by Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~.
Member since:
January 10, 2006

Ditch the Disposables

December 19, 2007 11:33 AM EST
views: 52 | rating: 10/10 (20 votes) | comments: 29
Ditch the disposables and use cloth handchiefs and dish towels instead. At the very least, look for paper products made from recycled content. According to manufacturer Seventh Generation, if every household in the United States replaced just one box of 85 sheet virgin fiber facial tissues with 100 percent recycled ones, we'd save 87,700 trees and 31 million gallons of water.
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Comments: 29

Sarah (I want points) Dec 19, 2007, 11:34am EST
I already use cloth dish towels, but the washclothes my husband can't stand reusing (I don't know why...)
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Dec 19, 2007, 11:42am EST
I already use cloth too as well as sponges that can be reused.
Marianne R. Dec 19, 2007, 11:43am EST
I used cloth dishtowels as well, but tissues, no way. That's totally unsanitary.
Deborah O. Dec 19, 2007, 11:44am EST
I do, I do and I wash them everyday for the next day. Reduce your energy foot print!!!
♥~♥ Phaedra ♥~♥ .. Dec 19, 2007, 11:46am EST
Only problem with this is in Georgia, we are facing not having enough water to wash the towels when are done with them. I have had to switch to throw away everything, due to the fact we had to get out water usage by 10%. Yes there will be more problems because of this what chocies are we left with.
Ang, inspired by good, G. Dec 19, 2007, 12:06pm EST
Wow, thats a lot of trees and water we would be saving. Thanks for sharing this great information.
Swimming With The Tide O. Dec 19, 2007, 12:07pm EST
It isn't easy to reduce our energy footprint. I stopped using paper towels two years ago, my family hated it at first. I use only cloth dish towels and wash cloths. We have recycle bins for glass and metal and I take my own cloth bags to the grocery store with me.
Marilyn M. Dec 19, 2007, 12:40pm EST
Wow.
Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Dec 19, 2007, 12:45pm EST
What about the increase in electrical energy used to dry linen napkins, linen and terrycloth dishtowels, washcloths etc.? I only use those things once before washing them.
Gene L. Dec 19, 2007, 12:54pm EST
I use cloth... I'm tired of PAYING for the paper over and over again.
M & M. Dec 19, 2007, 1:12pm EST
Right on sugar.
golds g. Dec 19, 2007, 1:20pm EST
good idea
Carla B. Dec 19, 2007, 1:29pm EST
We use cloth for a lot of stuff, but we still use a lot of disposables, too. We're not sick very often here, so we don't go through very many tissues at all. But there is no way I'm switching to reusables. And the recycled ones aren't soft enough.

We do go through less than one roll of papertowels every couple of months, though. For most common spills or messes, we use cloth.
Vivian P. Dec 19, 2007, 1:37pm EST
great info if you have a cold though you would need to get a clean hankie everytime
Donald M. Dec 19, 2007, 1:45pm EST
I use cloth everything. I dont even use paper towels for napkins. I use cloth napkins. they aren't fancy but work better and I can wash 50 of them with my towels, or with my sheets or nice dress clothes. They do not fade. The only thing I use paper towels for is to drain bacon or greasy foods.
Kathy D. Dec 19, 2007, 1:53pm EST
That sounds like a great idea
Donald M. Dec 19, 2007, 1:53pm EST
Vivian, my friend, you can use toilet tissue, you are going to buy it anyway, it isnt recyclable. LOL.
Donald M. Dec 19, 2007, 1:59pm EST
I live in the middle of 18,000 acres of pine forest that belongs to a paper company, and grew up in a sawmill town where they bought, and used the logs to make lumber and the balance sent off to use for paper. I know how valuable each tree is.
Sue, you don't have to use the dryer, or use the air setting, it uses so much less electricity! Really it does!
There is also recyclable tolite paper. While it is not the softest brand out there, it does help to lower our gootprint on this earth. I didn't mind using it, but my family insisted that we go back to regular.

And just because the paper is recycled, does not mean that it was used for the tolite previously or anything. It is most likely recycled printer paper, newspaper, paper bags...etc.
Teresa A. Dec 19, 2007, 3:11pm EST
I am very aware of what we use in the house and try my best to conserve as much as possible. Actually, I can't stand paper plates and always use my regular dishes. Wash windows with vinegar and water mixed and dry with newspaper. Then recycle the newspaper. I am in Minnesota and my kids were taught right from Kindergarten to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Priscilla, they take forever to dry in the air cycle! I find paper much more sanitary for most things, but I do try to use recyclable paper whenever possible so I hope that's OK with you! Just glad you didn't tell me I had to use cloth for toilet paper or I would have gone bananas on you! :)
William M. Dec 19, 2007, 5:24pm EST
We use cloth.
Lisa Frost Dec 19, 2007, 9:38pm EST
We use as much as possible around here.
Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~. Dec 20, 2007, 12:51am EST
Sue you are too funny! I take these tips that I receive from Sierra Club & post them here.....it doesn't mean that I do ALL of them myslef.

Although I do air dry my dishes! And we try to use cloth towels as often as we can as well.
Kimber L. Dec 20, 2007, 8:12am EST
we use cloth dish towels! I also take all the plastic pop and water bottles our techs throw away in the trash HOME TO BE put in with recyclibles!
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Dec 20, 2007, 8:55am EST
great tips!
Jerri H. Jan 27, 2008, 9:46pm EST
We use cloth...hubby laughs because I wash them a bunch


I am behind in comments, but I wanted to let you know I stopped by to view your content and thank you for posting to I was bored :)

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