Reducing Paper Towel Waste

[Unregistered]

Do any of you have any solutions to reduce the amount of paper towels the kids waste?
The are expensive and they just waste so many of them. The state doesn't allow hand towels so paper is a must. I have a commercial dispenser and the paper tri fold towels that go in it are just so expensive. Ideas anyone?

[Unregistered]

In my state the wording is "single use towels" so i use washcloths.
I keep a row available by the sink. I have a picture chart on the side of the mirror showing proper use. I keep a dishpan in the tub to discard the used ones, and toss them in the wash when I do a load.

if your wording is similar, maybe that would work.

[jenboo]

Do any of you have any solutions to reduce the amount of paper towels the kids waste?
The are expensive and they just waste so many of them. The state doesn't allow hand towels so paper is a must. I have a commercial dispenser and the paper tri fold towels that go in it are just so expensive. Ideas anyone?

Does it specifically say paper?? Our regulations say single use. I purchased the cheap packs of white wash clothes at walmart. I have a bin on the counter with the clean ones and a trash can on the floor for the used ones. Then I was them once a week.

If you absolutely have to use paper, I would teach them "one and done". Every time they go to dry their hands, say one and done! and help them to get one paper towel only.

[Play Care]

In my state the wording is "single use towels" so i use washcloths.
I keep a row available by the sink. I have a picture chart on the side of the mirror showing proper use. I keep a dishpan in the tub to discard the used ones, and toss them in the wash when I do a load.

if your wording is similar, maybe that would work.

I changed to this and love it! The papertowels were an expensive mess. And of course there were the times they somehow wound up being flushed, etc.

[MissAnn]

I may switch to the washcloth idea.....but this is what I do now. I don't keep the towels in the bathroom. They have to come out to get one. It makes the line of kids go faster too. They just have to make sure to shake the water off. I say......wash a little, rinse a little, shake a little....come get a little towel.

One girl was taking 5!!!!! 5!!!!!! No way!

[coolconfidentme]

Our water & sewer bill is to much to wash *one & done* cloth towel. I also think about my day is long enough, I don't want to spend extra time doing laundry either.

I use the Aldi's brand with the *pic a size* paper towel.

[jenboo]

Our water & sewer bill is to much to wash *one & done* cloth towel. I also think about my day is long enough, I don't want to spend extra time doing laundry either.

I use the Aldi's brand with the *pic a size* paper towel.

I only wash the towels once a week in the same load as other laundry that I would be doing anyway. I'm already wading that load anyway. For me, it saves a lot of money. I couldn't imagine buying so many paper towels.
ETA: I wash them during daycare hours so no added time

[Naptime yet?]

In MD, licensing specifically says "paper towels", but that's for use after toileting.
I like the idea of using washcloths to wipe hands/faces after eating, plus I think the kids will do a better job cleaning themselves since they're sturdier. Now to find some black ones to hide the stains...

[renodeb]

Where I live it specifically says paper towels. I have heard of providers that cut the roll in half. Other than that just watch the useage. Start teaching them one and done and they will catch on. For me I couldnt imagine washing all those towels!

[SignMeUp]

In MD, licensing specifically says "paper towels", but that's for use after toileting.
I like the idea of using washcloths to wipe hands/faces after eating, plus I think the kids will do a better job cleaning themselves since they're sturdier. Now to find some black ones to hide the stains...

And dark blue, dark green, dark red. I find bundles at Target for cheap every so often. I bought white "cotton" ones there too, but was disappointed in those. I have never had white cotton that didn't bleach clean ... till now.

For me I couldnt imagine washing all those towels!
Today 08:44 AM

Washcloths don't take much space though. If I am doing a load of my own darks, I toss them in, or else they go in with kids bedding. Rarely do I do a full load of washcloths, and I have never done more than one full load in a week.

[Happily_wed]

The cheap dark colored wash cloths work great as napkins at meal times too!

[rebekki78]

What a couple of great ideas here, will be trying a few and see how it goes! I think I passed that rule in the book, and I still don't see hand drying rules, just hand washing rules. I have a towel hanging where they can wipe hands off. I figured...well, their hands are clean after they wash them so it shouldn't matter! But I might want to re think that.

[Childminder]

What a couple of great ideas here, will be trying a few and see how it goes! I think I passed that rule in the book, and I still don't see hand drying rules, just hand washing rules. I have a towel hanging where they can wipe hands off. I figured...well, their hands are clean after they wash them so it shouldn't matter! But I might want to re think that.

This is from MI.gov Tech Manual R 400.1924 page 121 :
• Have a clean, disposable paper or single-use cloth towel available.

[coolconfidentme]

Could you install a hand dryer? What's the rule on that?

I don't have washer/dryer at my DC..., I do live onsite. The city water/sewer is costly! I use paper plates too cuz running the dish washer is expensive. Sad but true.

[Play Care]

For me the wash cloths make sense as I already wash two loads of laundry each day (I follow the FLY Lady system - a load a day keeps the CHAOS away:: ) and as someone else pointed out, they are small enough that it doesn't add to my loads. I'm also on a well. For me the bigger hazard was papertowels being flushed down the toilet and clogging my septic