I think I speak for all of us when I say that when it comes to using paper towels, we might have a bit of a problem. They’re not inherently nefarious, but if you’re not careful, you could end up going through an entire roll in less than a few days. You use them for dinner and to clean up quick spills, dry your hands with them, and even use them as a disposable plate when necessary. And besides, they’re compostable and made of paper, so how bad can they really be? Never mind the fact that paper towels are normally packaged in plastic and the production of the ubiquitous kitchen staple significantly contributes to deforestation and water pollution—we’ll just buy more.
It’s a habit that we can’t seem to break, no matter how hard we try, even if we are wholly aware of how it can impact the environment. Trying to replace them with kitchen towels works in theory, but they can trap moisture and smells long after their use, and you most definitely need to wash them pretty immediately after you use them. Sure, you can use them again and again, but you have to buy at least a 24-pack and find a place to store them so they’re within arm’s reach when you need them. On second thought, we’ll just stick with paper towels.
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Unless, of course, there was some super absorbent towel-like alternative that splits the difference between being easy to use like a paper towel and reusable like a kitchen towel. Enter: the Swedish dish cloths. While those of us outside of Sweden may not be familiar with them, the eco-friendly paper towel alternative is ubiquitous in its home country and has been gaining popularity in the States as consumers make conscious choices to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. But what exactly are they?
Paper Towels vs. Swedish Dish Cloths
Swedish dishcloths, first invented in the 1950s, are made of a mixture of wood pulp, cellulose, and cotton that is woven together to create an ultra-light cloth, similar in weight to styrofoam, that can absorb 15 to 20 times its weight in liquid. Additionally, due to their unique composition, Swedish dishcloths can be reused multiple times, unlike paper towels, which are typically single-use. Compared to kitchen towels and sponges, they dry significantly faster, and you can toss them into the washing machine or dishwasher if they get particularly dingy. Consider us sold!
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And, good news is, you won’t have to book a flight to Sweden to get your hands on a pack. You can just head over to your nearest Aldi to pick up their new 4-Piece Set of Crofton Swedish Dish Cloths available in a variety of styles and colors. This better-for-the-environment paper towel alternative at Aldi is made of 70-percent cellulose wood fiber and 30-percent cotton, and comes in a pack of four 6.7 x 7.7-inch squares. They’re ultra-absorbent, multipurpose, odor-resistant, and, of course, machine- and dishwasher-safe. These essential paper towel upgrades also boast an OKEO-Tex certification, so you can be sure they’re non-toxic and safe.
Crofton 4-Piece Swedish Dish Cloths, $4.99 at Aldi
Aldi
The Eco-Friendly Paper Towel Alternative
You can also choose from a variety of cutesy prints, including grounding botanicals, bright florals, juicy fruits, and a plaid fall-inspired option. It’s worth noting that regular washing can result in the dishcloths shrinking a bit, but that’s a small price to pay when it comes to being more environmentally conscious. Beyond saving the trees, though, switching to Swedish dishcloths might actually save you money. This four-pack at Aldi will only set you back a meager $4.99, and thanks to the ability to use them multiple times, you might end up spending less on paper towels in the long run. Now, that’s a cause we can get behind.
Will Swedish dishcloths end our dependency on paper towels for good? Maybe not. But at least we can reduce our impact by making a small effort, and that’s priceless.
Related: Aldi’s Gorgeous $17 Glass Baking Essential Looks Eerily Similar to a Pottery Barn Style Nearly 3x More Expensive
