Cloth-eez Paper Towel Alternative: How to Use Reusable Cloths
By Green Mountain Diapers | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: Product Reviews
A practical walkthrough for swapping paper towels with Cloth-eez reusable unbleached cloths, from first wash to daily rotation and stain care.
Quick answer
Buy one pack of Cloth-eez Paper Towel Alternative cloths, wash them once before first use, and keep a small stack within arm's reach of the sink. Use a dry cloth for hands and a slightly damp one for counters, then toss used cloths into a small open bin and wash every two to three days. Expect a short adjustment period: you will handle messes slightly differently than with paper, but the routine becomes automatic within a week.
Why two-layer birdseye cotton changes how you wipe
The Cloth-eez Paper Towel Alternative is two layers of birdseye fabric sewn together with a center seam, made from organic unbleached cotton. That two-layer construction means more cotton and more absorbency than a single square, so one cloth usually handles a spill that would take several paper towels. The 13 x 13 inch size before washing shrinks to about 12 x 12.5 inches after the first wash, which is still large enough to fold in half for a counter wipe or leave flat for drying hands.
Because the cloth is reusable, you are not just replacing paper; you are changing the rhythm of cleaning. A damp cloth lifts sticky residue better than a dry paper towel, while a dry cloth is better for streak-free glass and hand drying. The center seam also gives you a visual guide: fold along it for a smaller pad, or keep it open for bigger jobs.
Setting up a simple two-zone system
You do not need a complicated color-coded system to start. A workable setup is one small stack of clean cloths near the sink and one open, breathable bin under the sink or on the counter for used ones. Open bins let cloths dry out and reduce odor between washes; a sealed wet bag works for travel but is not ideal for daily kitchen use.
If you also use cloths for hands, keep a separate stack for that purpose so you are not wiping hands with a cloth that just cleaned a raw-meat counter. Two stacks, one for surfaces and one for hands, is enough separation for most homes. When you have a very messy job, like a broken egg or oily stovetop, reach for a cloth you are ready to wash immediately rather than trying to rinse and reuse it.
Washing without overcomplicating it
Wash your Cloth-eez cloths with like colors and a normal detergent, avoiding fabric softener and dryer sheets because they coat cotton fibers and reduce absorbency. You can wash them with kitchen towels or other cotton items; there is no need for a separate load unless you want one. For stains, a short soak in oxygen bleach before washing handles most food and coffee marks.
Drying on low or line drying extends the life of the cotton and reduces shrinkage after the first wash. If you dry on high heat, expect a bit more shrinkage over time, though the cloths remain usable. A common mistake is washing only when the bin is overflowing; that means cloths sit damp for days. Wash every two to three days, or sooner if the bin smells sour.
Step-by-step: putting Cloth-eez cloths to work
- 1. Prewash before first use: Run the new cloths through a warm wash with a small amount of detergent and dry them on low. This removes any manufacturing residue and gets the shrinkage out of the way so you know their final size. Checkpoint: cloths should feel soft and absorbent, not stiff or slick. If they still feel slick, wash again without fabric softener.
- 2. Assign a clean stack and a used bin: Fold clean cloths and place them near the sink. Put an open, breathable bin within tossing distance for used ones. Keep a separate small stack for hand drying if you want to avoid cross-use. Checkpoint: if the bin is more than two days old and smells sour, wash sooner.
- 3. Match the cloth to the job: Use a dry cloth for hands, glass, and dry dusting. Dampen a cloth slightly for counters, sticky spills, and wiping appliance fronts. For greasy messes, use a cloth with a little dish soap and rinse it well before tossing it in the bin. Common mistake: soaking a cloth and leaving it wadded on the counter. That grows odor fast; wring it out and let it dry over the edge of the sink or in the bin.
- 4. Wash every two to three days: Collect used cloths and wash with like colors in warm or hot water with normal detergent. Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets. Tumble dry low or line dry. Checkpoint: if cloths start repelling water instead of absorbing it, you likely have detergent or softener buildup. Wash again with hot water and no softener.
- 5. Treat stains before they set: For coffee, tomato, or berry stains, soak the cloth in oxygen bleach and warm water for 30 to 60 minutes before washing. Do not use chlorine bleach regularly, as it weakens cotton fibers over time. Checkpoint: unbleached cotton may show faint stains even after washing; this is normal and does not affect function.
- 6. Replace only when worn out: With regular use and washing every few days, a pack of 12 can last for many months. Retire a cloth when it develops holes, the center seam fails, or it no longer absorbs well after a hot wash. Next step: if you want a second set for bathrooms or travel, add another pack rather than stretching one set across every room.
Product facts that matter for this swap
- Cloth-eez Paper Towel Alternative - Natural Unbleached: Two-layer birdseye washable, reusable paper towel alternative cloth made of organic unbleached cotton. Pack of 12. Size 13 x 13 inches before washing, about 12 x 12.5 inches after shrinkage. The two layers give you more absorbency per cloth, so you can handle a spill with one square instead of grabbing a wad of paper. The pack of 12 is enough to rotate through a few days of kitchen use before washing.
- Cloth-eez Insert: Cloth-eez Insert is available in Small, Medium, Large, and Economy sizes, all 6-ply and made without bamboo rayon, microfiber, or hemp. These inserts are designed as diaper doublers, not kitchen cloths, but the size range and 6-ply cotton construction illustrate how the same brand approaches absorbency. If you already use Cloth-eez diapers, you know the cotton quality; if not, this is a different product for a different job.
