You know that little squeak you hear when
you wash your dishes with a sponge? That's your dish trying to tell you
to throw out that plastic sponge in favor of a loofah. Yeah, that thing
you use in your shower. Did you know you can use them as an eco-friendly
alternative to plastic sponges?
And what about your budget? What if I told
you you can cut back on cleaning expenses by giving up paper towels?
This may sound like a huge sacrifice, as they really are SUPER
convenient, I know. But imagine how convenient it would be to use just
one Swedish dishcloth that'll last you as long as 17 paper towels. Read
on to find out what it is and four other alternatives to kitchen
disposables.
1. Natural loofahs 
Did you know loofahs grow like peas in a
pod? Each one grows in its own pod, and once they're "ripe," you just
peel the dried pod and voila - a loofah. Loofahs are super absorbent, so
you could use them to soak up spilled liquids. And they could also be
an eco-friendly replacement for your plastic sponge. They are more
durable and less harmful to the environment, so it's a win-win
situation!
2. Cotton scraps 
This solution will be easy on your pockets.
You probably have unused fabric scraps from sewing projects lying
around, or some old T-shirts you don't wear anymore. Take this as an
opportunity to de-clutter and cut the fabric into squares of your
preferred size. You now have a new cleaning cloth! It is free, reusable,
eco-friendly, and now, your home is also a bit more organized.
3. Cotton towels
If you don't want to recycle or cut an old
shirt, that is totally fine. Sometimes, we use paper towels to absorb
liquids and oil from food, and reaching for a paper towel seems like the
best option since it is clean and sanitary. You can purchase a set of 3
or 5 small cotton towels that will be at your service to replace paper
towels. Keep them in a separate drawer or even roll them on the paper
towel holder and wash them on the hot water cycle with detergent and a
minimal-to-no fabric softener.
4. Reusable un-paper cotton towels
reusable paper towels
These are the purchasable alternative to
rolling your own towels on the paper towel device. A quick search
through Amazon or your local grocery store, and you'll find the roll of
your dreams if you want to pamper yourself with an eco-friendly
purchase.
5. Swedish dishcloths
This amazing invention is half sponge and
half cloth. Just one dishcloth can replace 17 paper towel rolls!
Naturally, this is not only eco-friendly but also budget-friendly.
Swedish dishcloths are also biodegradable, so there will be no guilt
when you finally throw them in the trash