We admit it: we are addicted to paper towels and washcloths in the kitchen.
While we've managed to nip some of our less eco-friendly habits in the bud (with Stasher's reusable silicone bags, for example) we're embarrassingly prone to ripping a paper towel off the roll dozens of times a day.
Whether we're sweeping crumbs off the kitchen table or cleaning up a blast of red sauce in the microwave, we turn to a paper towel 100% of the time.
And as our anxiety about Covid-19 increased in recent months, so has our consumption of paper towels, cleaning countertops, faucet handles, and door handles multiple times a day.
Recently, however, we decided that this needed to change.
This consumption is not only bad for the planet, it is also bad for our pockets.
Our favorite 16-pack of Brawny paper towel rolls, for example, is a whopping $ 30.99 (and for the usual coronavirus era, it's temporarily out of stock)!
In our search for a more sustainable solution, we discovered these Swedish cellulose cloths.
The summary
With nearly 8,000 positive reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, the 10-pack retails for $ 19.95 and is currently trending for the reasons mentioned.
Are you ready for a fun fact?
Each of these cloths can replace 17 rolls of paper towels.
Here's the backstory: Invented by a Swedish engineer in 1949, these tea towels are reusable, biodegradable, and ultra-affordable, not to mention highly effective.
As a result, they are widely used in Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, which are also the greenest countries in the world.
You will find it difficult to find a roll of paper towels in any Nordic home or business, as everyone uses these tea towels instead.
Aside from sustainability, they have a ton of additional outlets that are attracting tons of fans here in America.
Made up of renewable and natural fibers, specifically 70% cellulose and 30% cotton, the cloths air dry much faster than, for example, the stinky sponges we grew up using.
Because of this, germs and bacteria (and the accompanying odors) don't have time to grow on them, and if they start to smell gross, you can simply put it in the dishwasher or washing machine and they'll be as good as new after one cycle.
Yes, really.
You can reuse each cloth hundreds of times before throwing it away, and fear not: they're biodegradable too.
Beyond the kitchen
Although we assumed we would use the cloth set primarily in the kitchen, it turns out that they are much more versatile than we expected.
You can use the cloths to wash your car, for example, or remove the nail polish (just add the remover, and voila !, or dry the paws of your pets, or clean your mirrors and windows. Since the cloths are safe On surfaces like wood, marble, tile, stainless steel, and yes, even human skin, they're suddenly replacing not just paper towels, but perpetually damp napkins, sponges, and dish towels. There's also the fact that the cloths are extremely absorbent.
Buyers on Amazon agree.
"Much better than all cotton tea towels because they are VERY absorbent yet easy to wring out completely (and I mean completely!) After use," writes an Amazon reviewer.
Another says, “I rarely write reviews, but these are worth it.
Much more substantial than Handi wipes and you can really scrub with them, but they never feel gross like a sponge does.
I've used the same two for a month and they still look great. "
The verdict
These cellulose tea towels are available in eight colors - shades of white and gray will perfectly match the all-white kitchens that are all the rage right now, while blue and pink would add a fun pop of color to a serene space - And given their rigid nature when dry along with their 3D diamond-shaped texture, they can also be used to clean hard residue from pots, pans, and more.
Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths, 10-Pack ($ 21.99; amazon.com)
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Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.