Easy Green: Use REAL Napkins

I’d have to say that is was early summer when we made the switch to using real cloth napkins at home.  We still had our reserve supply of disposable on-hand for emergencies and/or laziness.  When we first started out, we got a small batch from my wife’s grandmother.  We began to get hooked, so we sought out more.  My friend Joy hooked me up with another stack that she got at a local thrift store (thanks Joy!).  Now whenever we have to use disposable napkins at home because we haven’t washed the others yet it just feels very weird.  Feeling weird is good, though.  I’m trained - as much as I can be, I guess.

The first benefit is easy - you’re not throwing away the waste.  The counter argument is that you’re using water to wash the napkins in the laundry.  Yes, you are using water in the washing machine, but it is far less than the water that is needed to produce the paper napkin that you use once and toss.  Many napkins are made from virgin wood and contain minimal recycled paper.  Even if you buy 100% recycled paper napkins, you’re far better off using cloth.  The recycling process uses lots of water and lots of energy.  I don’t want to hear about it being gross, either.  Its a napkin and a modern washing machine. 

We were at the in-law’s tonight where they use disposable napkins like most people do.  My four year old son says to his grandmother something to the effect of “you should use real napkins because those ones are wasteful.”  It was pretty funny to all of us, but I guess he does pay attention to us.  Maybe it’s because I just bought another 6 napkins for a whopping $0.82 today.

So I had planned on writing this post today when I happened to check a great blog, The Green Daily.  Ironically, they also wrote on this topic today.  They link out to a site that teaches you to make your own napkins, as well.  Check it.