

        Reply
    26. Sherill says:

      Years ago I followed your advice and bought 4 dozen bar mops. I keep them in an attractive basket (fold side up) on the kitchen counter and use them every day. Thanks to your advice I use almost no paper towels, and also thanks to your advice, the bar mops are all still sparking white. (In addition, I dyed another dozen bar mops orange to match my dishes, and use them every day for table napkins.)

      Reply

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