Ideal Bite

Sigh, I've tried this many times. My challenge is that my friends don't use them. We run a very casual household - once you've been here, been given your first beverage & shown where the kitchen is, you are on your own :) When I take away the napkins on the table & put out cloth ones, my guests frequently go into the kitchen & grab paper towels. Apparently they don't want to get the napkins dirty... Great idea on hemming kitchen towels by the way - I'm going to try that next.

If you don't have paper towels or paper napkins in your house then no one can use them instead of cloth. Also if you must have paper towels around then put them away in a cupboard so they aren't in view,and the habit will break to use the constantly. It wont be the norm, the cloth will be the norm. Been using cloth napkins that I made for over ten yrs. This tip would go over better if you would list some cheaper napkins to purchase. I recommend purchasing your own material and making some yourself,it's easy. Or using something old, like a sheet,or old table cloth that's worn out for anything other than napkins. It's a very satisfying feeling using cloth!

As a poor single mom of 4, grad student, working 2 or 3 jobs, I could not afford regular cloth napkins. (besides not wanting the kids to stain my prescious sets inherited and gifted over the years) so I purchased sets of 30 washcloths from the dollar store, which we washed and bleached till they fell apart, then they served in the rag bag for cleaning and stuffing into those things that kids think need stuffing. This is a good plan for the less affluent biters. While my kids now have their own offspring, I have the habit for my own daily use and think it practical and helpful to the effort. JCP

Last year while volunteering at the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, Ca. I got involved in a sewing project: we took cloth napkins donated by catering companies and folded them over a ribbon (also donated) and stitched it all together. These were then used as banners for the swimmers at the annual Swim-a-Mile for Someone With Cancer. Each participant could decorate her banner as she chose and then they were all tied together and displayed at the pool. I found that the all linen napkins did not fold or drape as well as the part or all synthetic ones and I asked of I could take them (the linen napkins) home. I have enough linen napkins to last for many years.

We have been using cloth napkins for about a year now - I picked all of ours up at garage sales for about $5 total. We don't care if the napkins match or not, and we are so glad we made the switch!

I am so happy to see this tip! I've used cloth napkins since I was in college thanks to my mom's keeping me in steady supply of them in all sorts of colors and patterns. My little brother even got me pretty cloth napkins from Pier One one Christmas! I'm glad to hear of other people using cloth napkins because when our inlaws come over they act like we're nuts because I always have cloth napkins on the table (and don't use paper plates at lunchtime). What a simple, fun way to be a biter!

I have been using cloth Napkins for twenty years, since my Husband and I were newly married and very cash strapped. I continue to this day with cloth napkins because they cause less landfill waste. I buy end bolt yardage, on sale or discontinued patterns, and old stock when I see them in places like fabric stores, Wal-mart and yard sales. I bind the edges with my Serger in matching or contrasting colors for a casual everday look. I have yet to lose one napkin die to old age, although I did lose one to overloading the washer, trying to save water.LOL.

I have been using cloth napkins for as long as I can remember. Just keep the paper towels around for the occasional pet accident (ewww). One of my favorite things is checking out the estate sales and flea markets in town on Saturday mornings and I always find wonderful old cloth napkins and dish/tea towels many that have been lovingly decorated. It is a great way to recycle/reuse and satisfy my need to go find vintage/retro treasures .

My concerns about changing from paper towels and napkins to cloth is not so much the laundry as the the amount of cloth I would need if I were to change napkins for every meal 7 days a week. Paper has to be more germ free than cloth which may sit around a bit longer than its paper counterpart. Any comments on this aspect??

Others have already mentioned this today, but I want to add my two cents. I used individual napkin rings when my kids were all still at home. The napkins are for accidents and face smudges. As they grow, the mess is less and the napkins last longer in rings between meals. Guests will use what you give them if you make sure that they know your plan. I have reduced paper towels to certain grease spills from the stove and keep them in a cupboard. I instead have purchased really 'cheapy' bar towels at the dollar store, 30 for $5. With a stack of 60, plus the stack of 60 wash cloths folded in a napkin holder, these last a few weeks and go into a small bucket in the kitchen while waiting to be laundered. I am amazed at the savings just in cash from using cloth instead of paper. And the trickle down of awareness to stewardship spreads in waves throughout your life. Even inexpensive or home made items made from old towels are much softer and cleaner than the paper ones and a large supply reduces laundry frequency to reasonable frequency.