Save Money and Reduce Waste With Cloth Napkins
Are you looking for ways to save money? Maybe you're wanting to cut down on waste in your home? One simple way to save money and cut down on waste is to use cloth napkins.
Why We Use Cloth Napkins
We started using cloth napkins when we were first married as a way to save money. With just two of us, it was easy to add a few napkins here and there into our regular laundry.
When we had kids, we continued to use our cloth napkins (the same ones we'd been using for years). When our sons were learning to eat, it was nice to have something heavier. Cloth napkins don't easily float away like paper napkins tend to.
Although the volume of cloth napkin use increased with two more people using them on a consistent basis, we still preferred our cloth napkins to paper napkins. They were more absorbent for picking up toddler spills, and our kids were used to them.
Now that the kids are starting school, we still love using the cloth napkins. They add color to our table, and I can use them as a rag for wiping off the table after meals.
We made a vinegar/water solution in a spray bottle to use for wiping down our table after meals. By using the cloth napkins to clean the table, we're able to use fewer paper towels and rags, which has helped cut down on laundry.
Benefits of Using Cloth Napkins
- They last a really long time. We've had the same ones for over ten years.
- You can use them for multiple purposes. The napkins you use for dinner can be used for cleaning tables and countertops after the meal is over.
- They add color to your table.
- They're heavier than paper napkins, which makes them easier for little people to use and handle.
- Using them saves resources. They save you money, and they decrease demand for new paper napkins to be made.
How to Make the Switch to Cloth Napkins
- Rummage through your home and see if you have any cloth napkins. If you don't have any, you can make your own, or ask if anyone in a local Buy Nothing group or Freecycle group has any they'd like to get rid of. Ask friends and family too. If that doesn't pan out, you could always check thrift stores, or just order some online.
- Put your leftover paper napkins in a place where they're not easily accessible. That way, you can still get to them if you need them, but you can build the habit of just using the cloth napkins.
- Figure out a system for washing your napkins. I like to wash them with our regular laundry, but you might prefer to wash them separately.
- Figure out a system for storing your napkins. When our kids were smaller, we kept them in a drawer they could access. That way they could help us set the table. Now that they're taller, we keep them on a wire basket on our kitchen counter.
Have you made the switch to cloth napkins? How do you handle the logistics of storing and cleaning them? Please share with us in the comments!
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I want to get some cloth napkins! Yours look so beautiful. Did you make them or buy them? I’m not great about sewing. 🙁 Thanks for posting at the #WasteLessWednesday Blog hop! Can’t wait to see your posts next week too!
I don’t know how to sew either! Some of the napkins were wedding presents (almost 10 years ago!), but most were hand-me-downs. I picked up a few at Target last year because I couldn’t resist.
They sell a hem tape that you can iron or press in place. Only need to cut the shape napkin you want, fold over the edges and use the tape to get homemade napkins.
I’ve been considering using cloth napkins, especially as I try to save money. Do you find they save you money? I assume throwing them in with other towels and such doesn’t cause you to spend extra on washing and drying them since they are so small?
Definitely! I don’t buy paper napkins, and we already had our cloth napkins, so there wasn’t an up-front expense. I just throw them in with the regular wash.
I thought about this long and hard when I had my kids but I guess it depends where you live. Living in Ireland, the weather is not good enough to dry the cloth nappies outside and so the amount of energy used would be worse that the damage done by some biodegradable nappies.
But if I lived somewhere warmer and drier, I would totally love cloth nappies.
Or, you could just wash the napkins with your other laundry!
I think there’s a language confusion here. The post refers to napkins used for meals to wipe hands and faces. Your reply seems to be referring to nappies (diapers) used on a baby’s little bum. Don’t feel guilty about using one type of nappie (diaper) over the other as long as your little ones are clean, dry and cuddled you’re doing the best for your family. I’m mama to 6. All over 21 yrs old now. Used cloth diapers for some but not all. Depended on what was best for our family at the time.
Oh my goodness! Yes, I think there is some language confusion! LOL.
I haven’t made the switch completely yet. Still building my stash. I don’t have enough to replace them all at once. But we use for our big Sunday dinner and when guests come over. I am going to start looking in our thrift stores locally!
That’s a good start! It’s smart to wait until you can find the napkins for cheap – they’re out there somewhere! lol
Over the years we have accumulated enough cloth napkins to get a family of four through most of the week eating breakfast and supper. So I just wash them with my towels when I do them 1-2x per week. Also since we have this many, I have a dedicated drawer in the kitchen for them. Easily accessible to all. I love using cloth napkins, but have never thought to use them to clean up – that’s on my to do list now!
I like the idea of washing them with the towels! Thanks for sharing how you do it. 🙂
And never iron them again….My sister taught me to pull them straight from the washer, stretch both directions and smooth flat on the counter…or better yet, on top of the dryer. You can put a whole stack together, flip occasionally until all are dry and most (even cotton ones) look freshly starched & ironed!
That’s amazing!!! I’m totally going to try this. Thanks for the idea, Sylvia!
We love our cloth napkins and have been using them regularly for over 5 years. Mine are cream and a bit stained so we save some nicer ones we use when we have company. But most people are still afraid to use them. I do prefer cute patterned napkins because the hide the occasional tomato sauce stain much better. I like the idea of having them in a cute basket on the counter for easy access.