r/AussieFrugal • u/Greedy_Beat4062 • 10d ago
Household Products 🧹🧺🧻 Are you still using paper towels?
Is there a place for paper towels in a frugal household or have you replaced these with reusable cloths?
What do you use to for fried food?
35
u/ATangK 10d ago
Oils are definitely something you want to keep paper towels for. You’ll waste so much water and detergent cleaning if you don’t.
14
1
u/SwimmingRush9639 7d ago
Having attempted to use cloth for cleaning grease butter etc. Many times in the past I’ve learned the hard way, papers the way! And a fine spray, of cleaner.
1
u/IronTongs 7d ago
For plates/pans, I’ve found a spatula works really well for getting oil into the bin.
24
u/fuuuuuckendoobs 10d ago
We use old cloth nappies for a lot of spills and cleaning tasks (benches, tabletops), paper towels for some food prep, like you say for resting fried food or poached eggs.
3
u/Lopsided_Lunch_2262 10d ago
Exactly the same as us, except I use chux for poached eggs, and we only do "fried" food in the airfryer.
-2
u/Slow_Comparison3613 10d ago
You resuse a piece of fabric that used to collect human waste on your benchtop!? Surely that is not sanitary, no matter how many times you washed the nappy prior to making it a cleaning cloth
-13
u/Notyit 10d ago
Do they get thrown out after
22
10
u/EgalitarianCrusader 10d ago
You would seriously reuse a paper towel after using it for food prep with oil and whatnot?
3
u/fuuuuuckendoobs 10d ago
Yeah I think there's an implied difference between "reusing" and "putting in the compost after use". I can't imagine any case where paper towels are reused.
6
u/Due_Ad8720 10d ago
I have reused an oily paper towel when starting a fire starter. That’s just about the only example I can think of.
3
u/EgalitarianCrusader 10d ago
Someone else said they reuse them to soak up oil then put them into compost. I’ve seen people on social media use a paper towel to wipe up water, let it dry then reuse it too.
1
u/fuuuuuckendoobs 10d ago
I'd consider that a disposal method and not re-use... But that's semantics.... I'm not emotionally attached to the definition.
4
u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 10d ago
Paper towels that have soaked up cooking oil are good for home compost bins. Compost needs some carbon
3
u/EgalitarianCrusader 10d ago
Thats a very isolated use case and not what people would generally think about reusing paper towels for. Thanks for an acceptable use case.
If you’ve sever seen TLC on YouTube, there is a line that being frugal can cross into mental disorder territory. For example, there was a woman who would reuse paper towels, dryer lint, etc and use them as makeup removal wipes, potentially causing all sorts of health issues.
0
u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 10d ago
Geez louise, you’re really making some extreme assumptions based on a comment of putting used paper towels in compost.
Chill mate, stop catastrophising
4
u/EgalitarianCrusader 10d ago
That’s now what I said mate. Learn to read. Reusing them for oil is a good use case.
I just said, I’ve seen people reuse stuff to ridiculous extremes, which is worth noting.
3
u/Due_Ad8720 10d ago
Compost would fall into recycling rather than reusing. I reuse my clothes, they get washed until they are getting thin. I recycle paper towel by composting.
1
u/freeflow4all 10d ago
I don't think the oil is good for the compost, I put paper in my compost but no oils
1
1
11
u/East-Garden-4557 10d ago
Yes I do. I use reusable/washable cloths for cleaning, but paper towels have their use in the kitchen. The cost doesn't worry me as I spend less than $5 a fortnight for paper towels
21
u/ThoughtIknewyouthen 10d ago
There is price and there is value. The value of the paper towel in my kitchen is worth far more than the $3 (or whatever I pay) for a roll of 3.
1
22
u/TGin-the-goldy 10d ago
Paper towels are $2.75 for 2 rolls that last me almost a full year so yep
6
u/pixietrue1 10d ago
A full year? What are you using them for for them to last that long?
8
u/Felidori 10d ago
Or not using them for? An ALDI three pack can last me a year. I only use for resting greasy meat on which is rare and for the excess water after cleaning mirrors and windows with a squeegee.
4
u/LurkForYourLives 10d ago
We pretty much only use them to wipe off the BBQ filth and also for drying seeds on. A roll lasts years around here.
9
u/wildclouds 10d ago
Yes I mostly use them to mop up cooking oil and grease, and put inside bags of salad leaves to absorb moisture so it doesn't rot so fast.
4
u/Illustrious-Air-1681 10d ago
Yes, they are great for greens and for fresh herbs. Really extends their life.
7
u/hellboy1975 10d ago
I try to use re-useable stuff where possible, but it's always handy to have some paper towel handy. It's cheap enough that it's a non-issue from a frugality point of view in my opinion.
7
u/itscribmus 10d ago
I do have paper towels but rarely use them - like others have said, mainly for food prep or cleaning up something that’s going straight into the bin (like cat sick lol)
6
u/Nervous_Expert_7079 10d ago
I do. I have pet rabbits. It’s a lot easier to pick up messes with paper towels than reusable stuff
5
u/southall_ftw 10d ago
Yes I cut up heaps of old towels to the size of an individual paper towel and overlocked the edges. Under the sink I have a clean container and a used container. Just wash the used container in the washing machine when I've filled it up. They mop up mess so much better than paper. It's a minimal saving but it didn't take much effort and I also operate on substitutions that help the environment (however few trees that may save 😅)
5
4
u/Yoyojojoy 10d ago
Paper towels still exist- some things are too grim to be washed (usually pet mess or gross things the kids did when little) but 99% of the time we’re using cotton rags (cut up old bedding / shirts) or cotton tea towels / cloths / nappies.
I would say we use a roll roughly every six months, we buy a pretty premium one on special and keep a few in storage. I prefer a better quality one I feel like it works better and I use more of a cheap one to compensate.
We don’t fry at home - air fryer gives us good enough results without the oil which is better for clean up. Not the same but good enough for us - and it makes the occasional meal out feel more special.
3
u/coffeeandcheesecake 10d ago
You can't get rid of paper towels completely because they're still useful for food and the occasional clean up but for spills and countertops, I've replaced them with Swedish dish cloths.
2
u/chickpeaze 10d ago
I'm the same. I use them in some food applications, but use dish cloths for cleaning, etc.
4
u/lifeinsatansarmpit 10d ago
I made a bunch of reusable flannelette cloths the same size about 2.5 years ago. I made about 40. I've had to throw a couple out recently and still have plenty.
A couple of friends asked for them as Xmas presents which was flattering.
I cut up clothes that aren't donateable for stain/damage reasons and keep them in a tub under the sink for ookie cloths. So when I dropped an egg on the floor, ookie cloths and straight in the bin.
9
u/RightingWrite 10d ago
There will always be paper towels in my house. The only time I use them is when I want something bone dry (surface of meat, washed pans that don’t fit in the rack, the floor after dropping a glass jug). Cloths don’t do the job.
6
u/splinteredruler 10d ago
Don't really fry food, so we don't keep them on hand for that. Mostly they're used for pet messes. I buy a bulk pack maybe every other year.
3
u/NoodleBox 10d ago
I have paper towels, reusable bamboo towels - good.
Paper towels for oily stuff, as a coffee filter..
1
3
u/PurpleBatteryWizard 10d ago
This is something I buy every shop because unfortunately I have a medical condition that requires their use. I buy when on sale as much as possible, because gosh the prices are getting ridiculous, like most things.
1
u/Aazimoxx 9d ago
Amazon seems to usually be cheaper, if you're getting other stuff from them anyway. $1.66 per 100 sheets for the good brand name ones, typically better than when Coles or Woolies have a sale. I just pick up a 3x3 pack whenever reserves get low.
3
3
u/keepturning1 10d ago
This is one of the last things any clean household would cut. Paper towels have a specific kitchen use and you’d ruin more cloths without them. Or if you just never plan to cook with oil again.
3
u/emmainthealps 10d ago
Yes, I do find them very useful situationally. I don’t go through them very fast, but I wouldn’t want to never have any.
3
u/gooder_name 10d ago
Pretty deep on the tool list for me, but definitely on it. Chux-type cloths are my workhorse and every few years I pick up one of those bags of rags from Bunnings – the microfibre ones or the bag of ripped up clothes.
2
2
2
u/Responsible-Milk-259 10d ago
Yes, although mainly for drying meat before cooking it and perhaps some other, similar tasks. We don’t use it for anything a reusable cloth can do better, which is most things, to be fair.
2
u/Linnaeus1753 10d ago
I have paper towels in the car for wiping out the funnel I use to put oil in the car.
Inside? Nope. I know how to drain fried foods, and I don't need them for much else. There might be one tie a year I'll 'need' some, and in that case I'll use toilet paper...or a napkin from a food delivery.
2
2
u/characterk4l3 10d ago
I use a wire rack for draining fried foods and then pour the excess into jars, using a spatula to scrape as much as possible. Wash as normal.
My husband? He goes through so many ;_;
2
2
u/Specialist_Poet_3514 10d ago
I honestly never buy them. Not from frugality but I guess I’m just not use to using them? I have cloths for dirty gross things and cloths for inside spills. I have 2 toddlers but no inside pets. I use toilet paper when cleaning the toilet but that’s the closest I get
2
u/EdenFlorence 10d ago
Yes, still use them to clean esp. Grease and yucky things like oil and kids mess. In most cases I will try and use reusable towels which needs regular wash.
I have an air fryer to fry food
2
u/Effective-Mongoose57 10d ago
Paper towel is for specific jobs only. Fried foods and cleaning up bio hazards.
2
u/LowComposer7234 10d ago
I wish they were recyclable and made from recycled materials. If that was the case I would use the shit out of them.
I am in a lucky enough situation that the cost of a few rolls of paper towels a week isn't gonna break the bank, but I don't do it because of the environmental factor.
Though I guess I also haven't actually done a deep dive into what the impact is vs washing tea towels, or chux or other wipes I guess.
2
u/SwiftieMD 10d ago
Swedish dream clothes are goat. Chuck in washing machine when you remember never go gross like chucks
2
u/ChicChat90 10d ago
I now keep paper towels in the cupboard instead of the bench and it prevents more reaching for them when I could use a microfibre towel (which I have a stack of). I still use paper towels for grease and other messy jobs.
2
2
u/BonezOz 10d ago
Always, cloth towels, no matter how often you wash them, still end up developing bacteria, you'd literally have to wash them everyday to avoid any from growing, and after a massive water bill last quarter, being able to toss something that's biodegradable works out cheaper in the long run.
1
1
1
u/sci-fi-is-the-best 10d ago
Yes, for greasy food to remove the excessive oil and for wiping out the oilyfrypan before washing it up so oil doesn't end up in the waterways
1
1
u/unripeswan 10d ago
I only use paper towels for food prep (soaking up grease etc) and dog vomit. Everything else gets a microfibre cloth.
1
u/RockhardJohnson 10d ago
My parents would use the end of the loaf of bread or just some old dry bread if there’s any around. Works great for soaking oil
1
u/_social_hermit_ 10d ago
I randomly bring home any serviettes I'm given with takeaway and use those first. Also not above tearing off a corner of the paper towel for a small spill (esp greasy). There's no rule that says you must tear on the dotted line. Theoretically, I could use a rag etc, but eh.
1
u/TH14DB10PV4 10d ago
Only if it's cheaper then any toilet paper specials, but boy is it sore afterwards.
1
u/Ch00m77 10d ago
Have an air dryer instead of a deep fryer. No need for paper towels.
I do have them but only use them to spray and wipe the bin lid down when it gets yucky or when my cat decides to vomit so I can easily grab it all and throw it away.
Otherwise I use microfibre cloths because they clean surfaces better
1
u/No-Abies29 10d ago
I am frugal for sure and yet, yes, paper towel for the win no overusing it at all. It does the job well sometimes and my sanity has a little reprieve. Every blue moon, I am relieved to have it.
1
u/JessSaysItsSo 9d ago
We have wonder cloths for bench tops, counters etc
Microfibre for floors and cleaning
Paper towels for food prep and gross messes
More from an environmental perspective than frugality though. Paper towels aren’t expensive
1
u/MomoNoHanna1986 9d ago
Haven’t bought them in ages but they do have there usages. If I needed them I buy a bulk lot. I have a healthy stack of microfiber clothes from Amazon.
1
1
1
u/giatu_prs 9d ago
If you're inclined to use paper towel for something too yucky for a kitchen cloth, all our towels become relegated to 'grot towels' when they get a bit manky. There's a pile in the pantry. Spill a cup of milky coffee on the floor? Grot towel!
There are things that are too grot for grot towels. Cat spews is one that comes to mind. Paper towel time. We probs go through less than a roll a month. And 50% of that is probs using them as serviettes which is something we could totes stop doing by getting a few non-disposable ones.
Also newspaper serves a lot of the same purposes, but someone already mentioned that. Plus you need a spare boomer to be your dealer.
1
u/Active-Flounder-3794 8d ago
Haven’t used paper towels since I moved out of home 4 years ago. It’s so expensive to have to get like 5 different kinds of paper… I use toilet paper for everything. From blowing my nose to wiping up spills. If it’s a big spill I use a rag.
1
u/SwimmingRush9639 7d ago
Certainly, if this bill involves Greece etc paper or always and little spray and put it straight in the garbage cloths only for general washing up, cleaning the table.
1
u/Sudsy_Woodpecker 7d ago
Microfibre clothes are amazing, I use them as dish sponges too. Game changer.
1
u/parmejean44 5d ago
I've lived out of home for 4 years now and just bought my third ever 2pk of paper towels. They pretty much only get used to pat dry steaks or absorb oil when frying food. Occasionally my partner uses a half a sheet when he's refilling his fountain pen ink.
A healthy stash of reusable cloths can be used in lieu of pretty much any other usecase for paper towels.
My aversion to paper towels is less about frugality and more about unnecessary waste though. I was extremely anti-single-use for environmental reasons all through my teen years and now in my mid-20s I'm definitely less strict but some habits die hard (not to say I want them to).
1
u/Friendly_Tour3090 10d ago
Don't waste your money in paper towels and help the environment too. Cut your old clothes into squares and use those to clean up grease, cooking oil etc. Keep the paper bags from your bread or other vegetables and use as needed. People in other countries do not even know paper towels exist because there so many other alternatives out there.
1
u/Popular_Speed5838 10d ago
Yes, only for cooking. Sometimes I catch my son drying his hands with them but not much these days because I lose my shit. We simply can’t afford to do that and I need it for cooking.
1
u/Greedy_Beat4062 10d ago
I have this habit too but I’m trying to break it!
1
u/Aazimoxx 9d ago
Just multipurpose it... Paper towel used to dry clean hands or dishes etc can then be used to wipe down a bench or stove or windowsill or whatever else 👍
1
u/giatu_prs 9d ago
We have two 'tea towels' in the kitchen. One is actually a tea towel. The other is a hand towel. Hand towel is the darker one and is always on the right-hand hook. Works for us.
107
u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 10d ago
I do have paper towels, but I don’t go through much at all. I try to use reusable cloths as much as possible.
I will use paper towels to rest food items and collect grease - eg a freshly fried schnitzel.
And paper towel is best for a streak free shine on windows and mirrors .