Are you looking to go paperless in the kitchen, you can start by tackling the most used item in the room, paper towels. The EPA estimates that paper products alone make up about 31 of household waste. Replacing your paper towels with do-it-yourself kitchen towels is an easy first step that goes a long way in your efforts to go green.
There are different types and textures of cloth that can be used for common kitchen tasks. Finding the best material for the job at hand requires some trial and error. For instance, using recycled sheets might not be the best for scrubbing countertops. But the cloth from those recycled sheets is perfect for cleaning up simple spills and hand towels. Take some old sheets and cut them into squares of the sizes needed. Two-ply sheets are better and will stand up to use over time better than a single-ply piece of cloth. Simply match two squares of the same material, or different on each side depending on your liking, and sew a hem around the four corners. Repeat process until you find yourself with enough towels to meet your kitchen needs. Wash and reuse. This is a great first step in going paperless.