Honorable Mentions
Papaya Reusable Paper Towels for $13: I mostly liked these cute, bright reusable paper towels, which are made from a mix of cotton and cellulose. They’re composable and absorbent. The reason they’re an honorable mention is because the two-pack comes with a plastic hook. It makes sense to include something you’d need, since you’re supposed to hang these to dry them. But as best as I can tell, there’s no way to buy them without getting a plastic hook. Even if one towel replaces 17 rolls of paper towels, they’ll eventually need to be replaced, and I don’t need a gajillion hooks around (even if they are useful!). If this brand ever allows the opportunity to buy refills without a plastic hook, I’ll be more inclined to recommend it.
Fantasticlean Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Roll for $26: These tear-away microfiber towels are a solid replacement for paper towels, though microfiber is known for shedding microplastics. It feels silly to be weighing out which is worse: deforestation or plastic pollution? They’re both bad. These can be washed and reused up to 50 times, and they’re quite absorbent. I still think the cotton flannel towels above are a better pick, but if you’re diligent about reusing these and you want a bulk quantity rather than the 12-pack above, these are worth looking into—especially if your house goes through a ton of paper towels like mine does.
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Scrub Mommy Sponges (3-pack) for $22: This popular, cheery sponge lives up to the hype. The shape and texture make it super effective for scrubbing and wiping, and it’s durable. The reason it’s in this guide is because Scrub Daddy products are recyclable! If you need a new sponge, consider this one.
Safely Multipurpose Cleaner for $10: This cleaner comes from Kris Jenner’s new company and is really hard to find in stock. But it smells amazing, and the majority of the ingredients come from salt, coconut, and corn. The reason it’s an honorable mention is because it isn’t concentrated like the cleaners above, making it less eco-friendly. But I still think it’s worth telling you about because it does smell great and work well.
