Rags to Riches

Hi all.

So, as is obvious from the title of this blog, I am going to share with you the superiority of rags over paper towels.

I’ve been a barista for a few years, and we always used rags (we called them bar towels to be fancy). I loooooved a nice, fresh rag, and using them at work inspired me to start using them at home.

Rags clean up tough messes easier than paper towels, I don’t feel guilty for using a ton, and they are more environmental and economically sound. Obviously, paper towels require tree removal. They are wrapped in plastic (oil), must be transported (oil), and end up in landfills after their short lifespan.

Paper towels are expensive. The price on Amazon for a 12 pack is about $26, and at Walmart they are a whopping $42 for a similar package. Let’s say a family goes through 12 rolls every three months, over five years that is an average of $680! All for paper towels… yikes.

This is where rags come into to truly save the day.

A 24-pack of rags costs only $20 on Amazon, but I’d recommend buying at least four packs – so you’re looking at about $80. I’ve had my rags for over two years, and they are still in great condition (albeit with a few stains, nothing major). You can also try sourcing 100% sustainable cotton rags. Comment below with some recommendations! 🙂

I keep my rags in a cute little basket on my kitchen counter and wash them about once, maybe twice, a month. When you consider that you’ll have to use water and energy to wash them regularly, you’ll likely spend only about $200 over a five-year period.

All in all, a $500ish savings over five years might not sound like much, but it can be the difference between affording a few quality pairs of shoes, a memorable mini vacation, or painting the interior of your home.

Plus, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you aren’t wasting paper and contributing to the degradation of forests around the world.

Do you use rags at home? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

That’s all for now!

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany