Cloth napkins? More frugal and more green?
By twilight021
@twilight021 (2059)
United States
May 20, 2007 9:16am CST
My boyfriend and I are getting ready to move into a new place.
As any of you know, when you are ready to move everyone offers you stuff they want to get rid of. In some cases you get some rally good stuff...and in others....well, you start to feel like a depository for junk.
This morning my boyfriends mother offered us 12 cloth napkins. While I don't anticipate having any parties that would be so fancy as to warrent clith napkins, we started thinking about using them daily for ourselves.
Do any of you use cloth napkins as an alternative to disposable paper ones? Do you find is is a more frugal, as well as a more green option?
2 people like this
8 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
22 May 07
Arguments can be made (and have been in the discussion thread!) on either side of the issue as to which is better for the environment. As for acquiring cloth napkins, why buy the ones that are ready-made and wicked expensive? Go to your local thrift store, fine some old cotton house dresses, aprons, blouses etc that are on the sale rack for 50 cents because they have a hole or stain. Use the remainder of the garment to cut large squares and make napkins! They are sooo easy to make! Great first sewing project for young girl! Just have to sew a straight line up each side!
1 person likes this
@vokey9472 (1486)
• United States
20 May 07
I have several sets of cloth napkins. Some I got at yard sales, some were given to me and some I cross stitched myself. The really fancy ones, I keep put away for very very special occassions, but I have two sets that I use for everyday. There are only 3 of us and each set has 6 napkins. So, we just use 3 at a time until they get dirty (about 3 days) and then I toss those in the laundry basket and get out 3 more. When I do laundry at the end of the week, I wash them with my sheets and towels. I think it actually saves money in the long run and there is just something really nice and special about having dinner with my loved ones while using real napkins.
I think it is a better option for our planet too.
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
21 May 07
Thanks for the tip on how many days you use them for. I was wondering about that. So you find that you get 3 days out of a napkin. That sounds good.
@vokey9472 (1486)
• United States
21 May 07
I could probably get more days out of them but I have a 4 year old so...they get dirty really fast. My hubby's napkin gets dirtier than mine, but then he eats messier than me. :) My napkin is the least dirty of the three, but I like equal fading so they all get washed at the same time. As long as there isn't actual food stuck to the napkin you can probably use them for longer than 3 days. I know my granny used to change her napkins out after 7 days. But she didn't have any little kids living wtih her at the time. So it varies.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
21 May 07
That is a great cost saving idea that had never occured to me. I love the idea of doing something better for the environment that also helps my bank ballance. I am online looking for some cloth napkins right now. Thank you for the great idea!
@wifeofharvey (1156)
• United States
21 May 07
We use cloth for environmental reasons. Most of the time we use wash cloths for napkins. They are simple to wash, don't need ironing.
We also use wash cloths instead of towels for hand drying, they take up so much less room than a towel in the washer. We buy the big packages of the cheapies at Wal-Mart.
@hezoid (2144)
•
21 May 07
Hmm, i'm not 100% convinced that they are totally earth friendly. What about the fact that you have to wash them each time they've been used, using electric to power your washing machine, water used in the washing cycle, and of course not so friendly wash powder and detergents to get the dirt & muck out. When you think about it like that you realise that while cloth napkins are maybe better than disposable ones becuase they can be re-used, it doesn't mean that they are totally green and don't create waste in other ways. Just be aware of that!
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
21 May 07
I thought about that. I was hoping to get more than one meal or even day out of a napkin....that is unless we are eating somethign super messy. WE have a dozen of then for the two of us, so I think we can at leaset get through the week....and then we can watsh them withthe rest of the towels and such.
But you are right. No matter what, there will be some drain on resources.
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
21 May 07
I use both cloth and paper napkins.Not sure whether it is frugal or not. I am sure we do not spend much on this. May be 5$ a year. Not more. But certainly cloth diapers for babies have certain adavntages and I prefer that for my baby.
Want to know why I use them?
Check: http://www.helium.com/tm/79314
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
20 May 07
I don't know if it is more frugal. I prefer cloth napkins - no packaging, softer, and reusable, but I guess arguments can be made in favour of paper napkins.
