The No-Sew Method To DIYing Your Own Reusable Paper Towels

Cutting back on paper towels can be one of the hardest things you do in your home. As much as we'd all like to do better for the environment, it's just too convenient to quickly grab a paper towel when cleaning up a mess. The solution may be to use reusable paper towels, which still roll up like their single-use counterparts and are used in the same way. The only difference is that they can be cleaned after they're used and then reused over and over again. If you want to make your own reusable paper towels, TikToker @spoonflower_official has an excellent DIY tutorial for this project, and you don't even need to know how to sew to complete it. You'll simply cut the fabric into even squares, roll them up, and place them on a paper towel holder. 

So many households are trying to stop using paper towels these days –– and for good reason, too. Americans spent about $6.47 billion on paper towels alone in 2020, per Statistica. Cutting back on your use can save you a lot of money. Reducing your paper towel usage will also cut down the amount of garbage you're throwing out every week. Furthermore, if you want to be more sustainable and eco-friendly, choosing reusable materials can be beneficial, since typical paper towels require trees and lots of water to be manufactured. There's currently an overwhelming amount of important resources being used just to create unnecessary waste. Check out this simple DIY that will make your home more environmentally-conscious while saving you money.

Since Spoonflower is a lifestyle brand that makes wallpaper and fabric products, the company uses one of their adorable printed fabrics for the project, but you can use any knit fabric you wish. Cut your fabric into squares of any size; 12-inches by 12-inches is recommended in the video. Then, simply roll up the fabric, making sure to overlap the ends so you can get a neat, continuous cylinder that you can easily slip onto a paper towel holder. And there's no need to worry about having an unfinished edge – knit fabrics do not fray because they are made of a single strand and not many strings like woven fabrics. Using something like old flannel, terry cloth, t-shirt material, or any single-knit fabric will work well. If you're really concerned about unraveling or curling and you do have a sewing machine, you can simply finish the edge of each cloth with a serger stitch.

Of course, reusable paper towels require some upkeep because they need to be washed. Just use the paper towels until they are all dirty, then throw them into the washing machine on a cold water cycle with a small amount of detergent. You can also use a mesh bag to keep them from getting damaged. Once clean, let them air dry. Eventually, reusable paper towels will wear out and need to be replaced, but this shouldn't be for many months. Compare that to a roll of single-use paper towels that you use up several times a month and reusable types are clearly the cost-effective and eco-friendly option.