Both performed well and we are more comfortable with the way the house looks and smells knowing that we avoided using chemicals. And if you dont love it, how can you expect anybody else to? Linen napkins are also a great swap because you can tuck them in your purse or backpack to use on the go. At the same time, more people were at home on their phones than ever before! The Papaya Reusable Paper Towel is made from tough paper that you can reuse over and over. Mitch is the publisher at Earth911.com and the sustainability leader at Metaforce, a global marketing firm. Its natural. Linen is a sustainable fabric and has a soft, crinkly texture that dries quickly, since the threads in linen have a bit more space between them than tighter-woven fabrics. One holds about 20 times its weight in liquid. The active ingredient in CleanWell Botanical Disinfectant, thymol, has been recognized as a cleaning agent for centuries. These cloths can be used with water and cleaning products. Each Papaya towel comes with a punch-hole to allow hanging on a hook that comes with each two-pack. Keeping a clean home often means you have to throw out a lot of waste and rely on toxic chemicals that raise long-term health concerns from prolonged exposure and are hard to dispose of safely. We strongly urge CleanWell to rethink its packaging and introduce a low-plastic refill option for people who re-order. For instance, the dishwashing liquid contains green tea, which I now know is an antibacterial agent learning is fun! The mango and lime were in great shape the next day, and instead of turning into a giant crouton overnight, the bread kept its crunchy crust and soft inside. The company suggests replacing a towel after two or three months but says a towel can be used for up to nine months. Plus, their vibrant, artist-designed patterns brighten up the kitchen I've been using the Squeeze the Day set, which features lemons and blossoms, and they make cleaning up spills a bit more cheery. I really like that this is a product that can help so many different dogs older ones that can't hold it in as long, puppies being trained, apartment dwellers who can't go outside all the time. How it works: These bars replace their liquid counterparts, and without all that extra plastic, you get more bang for your buck the shampoo bar, for example, is the equivalent of three bottles of liquid shampoo. I like to keep a few microfiber cloths on hand for specific cleaning needs, like dusting tech screens and drying fragile glasses and vases. My succulents survived the journey, but Succulents Box thoughtfully provides instructions for people who might have to give their tiny treasures some TLC due to rough transit. Papaya Reusables quick-drying, highly absorbent cloths are the convenient paper-towel alternative youve been searching for. As a result, we suggest using the Papaya reusable towel with CleanWells spray instead of disposable wipes. The EPA has certified it as an effective substance to kill 99.9% of a variety of germs. What it is: An organic plant subscription box. A veteran tech journalist, Mitch is passionate about helping people understand sustainability and the impact of their buying decisions on the planet. You're registered to this event, you'll find all the details in your inbox. Most were one word. Keep your dish cloths close to the sink for washing and drying dishes. 2022 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. And some of them aren't great for the environment, either. The towel washes easily in the clothes washer or dishwasher, but most of the time it was necessary only to rinse it. Each swab comes in a biodegradable, plant-based carrying case. This guide aims to make the transition away from single-use products a little easier, explaining what products are out there, the problems they solve, and how they help the Earth. As mentioned, the Papaya towel is tough when wet. Both ends of the Basic style are the same, with a textured surface, but the Beauty style has a rounded end and a pointed end, for precise makeup application. Its a better alternative to traditional paper towels if you choose not to use a cloth towel you can wash repeatedly. Linen towels are my go-to kitchen favorite for cleaning up messes and spills. The wraps keep their seal, the designs are fun and vibrant (I love the bears and bees pattern), and cleaning is a cinch Bee's Wrap is a winner. You can stick the hooks strategically around your home for different uses. I had no good place to store it after I used it, so it would end up either sitting wet at the bottom of my sink breeding bacteria and smelling like mildew or hanging awkwardly over my faucet. Environmental impact: Every year, trillions of single-use plastic products are thrown away, with too many making their way to our oceans. $37 per potty, as part of a monthly subscription. The flecks of oatmeal offered some light exfoliation, and the bar worked up a good lather, leaving my skin feeling squeaky clean in the shower and soft for the rest of the day no dry skin here! You can expect to have your LastTissue pack for years to come each reusable tissue can withstand 520 machine washes. One thing that has become abundantly clear to me over the last year is that everything you do has a ripple effect. I've used the bread wrap to save half a baguette, the small wrap to keep half a lime fresh, and the medium wrap to cover a bowl of mango. Its fun. Two towels and a plastic hanger come in every box, which weighs more than the contents of the package. Things came to a head when she had her daughter and realized she needed a sustainable solution to the wads of paper towels filling her trash can every day. Papayas site makes it easy to order sheets individually, or create a customized subscription to get a fresh set (in a compostable mailer, of course) exactly when you need it. Credit: Getty Images/ jirkaejc. We launched with four artist collaborations . Environmental impact: Every day, 51 million facial tissues are used in the United States, and every LastTissue pack replaces more than 3,100 of those single-use tissues. The Papaya reusable paper towel is a novel approach to reducing single-use paper waste. For starters, paper towels often come wrapped in plastic, some even individually wrapped in a second plastic liner. The 6.6 x 7.8 Papaya towel is smaller than a standard paper towel and there were times when we wanted a full-size alternative. This dish towel can be responsibly composted after a few months of use. For those who aren't quite ready to embrace a bar-only shower experience, Ethique is also now offering concentrates, which you mix at home and pour into a container you already have. much better! We came up with our patent-pending hole-and-hook innovation, which seems simple, but makes ALL the difference. By joining you accept KCM Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. We found it effective on a stovetop, it removed grease and oil spatter and worked best when allowed to soak. With proper care, the wraps last for up to a year; you'll know it's time to replace them when they become thin and have trouble sticking, and at that point the wraps can be cut into strips and added to a compost pile or used as a fire starter. Just note, if you have multiple items wrapped up and can't remember what's what, these wraps aren't see through, so you will have to do a little unwrapping to see what's inside. I bought my first set of Swedish dishcloths years ago and, while I loved the idea of the product, the functionality and user experience fell short for me. Credit: Papaya Keep your dish cloths close to the sink for washing and drying dishes. Prices start at $4.95. We wanted to work with artists who had very different styles, and use our product to amplify their voices and artwork. Most were one word. Try this seriously easy way to clean all your stainless Companies also use chlorine bleaching to make the towels extra white, Get the Dots and Spots 4-pack from Oona Goods for $18, Get the Ladies Who Lunch Reusable Paper Towels 6-pack from Papaya for $54, Get Five Two Compostable Sponge Cloths 10-pack from Food52 for $29, Get the Linen Tea Towel from The Homebodies for $11, Get the Italian Washed Linen Napkins, Set of 4 from Williams Sonoma for $49.95, Get the Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloths from Amazon for $11.99. The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. While this product doesn't replace any single-use items, it's the perfect gift to give yourself (or someone else) this Earth Day. The detergent sheets are made with just four plant-derived ingredients (five if you try the scented sheets), and are allergen-free and biodegradable. Papayas towels hold liquid more like a paper towel than a dishcloth, effectively picking up spills and crumbs without leaving annoying streaks on your countertop. Daily updates from me, Katie Couric, on the news that matters most to you. KCMs Mary Kate says the Edible Arrangement pack is her personal favorite, but she has her eyes on the Roses Are Yellow set for her next round. Some started with an interesting letter. Its perfect! Food 52s Five Two Compostable Sponge Cloths are a third brand of Swedish dishcloths that perform welland, if you havent guessed, Swedish dishcloths are really trendy right now. Bee's Wrap comes in multiple sizes, and the XXL roll can be trimmed to the size needed. Plus, were loving the bright, cheerful patterns. When doubled, it was tough but unfolded it was easy to tear. And then we noticed that a lot of great brands were named after fruit: Apple, Lululemon, Blackberry. Earth911 is a universal resource that helps you find your own shade of green. How it works: The flexible swab ends are made of a rubber-like material called TPE, while the durable rods are made of plastic reinforced with glass fiber. How it works: I tried several products, but two standouts are the orange zest dishwashing liquid and fruit and vegetable wash. All rights reserved. This dish towel can be responsibly composted after a few months of use. The old ways of cleaning, which too often involved using harsh chemicals that have no place in the home, are on the way out. Review: The Basic version just might be my new favorite thing. However, theyre incredibly absorbentup to 20 times their weightperfect for drying dishes or cleaning up a spill. The potty's natural earthy smells will entice your pup, but there's also a pheromone spray. One Papaya reusable cloth replaces 17 rolls of traditional paper towels. We rate the Papaya reusable paper towel as clearly Better than the traditional paper options. One fear was that these might start smelling weird after awhile, but I've used them routinely for about two weeks, and they don't have even the slightest scent. We also found that the lemon-thyme scent freshened our Papaya towel but did not leave a noticeable residue on surfaces after cleaning. Each towel lasts between two and three months and replaces 17 rolls of paper towels. With buzzwords like ethical alternatives and zero-waste swaps cropping up in the home and cleaning space, it can feel like youre doing Mother Earth wrong by trying to keep your home neat and tidy. How it works: Each LastTissue pack comes with six reusable handkerchiefs, made from organic cotton, and the dishwasher-safe cases are 100 percent silicone. By registering for this event you accept Katie Couric Medias Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. 1 Kitchen Terror (isn't that a Gordon Ramsay show?) Environmental impact: Artificial grass is often used as a puppy potty solution, and in addition to being a beast to clean, it also emits volatile organic compounds that may have short- and long-term adverse health effects on animals and people. To clean, just use soap and water. Environmental impact: More than 50,000 trees are chopped down every day to make single-use paper towels, which release methane gas (a leading cause of global warming) as they decompose. They have personality and are the best way to add some low-effort pizazz to a desk, shelf, bookcase, or patio. Products you buy through our links might earn us a commission. As your new habits become routine, remember that what you're doing is making a difference, even if you can't see it right away. Look out for our emails in your inbox soon! Great news! We also note that paper towel makers are introducing sheets that can be torn into smaller squares, so this may simply represent a personal preference. If you're ready to say goodbye forever to traditional paper towels, plastic wrap, and facial tissues, you're in luck it's never been easier to scrap single-use products. Environmental impact: Succulents require little water, often just needing the slightest bit of attention every few weeks, and some, like aloe vera and the snake plant, purify the air and remove toxins from their environment. Review: Switching from paper facial tissues to reusable cotton tissues does take some getting used to these are thicker, and while the handkerchiefs are soft, your nose will feel the difference. If your answer is higher than youd care to admit, youre not alone. When you first use a Papaya towel, there is an extra step that isnt required to use a regular towel the stiff Papaya towel needs to be wetted. Papaya checks off every box for what I'm looking for in a reusable paper towel they are all-natural, anti-bacterial, compostable, 20 times more absorbent than regular paper towels, and last for around two to three months. Microfiber cloths work great for dusting surfaces like computer, phone and television screens. What it is: A line of household and personal products made from plant- and mineral-based ingredients. We already had the design for our Mod Papayas paper towel and we thought, What about Papaya? Kind uses 100 percent recyclable packaging, so it's a zero-waste product. When my husband and I were brainstorming potential business ideas, we thought, Hey, heres a great material its made of cellulose and cotton, so its 100 percent compostable and theres room to innovate and make it so much better! We came up with our patent-pending hole-and-hook innovation, which seems simple, but makes ALL the difference. You can also put together a specially curated box to send as a gift, and there are options for people looking specifically for niche items like pet-friendly succulents, indoor succulents, and hanging succulents. Thank you for subscribing! The sustainably-sourced bark naturally neutralizes odors, draws liquid to the bottom of the potty, and repels moisture. Dishes, countertopsyou name it! It arrives stiff and, while we found it could absorb a lot of liquid when dry, it worked best when wet. What it is: A modern twist on the handkerchief and an alternative to single-use tissue packs. Copyright 2022 Earth Media Partners. The Pinkalicious shampoo bar, with its almost bubblegum-like scent, was also a hit. Lastly, even the toughest paper towels only last a use or two before they end up in the trash and eventually a landfill. We already had the design for our. Prices vary, depending on subscription. Choose a product or industry you LOVE. These bamboo paper towels come tightly rolled like popular grocery store brands, but they dont have any fluffwhat makes brand-name towels look thicker and more absorbent. The problem is, plastic wrap is hard to recycle, can release the toxic chemical dioxin, and is increasingly polluting the world's oceans. One day, I came across a staggering statistic about the deforestation caused by the demand for paper towels, and I realized I needed a product that would help me eliminate my paper towel usage once and for all. There is a tray liner to prevent leaks and because the Bark Potty lasts for a month and is regularly replaced, you don't have to worry about cleaning it (although if there's any solid waste, you will want to pick that up pronto!). Because youre gonna be living and breathing that product day in and day out! CleanWell provides thorough cleaning for the kitchen, bathroom, and dining room using thymol, a plant-based antiseptic it has a unique, thyme-like scent that leaves the room smelling clean. Papayas cardboard package also strikes us as overkill. Sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics were a nightmare, not to mention being a working mom with a toddler at home. You can stick the hooks strategically around your home for different uses. What it is: Ethique is the world's first full-range, zero-waste beauty brand. Papayas site makes it easy to order sheets individually, or create a customized subscription to get a fresh set (in a compostable mailer, of course) exactly when you need it. The Homebodies linen towels are made of 100% European flax linen. We used CleanWell for a variety of uses, including the tough job of cleaning outdoor furniture after the winter. Its perfect! Thats why we were jazzed to find, Theres a laundry list of reasons to love Papaya Reusables, but convenience sits at the top. Paper towels are almost irresistibly convenient, but as a major cause of deforestation, theyre a convenience thats dangerous for the planet. Environmental impact: For every product sold, whether online or in a brick-and-mortar store, Attitude plants a tree. Making the switch to being as eco-friendly as possible takes time and planning. When we were brainstorming names for the business, we thought about all the brands we love. Below, we spoke to Rena about the inspiration behind Papaya, where the name came from, and how she uses her towels every day. It's estimated that in the first six months of 2019, nearly 80 million Americans went through at least one roll of plastic wrap. Starting at $6. The company has partnered with Eden Reforestation and One Tree Planted, and to date, has planted 1,004,475 trees in Madagascar, Nepal, Haiti, Indonesia, Mozambique, Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, Canada, and the U.S. Additionally, Eden Reforestation hires local residents to grow, plant, and protect these trees, all while paying a fair wage. Plants contain everything we need to be sustainable, and cleaning is no exception. We found that a wet Papaya used with the CleanWell spray was more effective at removing food or oil than a dry paper towel. We wanted to work with artists who had very different styles, and use our product to amplify their voices and artwork. We launched with four artist collaborations Jessica Walsh, Laci Jordan, Ramzy Masri, and Abbey Lossing. We found ourselves reaching for Papaya every time there was a spill or cleaning to do. I have a few that I keep with reusables in my tote bag in case I order take-out or need to clean up a spill while Im out. $21.95 for 60 sheets. You can use microfiber cloths both wet and dry and wash them with your laundry. It's self-stable, and doesn't die or rot when stored. The napkins are smaller than standard dish towels, but you can still use them in the kitchen to clean and dry. Papaya argues that the cotton (30%) and paper (70%) towel is anti-bacterial because it is quick-drying, but it is not intrinsically bacteria resistant. When you're finished, wash it with soap and water and let it air dry (Papaya sends a little hook to put up), or throw it in the washing machine or the dishwasher's top rack. They actually absorb spills, can take on tough messes, and are easy to keep fresh. Its memorable. Get Bamboo Paper Towels (12 rolls) at Cloud Paper for $34. While some dogs will quickly take to the Bark Potty, others will require a lot of training, as I learned from Henry. Review: Anything that makes doing laundry easier is okay in my book, and that is exactly what Kind sheets do. It takes only a few seconds to clean the swabs after use, and they look and feel good as new. Made from plant fibers and printed with water-based ink, these Five Two cloths are versatile and long-lasting, plus they dont collect lint or leave streaks, and you can use them over 300 times before disposing of them in your compost bin. Ethique does not use any plastic at all, and one of its shampoo bars has just 8 percent of the carbon footprint of the equivalent liquid product. The fun of a subscription box is having no idea what you're going to get, and I enjoyed unwrapping the four succulents that arrived (carefully packaged) on my doorstep. It was a product I was passionate about and could put my energy into making a staple in every home. $18 for a one-time delivery of two cloths. CleanWell lives up to its name. Credit: Food52 Great news! You can also compost them at the end of their lifecycle, which is about 3 to 4 months with regular use. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. And then we noticed that a lot of great brands were named after fruit: Apple, Lululemon, Blackberry. Plus, were loving the bright, cheerful patterns. LastSwab replaces up to 1,000 cotton swabs, and is shipped in cardboard packages with the instructions printed on them. We reached out to them in our pre-launch phase, and they were excited by the mission and came onboard. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. We tested these products for the past several weeks. But these are small issues that can be improved. Together, they made our home cleaner and safer, lowering our environmental impact. For those who want new ones sent on a regular basis, Papaya offers a Reusable Paper Towel Subscription, with customers putting together their own box of cloths, for delivery every two, three, or four months. It is also included on the EPAs List N for use against SARS-CoV-2, the viruses that cause COVID-19. Environmental impact: Since plastic wrap was first discovered by accident in a 1930s laboratory, it's evolved from being used to protect military planes from water to becoming a staple in kitchens around the world. That being said, it's a quick and easy transition, and during allergy season, you'll be glad to have this sturdier product. Keep pulling out tissues until you reach the marked tissue, signaling that they've all been used. What it is: An alternative to traditional laundry detergents that come in plastic jugs. I tend to wet the anti-bacterial and compostable reusable paper towels to make them a bit more flexible. How it works: These paper-thin laundry detergent sheets are pre-measured, with one sheet needed per load (although for extra cleaning power or for large loads, you can use two or three). What Biden should do about climate change, Getting started with sustainable landscaping, Republicans on track to win 230 House seats, CBS model predicts. We estimate that we avoided using 2.8 regular rolls. Still, even if you're ready for a complete overhaul of your home and way of life, getting started might feel overwhelming. Comes in two styles: Basic and Beauty. According to Oona Goods, each 4-pack of dishcloths can replace up to 60 rolls of paper towels. Companies also use chlorine bleaching to make the towels extra white, a process that uses unnecessary amounts of water and pollutes waterways with chemicals toxic to humans and fish. When he finally went on the Bark Potty, it worked exactly as described I didn't smell anything and there were no leaks. Visit our corporate site at https://futureplc.comThe Week is a registered trade mark. Future US LLC, 10th floor, 1100 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. If I didnt already know that Cloud Papers paper towels are made from bamboo, then I wouldnt be able to tell them apart from more conventional options.