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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 31 2009 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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Michelle, wipe with a damp cloth and then dry with a dry cloth.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Lori
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| Posted: Jan 31 2009 at 6:38pm | IP Logged
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Okay, this settles it--I've been contemplating getting rid of the paper napkins & plates for awhile, and you've all convinced me!
I'm headed out to Target to get some additional washcloths for our new napkins (I have a ton of old ones for cleaning/dishes/etc and they are used like paper towels, so those aren't a problem for us). I too hate the polyester feeling of most cloth napkins, so I think this will work. We'll probably keep a pack of regular napkins on hand for company, though! 
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Matilda
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| Posted: Jan 31 2009 at 8:16pm | IP Logged
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DivineMercy wrote:
| Sorry to ask such a simple question, but what do those who do not use paper towels use for cleaning their mirrors? |
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I used to work for an art conservationist who had huge windows in her studio that had to be kept clean in order to do her work. She always had me use newspaper to clean the windows. I thought it would leave ugly black streaks but it didn't. I was impressed with how well it worked!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
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Matilda
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| Posted: Jan 31 2009 at 8:29pm | IP Logged
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To Marilyn and Laura specifically:
What do you use paper towels for? Do you only use them for cleaning? How about drying your hands after washing in the kitchen and/or bathroom? In place of plates at meals? As napkins at meals? How many rolls do you use per week? I am curious as to what level of "addiction" you have if you don't mind me prying.
My thought is this. You might think you are "addicted" to paper towels but if you are using a pack of six in a 2 or three week time period, that is very different from someone who is using up a 6 pack in one weeks time. For those who use them regularly, what is your rate of consumption? In my house, we use them pretty regularly, but not for everything and I can blow through a 6 pack of select-a-size towels in two weeks. Would you all say that sounds like a lot or a little?
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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folklaur
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| Posted: Jan 31 2009 at 9:15pm | IP Logged
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Matilda wrote:
To Marilyn and Laura specifically:
What do you use paper towels for? Do you only use them for cleaning? How about drying your hands after washing in the kitchen and/or bathroom? In place of plates at meals? As napkins at meals? How many rolls do you use per week? I am curious as to what level of "addiction" you have if you don't mind me prying.
My thought is this. You might think you are "addicted" to paper towels but if you are using a pack of six in a 2 or three week time period, that is very different from someone who is using up a 6 pack in one weeks time. For those who use them regularly, what is your rate of consumption? In my house, we use them pretty regularly, but not for everything and I can blow through a 6 pack of select-a-size towels in two weeks. Would you all say that sounds like a lot or a little? |
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When we are sick, we use paper towels instead of cloth towels to dry our hands. (when not sick, hand towels are fine - tho I will often use paper towels anyway, as I am a germ freak, especially around food.)
When I am cleaning up in the kitchen, after meat especially, I use paper towels.
To pat meat dry - paper towels. I can not imagine using cloth to do that (Sorry to those who do, I am sure it is great and all, but I am having serious heebie-jeebies thinking about it.)
When I clean the bathrooms, I use paper towels for some things.
When I am having to clean gross things (vomit, etc) I much prefer to use paper towels.
Lots of crafts need paper towels, too :)
We buy a big pack from Costco once every two and a half - three months, on average. So - that has 12 of the larger rolls in it. A roll to a little more than a roll a week, I would say. Some weeks more, some less, obviously.
When I recently read about how things are NOT getting clean in people's washers (due to using colder cycles, less detergent, no bleach, etc,) it really blew my mind (and turned my stomach, too). As I said, around food, I am a total germ-o-phobe. I would imagine salmonella and E.coli cross contamination everywhere. My peace of mind needs paper towels.
As for using old clothes - they would have to be tatters before my DH would be okay with me cutting clothes up. If we outgrow them, he wants them donated to people who need clothes, shelters, etc. He would never okay me cutting them up, unless they were truely in tatters, and then I can't see where they would be able to absorb much then anyway.
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Maddie
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| Posted: Feb 01 2009 at 10:34pm | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
As for using old clothes - they would have to be tatters before my DH would be okay with me cutting clothes up. If we outgrow them, he wants them donated to people who need clothes, shelters, etc. He would never okay me cutting them up, unless they were truly in tatters, and then I can't see where they would be able to absorb much then anyway.
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I could understand this if you bought new clothes for your family, but we buy 90% of our clothes used and by the time they are ready for the rag box, I doubt it would be charitable to donate them with grease stains and the like. I have no qualms whatsoever about cutting up a 25 cent T-shirt I picked up at a yard sale that my son used to climb a tree with and ripped it coming down. 
As for clothes in tatters, no problem with that here! My children play hard and clothes around here DO end up in tatters. Jeans and t-shirts hardly ever get passed down.
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Feb 02 2009 at 7:33am | IP Logged
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We use both paper and cloth in our home.
We buy a big box of dispenser style hand towels (the folded ones) at Costco and keep them in our bathrooms for hand drying. I would say we do not buy more than one big box a year. My dh started this when my son was going through chemo and we continue to use them, mainly during the cold and flu season. I also keep some hand towels in the bathrooms, so there is a choice. I have one son who choses to just dries his hands on his pants
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There are also paper and cloth towels in the kitchen.
I am trying to use less paper towel, we have stopped using paper plates. I do like using paper towels for certain things, raw meat drippings definitely, and often times I use them to dry my hands. I use cloth for the regular wiping down of counters.
We do use paper napkins also. I would like to find some cloth and start phasing them into use. I don't like the poly blend so I guess I need to look a little harder for some cotton ones.
I am trying to be more conscious of when I use paper products. Now if I could just remember to always take my shopping backs into the store with me, but that is another topic.
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mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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vmalott
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happymama wrote:
| Funny story, my mom uses tons of paper towels. When she comes to visit us, I get out a roll and put it on the guest bed for her. :) It drives her nuts that I don't use 'em. |
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My mom is that way with paper napkins. For whatever reason, she thinks I'm nuts for using cloth napkins. I still have the pack she bought for us to use when she was here a couple of years ago! 
I do use paper towels for cleaning up, which is something leftover from living in my parents' house. This thread is definitely making me consider drastically reducing my use and rethinking how I clean in general. I *will* still have them around for soaking up bacon grease. Can't give up that bacon (yet)! 
Valerie
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Valerie
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Feb 02 2009 at 7:41am | IP Logged
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Matilda wrote:
To Marilyn and Laura specifically:
What do you use paper towels for? Do you only use them for cleaning? How about drying your hands after washing in the kitchen and/or bathroom? In place of plates at meals? As napkins at meals? How many rolls do you use per week? I am curious as to what level of "addiction" you have if you don't mind me prying.
My thought is this. You might think you are "addicted" to paper towels but if you are using a pack of six in a 2 or three week time period, that is very different from someone who is using up a 6 pack in one weeks time. For those who use them regularly, what is your rate of consumption? In my house, we use them pretty regularly, but not for everything and I can blow through a 6 pack of select-a-size towels in two weeks. Would you all say that sounds like a lot or a little? |
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Like Mary Chris I use both. I too have the Costco paper towels in the bathroom - we find it really made a difference in our house We use rolls of Bounty in the kitchen and also paper napkins for meals (cloth for special occasions) We use soft white cleaning cloths for bathroom and kitchen (I am actually thinking of going color coded) - and throw them in the wash - we have piles of them. I use sponges for the sink and pans - and these get changed often and go through the dishwasher every day. I use the paper towel through the day for hand drying in the kitchen, for surfaces with meat etc. Also for floor spills.
We don't use bleach or harsh detergents for washing - so I always use a warm wash.
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Lori
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| Posted: Feb 02 2009 at 9:03am | IP Logged
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MaryChris,
I bought the shopping "sacks" that you can re-use...is that what you're talking about? Or just recycling the plastic ones?
Anyway, I always forget them in the trunk or back of the van, so I ask the grocery bagger to just put everything back in the cart, and I will bag it at the car...they look at me like I'm crazy, but I just can't take more plastic bags piling up around the house, although we DO re-use them for pet scooping/etc.
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Feb 02 2009 at 9:23am | IP Logged
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Lori wrote:
MaryChris,
I bought the shopping "sacks" that you can re-use...is that what you're talking about? Or just recycling the plastic ones?
Anyway, I always forget them in the trunk or back of the van, so I ask the grocery bagger to just put everything back in the cart, and I will bag it at the car...they look at me like I'm crazy, but I just can't take more plastic bags piling up around the house, although we DO re-use them for pet scooping/etc. |
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What a GREAT idea!
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Help me break a paper towel addiction...
