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An eco-friendly swap for more sustainable living. Dance Knee Pads
Nor’Adila is a contributing writer for Real Simple. Her work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, US World News & Report, and Trip Advisor.
Incorporating reusable products into everyday life can reduce single-use waste and create a more sustainable lifestyle. For those who find themselves blowing through their weekly shopping budget on paper towels that end up in the trash anyway, going for reusable paper towels is one way to save thousands of trees and keep more money in your wallet. Not only are they just as absorbent (or even better) compared to paper towels, but one roll can last for months or even years, depending on use.
“Beyond environmental reasons, reusable paper towels are really more effective and easy to use,” says Danny Seo, a sustainability expert and author of Do Just One Thing: 365 Ideas for a Better You, Life, and Planet. “There have also been studies done that show paper towels can be very dirty and harbor germs, whereas the reusable ones are often antibacterial and antimicrobial.”
To find the best reusable paper towels, we tested 20 options in our Des Moines lab, evaluating them on usage, material, size, and care instructions. In addition to Seo, we spoke to Robin Murphy, the founder of ChirpChirp Residential Cleaning Services.
The sheets feel soft and satiny, and are tough on messes.
It takes a while for them to dry.
Made from 100% bamboo rayon, the Full Circle Tough Sheet Reusable Plant Towels can absorb seven times its weight and are tough on messes. The sheets come with a roll and a pretty gold pattern, adding style to your kitchen countertops. The sheets measure 10.63 x 2.56 inches, so they are a little small, but each roll comes with 30 tearable sheets, so you won't need to wash them too frequently.
The sheets are thick, soft, and have a satin feel. During testing, we found them super absorbent and adept at handling almost every mess we created, mopping up most spills in just one wipe. There was hardly any difference between these reusable towels and the Bounty paper towels.
We removed the stains by hand washing the towels, so you don't need to worry about sopping up tricky messes like chocolate syrup. These reusable towels are also impressively durable and did not tear when we wrung them out or rubbed them against the carpet. Just be mindful that it takes about an hour for them to fully dry. The towels are available in white and patterned options.
Material: Rayon from bamboo | Roll Size: 30 sheets | Care: Hand wash, air dry
Each sheet can be reused more than 120 times.
These towels may shrink slightly after washing.
For anyone who doesn’t want a cloth reusable towel, we recommend a paper towel dupe like The Kitchen + Home Bamboo Towels. They look just like traditional paper towels but are made from eco-friendly bamboo, making them slightly thicker and more durable. They come with a standard-size roll that can fit on any paper towel holder, so it's easy to integrate them into your existing kitchen setup. And while one roll only has 20 sheets, considering you can use each sheet over 120 times, you get plenty of value from these bamboo towels.
During testing, we found no difference between these towels and the Bounty paper towels. The only exception was the chocolate syrup test—instead of absorbing the syrup, the towel stuck to the surface, making it hard to clean. Though the towels shrunk after washing, they were still soft and we noticed they became fluffier.
Material: Bamboo | Roll Size: 20 sheets | Care: Machine wash, hand wash
They look similar to real paper towels, and have an included roll for convenient storage.
It was hard to wipe wine stains off the floor with this pick.
If you want to swap paper towels for a reusable option, the Ecozoi Reusable Paper Towels are a durable, long-lasting pick. The sheets feature subtle gray leaf patterns and are thicker and stiffer than regular paper towels. They also come with a roll, which makes them feel more like a traditional paper towel.
Wet or dry, the sheets were sturdy and did not fall apart when we rubbed them against the carpet. They can be reused up to 50 times and can safely go in a washing machine. While you can toss these towels in the washer, judging by the material, they may wear out more quickly.
Each sheet measures 11 x 11 inches, which makes it easy to tackle most spills. The only issue we had was cleaning red wine, which the towels struggled to remove. While the initial sticker price might seem high, when you consider that they are reusable, you'll get a lot of cleaning done with these towels before you throw them out.
Material: Viscose from bamboo | Roll Size: 20 sheets | Care: Hand wash, machine wash
This set includes convenient hooks for hanging.
These towels are one of the most expensive options on our list.
Bright, fruity designs make the Papaya Reusable Paper Towel Pack a gorgeous choice for your kitchen. While it doesn’t come wrapped around a roll, they have a corner hole and hooks that you can easily stick on walls or cabinet doors. Thanks to the cotton-cellulose blend, they dry quickly and harbor less bacteria. These towels are also 100% compostable, so you can throw them in the compost bin with the rest of your table scraps.
Whether the towel was wet or dry, we found it surprisingly absorbent. It cleaned up all our spills including wine, coffee grounds, and chocolate syrup. There are three ways to wash these reusable paper towels: dishwasher (top-rack only), machine wash, or hand wash. It’s also best to air dry them to prevent wear and tear.
While these reusable towels are pretty pricey, the brand says that one sheet is the equivalent of 17 rolls and can last for nine months, so it might be worth the cost.
Material: 70% cellulose, 30% cotton | Roll Size: 4 sheets | Care: Hand wash, machine wash, or dishwasher; air dry
They are compact but impressively absorbent.
They don’t have a hook or hole to hang dry.
Made from wood pulp (cellulose) and cotton, this Swedish dishcloth pack is your answer to cleaning bathrooms and kitchens effectively. They are highly absorbent and can soak up 20 times their weight in liquid.
These dishcloths are like thin, hard cardboard when dry, but become soft and spongy when wet. The material is non-scratchy and safe to use on marble, stainless steel, and wood surfaces. We saw firsthand how absorbent it was: we placed the towel in 8 ounces of water and it soaked up half the cup. Plus, these reusable towels are better than microfiber cloths in terms of long-term durability. When we put them in the washer, they came out good-as-new, except for some slight shrinkage. Plus, all of the stains were gone. We also love the value of these towels as they come in packs of 10, which is cheaper than a bulk package of Bounty.
While we would continue to use paper towels for particularly gross messes, we love that these cloths are so easy to clean. The only downside is that they don’t have a hole or rack to hang the towel to dry. The dishcloths are available in eight colors.
Material: Cellulose, cotton | Roll Size: 10 cloths | Care: Machine wash
Each dishcloth has a specific label that tells you where to use it.
They lost some softness after washing.
The Full Circle Recycled Microfiber Essential Cloths can tackle most cleaning tasks and come with cute labels so you know where to use each one. The dishcloths come in a pack of five that you can use for bathrooms, dust, glass, cleaning ovens and stove tops, and stainless steel. We found these microfiber dishcloths durable, similar to a typical washcloth, which made them more effective in wiping stains. During testing, the dishcloths picked up liquid and hot chocolate syrup in one swipe compared to the Bounty paper towel, which left some mess behind.
We easily cleaned stains from these towels and held up well in the wash with no signs of fading. However, they did lose some softness. If you need reusable microfiber cloths to wipe up spills and do everyday cleaning, these are our top picks.
Material: 80% recycled polyester, 20% polyamide | Roll Size: 5 cloths | Care: Machine wash
These towels are more absorbent than traditional paper towels.
The towels don't have hanging loops.
If you want to reduce your daily waste and support a sustainable brand, the Mioeco Reusable Paper Towels should be at the top of your list. These reusable towels are manufactured in a carbon-neutral plant and made from 100% unbleached organic cotton.
We found that these reusable paper towels were more absorbent than disposable paper towels and loved how versatile they were for cleaning areas in the kitchen and bathroom. The towels handled messes well—we removed all spills in our tests with light scrubbing and some soap. The washer removed most of the stains, and we didn't notice any residual odor once they were out of the washing machine. The best part is that the more you wash the towels, the more absorbent they become, though they might shrink after each wash. We only wish the towels had loops for us to dry them.
Material: Organic cotton | Roll Size: 10 cloths | Care: Machine-wash
The ample size offers more surface area to clean messes.
The dishcloths might not be as absorbent.
The Luckiss Bamboo Cleaning Cloth Set is an eco-friendly option with a large surface area for tackling messes. They are made out of bamboo waffle weave fabric, which can absorb seven times its weight in moisture, according to the brand.
During testing, the dishcloths and disposable paper towels required the same effort to effectively clean stains. However, these cloths failed when wiping wine off our carpet—it took 30 swipes for our dishcloth to clean the mess. We also couldn't remove the stains from the towels, so this pick might not be the best-looking after months of heavy use.
Still, these towels are durable and will not fray or fall apart. The set is available in packs of 6 or 12 and comes in six colors. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have a roll, so it might not work if you want a paper towel dupe.
Material: Rayon from bamboo | Roll Size: 12 cloths | Care: Machine wash
We recommend the Full Circle Tough Sheet Reusable Plant Towels for their soft, satiny feel, stylish design, and heavy-duty material that absorbed and cleaned messes during our testing. If you want something similar to a disposable paper towel, the Kitchen + Home Bamboo Towels performed just as well as the Bounty paper towels, but you don’t have to throw them away after each use.
To find the best reusable paper towels on the market, we tested 20 popular options in our lab. We first measured the size of the reusable paper towel sheet, including length and width. Next, we checked the durability by crumpling the dry reusable paper towel. We then filled a cup with water and submerged the reusable paper towel to see how much water it absorbed, paying attention to the amount of leftover water inside the cup.
We also compared the performance of our reusable paper towels against Bounty paper towels to see which one cleaned better by recording the number of swipes it would take to clean a mess. We tested chocolate syrup, coffee grounds, blue liquid, and red wine. We also rubbed the sheets against a rug for 10 seconds to see if there was any damage or abrasion to the towel.
After we used the towels, we tested them to see how easily stains washed out and how quickly they dried. We tested the towels with a moisture meter after 30 minutes and dried our hands with it to assess the absorbency. Finally, we smelled the towel and recorded if there were any odors as it was drying.
Reusable paper towels can mop up spills or wipe surfaces such as countertops, stoves, or glass panes to keep them clean. The reusable towel you choose depends on where and how you plan to use it. We recommend stocking up on a few types tailored to different messes and areas—plus, when some are in the washing machine you won't be empty-handed.
For kitchen cleaning, opt for a towel that comes on a roll or has included hooks for convenient use. If you're wiping up particularly gross messes, you may want to opt for a Swedish dishcloth like the Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths Pack. During testing, these were durable and effective but also easy to clean, so you won't be stuck with grimy reusable towels. Microfiber towels are another favorite for multipurpose cleaning and can go from dusting to drying to cleaning in a pinch.
Reusable paper towels are made of long-lasting materials like bamboo, cotton, microfiber, and cellulose, which is a blend of cotton and wood pulp. However, some materials are better suited for specific cleaning jobs than others.
Seo recommends cellulose reusable paper towels because they are the most natural and sustainable material. While microfiber is a less sustainable material because it's made from processed plastic fibers, it is an incredibly durable option that you can use a lot longer.
Reusable paper towels come in many shapes and sizes. Depending on your needs, you may want a more compact option or one that covers a large surface area. Smaller reusable paper towels, like Swedish dishcloths, measure around 8 by 9 inches, while microfiber cloths and some bamboo reusable paper towel brands can be as large as 12 by 12 inches.
The pro of reusable paper towels is that you can clean and reuse them time and time again. The care method for different materials and types of reusable paper towels can vary, so we recommend reading the manufacturer's instructions thoroughly before washing them.
Cleaning reusable paper towels can be as simple as rinsing them in the sink with soap. Some reusable paper towels are also machine-washable, which is ideal for deep-set stains and unsavory messes, while you can toss other reusable paper towels in the dishwasher.
“Microfiber needs to be washed separately with detergent, using no bleach or fabric softener," according to Murphy.
Grove Co. Swedish Dishcloths: These Swedish dishcloths from Grove Co. clean messes just as well as any paper towel and have an attractive floral design. The dishcloths are stiff when dry but become more flexible once you get them wet. Although they handled messes well and were easy to clean, the sheets took a long time to dry.
Zero Waste Store Reusable Paper Towels: For anyone who wants to go paperless, check out the Zero Waste Reusable Paper Towels. We had mixed results concerning absorbency—while they were better at wiping messes clean, the towels did not easily blot up liquids.
If you want to minimize your daily single-use waste, reusable paper towels, like reusable grocery bags, are a worthy investment. While they cost more than disposable towels upfront, you can use them many times and save money in the long run. Plus, many options (mainly bamboo) come with rolls that you can put on paper towel holders and look like a traditional towel.
Based on our research and testing, we recommend microfiber, cotton, and cellulose reusable paper towels for their impressive absorbency. During our absorbency tests, the Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths Pack, which is made of cellulose and cotton, absorbed an impressive 4 ounces of water.
Your usage and frequency of washing factor into how long your reusable paper towels will last. Typically, you can reuse them anywhere from 50 to 120 times or more.
This article was written by Nor’adila Hepburn, a contributing writer for Real Simple. To compile this list, we tested 10 reusable paper towels in our lab to see which ones were the best choices for shoppers. We also spoke to Danny Seo, a sustainability expert and author of Do Just One Thing: 365 Ideas for a Better You, Life, and Planet, and Robin Murphy, the founder of ChirpChirp Residential Cleaning Services.
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