How to Replace

Paper Towels

Americans use 13 billion pounds of paper towels yearly. Make the switch to reusable alternatives and save money while protecting the environment.

50%Americans consume half the world's paper towels despite being only 5% of global population.
3,000 TonsAmericans throw away 3,000 tons of paper towels daily - 30x heavier than a blue whale.
544K TreesOne less roll per U.S. household yearly would save 544,000 trees - 5% of Oregon's forests.
254M TonsGlobal paper towel waste creates 254 million tons annually, releasing methane 28x worse than CO2.
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Why Paper Towels Are Problematic

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Deforestation Crisis

Virgin paper production destroys forests at alarming rates. It takes 17 trees to produce just one ton of paper towels.

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Cannot Be Recycled

Used paper towels are contaminated waste that cannot be recycled. They’re destined for landfills after a single use.

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Massive Water Waste

Manufacturing requires 20,000 gallons of water per ton of paper towels. Most wastewater gets dumped back into waterways.

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Toxic Methane Emissions

Paper towels in landfills release methane gas as they decompose. Methane is 28 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.

The Good News? Switching Is Easier Than Your Think!

These reusable alternatives work better, save money, and last for years.

Best Reusable Product!

🏆 Top Pick

The NanoTowel

✨You’ll Never Believe This “Magical” Towel Exists…

  • Cleans Your Entire Kitchen With  Just Water
  • Nanolon® Fiber — 100,000 microscopic fibers per square inch!
  • Incredibly versatile, no need for paper towels & chemical cleaners
  • Machine washable & reusable for 2-3 years
  • Absorbs up to 10 ounces without a single drip
See It Work

This is an affiliate product. I may earn a commission if you buy through my link.

Product image of the Nano Towel

Best Reusable Alternatives To Paper Towels

Click to learn more and find the best reusable alternatives

Best Articles

Guides and information on how to change your kitchen game with reusables!

Paper Towels
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September 11, 2025
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5 min

Why Paper Towels Can’t Be Recycled (And What to Do Instead)

Let’s Talk Trash (Literally) Okay, confession time: I used to toss used paper towels in the recycling bin thinking I was doing Mother Earth a favor. Spoiler alert—I wasn’t. Paper towels can’t actually be recycled, and the reasons are grosser (and weirder) than you might think. If you’ve ever stared at your overflowing kitchen trash…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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September 10, 2025
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5 min

25 Clever Uses for Reusable Cleaning Cloths (That Paper Towels Can’t Compete With)

Let’s be real: paper towels are the lazy friend who shows up, does one small thing, and then bails. They’re convenient, sure, but they rip, tear, and end up costing you a small fortune over time. Meanwhile, reusable cleaning cloths are like that reliable friend who always has your back—and doesn’t quit halfway through. I’ve…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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September 9, 2025
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5 min

Easy Transition Plan: Cut Paper Towel Use in Half in 30 Days

So, you want to cut your paper towel use in half. Good call. Your wallet and the planet both approve. But let’s be real—it’s not exactly easy when you’ve got spills, sticky fingers, and pets who seem determined to redecorate the floor daily. I’ve been there. I used to go through rolls of paper towels…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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September 7, 2025
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5 min

7 Things You Should Never Use Paper Towels For

Paper towels are like that one friend who shows up to help you move but disappears as soon as the heavy lifting starts. They look helpful, but honestly? They’re not cut out for every job. I’ve wasted more than my fair share of rolls (and money) by trying to make them work in situations they…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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September 7, 2025
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6 min

10 Smart Paper Towel Alternatives You Can Use Today

Let’s be real, paper towels are convenient, but they’re also money pits and waste factories. You rip through a roll faster than a teenager through snacks, and before you know it, you’re staring at the empty cardboard tube (again). Been there. I used to burn through those Costco mega-packs like it was my side hustle.…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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September 2, 2025
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9 min

Leading Recycled Paper Towel Brands

Let’s talk towels, straight up You care about a clean kitchen, a good deal, and not trashing the planet your grandkids will inherit. Same. You probably grew up with those “quicker picker-upper” ads, and you know performance matters. You also know waste adds up. So I tested, read labels like a hawk, and compared claims…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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August 24, 2025
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7 min

Paper Towels & Deforestation

Spills happen. Coffee on the counter. Paw prints across the floor. A hand reaches for the roll and the day keeps moving. The sheet that soaks it up started in a living forest that took generations to grow. This guide lays out, in clear household terms, what deforestation really is, how paper towels fit into…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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August 23, 2025
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5 min

Why We’re Weirdly Addicted to Paper Towels (And How Marketers Made It Happen)

Coffee spills. Sugar everywhere. Before you even think about it, your hand’s on the paper towel roll—rip, wipe, toss. Done in three seconds. That little reflex? It’s not just about cleaning. It’s proof that paper towel companies spent the last century hacking our psychology. Paper towels aren’t just “tools.” They became comfort items, status symbols,…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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August 22, 2025
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5 min

Wipe, Toss, Repeat: How Paper Towels Conquered the Kitchen

You’re in the thick of it. The pot of spaghetti sauce has bubbled over like a miniature volcano, painting your previously clean stovetop in a Rorschach test of tomato and regret. A small hand knocks over a full cup of juice, and the river of apple-cranberry begins its relentless crawl toward the edge of the…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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Paper Towels
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July 22, 2025
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5 min

Cleaning Without Paper Towels: Complete Guide

Switching away from paper towels is one of the easiest and most effective steps you can take toward a low-waste lifestyle. Not only do reusable alternatives work just as well (or better), but they also save money over time and help reduce the environmental toll of single-use products. In this guide, you’ll learn how to…
🤗ReuseBetter Team
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