The potty is also just about three pounds, so you can move it around and easily toss it when the time comes. You also agree to receive email communications including Katie Couric's morning newsletter, Wake-Up Call. Over the three-week test, the towel tackled 58 tasks, many that would have required multiple regular paper towels. My succulents survived the journey, but Succulents Box thoughtfully provides instructions for people who might have to give their tiny treasures some TLC due to rough transit. Simply rinse, hang to dry, and repeat. We found it effective on a stovetop, it removed grease and oil spatter and worked best when allowed to soak. When my husband and I were brainstorming potential business ideas, we thought, Hey, heres a great material its made of cellulose and cotton, so its 100 percent compostable and theres room to innovate and make it so much better! We came up with our patent-pending hole-and-hook innovation, which seems simple, but makes ALL the difference. If I didnt already know that Cloud Papers paper towels are made from bamboo, then I wouldnt be able to tell them apart from more conventional options. Theres a laundry list of reasons to love Papaya Reusables, but convenience sits at the top. The EPA has certified it as an effective substance to kill 99.9% of a variety of germs. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Credit: Papaya Keep your dish cloths close to the sink for washing and drying dishes. The hole for the hanger also proved easy to tear when dry. Prices vary, depending on subscription. Environmental impact: Every year, trillions of single-use plastic products are thrown away, with too many making their way to our oceans. For starters, paper towels often come wrapped in plastic, some even individually wrapped in a second plastic liner. Don't worry about your dog kicking up bark the potty has netting that is designed to keep the bark in place. The mango and lime were in great shape the next day, and instead of turning into a giant crouton overnight, the bread kept its crunchy crust and soft inside. We will treat our second towel more carefully. To use, pull a tissue from the bottom of the case, and when you're done with it, put the tissue back at the top of the case. And then we noticed that a lot of great brands were named after fruit: Apple, Lululemon, Blackberry. Review: Prickly, gnarled, bumpy, or smooth, it doesn't matter I am a sucker for succulents. It can be used in food preparation areas and is categorized as Safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The sustainably-sourced bark naturally neutralizes odors, draws liquid to the bottom of the potty, and repels moisture. We love the linen tea towels from The Homebodies, which are great to keep in the kitchen for drying dishes or soaking up spills on the counter. One fear was that these might start smelling weird after awhile, but I've used them routinely for about two weeks, and they don't have even the slightest scent. With proper care, the wraps last for up to a year; you'll know it's time to replace them when they become thin and have trouble sticking, and at that point the wraps can be cut into strips and added to a compost pile or used as a fire starter. More ideas make less waste! Review: Switching from paper facial tissues to reusable cotton tissues does take some getting used to these are thicker, and while the handkerchiefs are soft, your nose will feel the difference. The Papaya Reusable Paper Towel is made from tough paper that you can reuse over and over. $37 per potty, as part of a monthly subscription. . is plastic wrap. The Homebodies linen towels are made of 100% European flax linen. We chose to wash it in the dishwasher cups rack and it came out fresh each time. You can also compost them at the end of their lifecycle, which is about 3 to 4 months with regular use. For those who aren't quite ready to embrace a bar-only shower experience, Ethique is also now offering concentrates, which you mix at home and pour into a container you already have. If your answer is higher than youd care to admit, youre not alone. That being said, it's a quick and easy transition, and during allergy season, you'll be glad to have this sturdier product. Linen towels are my go-to kitchen favorite for cleaning up messes and spills. Consider trying this winning combination when you start your spring cleaning. All rights reserved. Interested in being considered for Katie's Shop. I have one hook on my backsplash for cleaning my appliances and counters, one hook by my sink for washing dishes, one hook on my daughters highchair to clean her hands and face, and the list goes on! For instance, the dishwashing liquid contains green tea, which I now know is an antibacterial agent learning is fun! When we were brainstorming names for the business, we thought about all the brands we love. A machine-washable, compostable Papaya towel purportedly replaces 17 rolls of paper towels and is available in a variety of designs. You can expect to have your LastTissue pack for years to come each reusable tissue can withstand 520 machine washes. Rena Green: When I had my daughter Lucy in 2019, I was going through rolls and rolls of paper towels. $12. Cloud Paper packaging and towel tubes can be composted or recycled as well, meaning theres zero waste. They actually absorb spills, can take on tough messes, and are easy to keep fresh. It performed like a champ and then we put it in our compost to test its biodegradability. Everything adds up! Because youre gonna be living and breathing that product day in and day out! How it works: The Papaya reusable paper towel starts off looking and feeling slightly stiff, but as soon as you run it under water, it softens and can be used just like a traditional paper towel. Bee's Wrap has saved the day. If you're ready to say goodbye forever to traditional paper towels, plastic wrap, and facial tissues, you're in luck it's never been easier to scrap single-use products. How it works: The flexible swab ends are made of a rubber-like material called TPE, while the durable rods are made of plastic reinforced with glass fiber. How it works: The Bark Potty is an all-natural disposable pet potty that can be used inside or outdoors. In fact, its easiest to start in the kitchen, because its where you cook, gather, and more than likely where you throw things away. Papayas towels hold liquid more like a paper towel than a dishcloth, effectively picking up spills and crumbs without leaving annoying streaks on your countertop. Its natural. Linen napkins are also a great swap because you can tuck them in your purse or backpack to use on the go. At the same time, more people were at home on their phones than ever before! The #1 plastic (PETE) spray bottle should be refilled instead of thrown away. If you looked in your trash at the end of each week, how many paper towels would you see? Review: My Top, Ultimate, No. Look out for our emails in your inbox soon! We launched with four artist collaborations . A quick rinse does the trick most days, but you can also throw Papaya towels in with your laundry, or on the top rack of your dishwasher for a deep clean. How it works: I tried several products, but two standouts are the orange zest dishwashing liquid and fruit and vegetable wash. We typically let the disinfectant stand on marble, steel, enamel, and other hard surfaces for about 30 seconds before wiping but the recommended kill time for complete disinfection is 10 minutes, according to a company spokesperson. The company has partnered with Eden Reforestation and One Tree Planted, and to date, has planted 1,004,475 trees in Madagascar, Nepal, Haiti, Indonesia, Mozambique, Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, Canada, and the U.S. Additionally, Eden Reforestation hires local residents to grow, plant, and protect these trees, all while paying a fair wage. Unfortunately, they arent reusable. Earth911 Podcast: Yoram Bauman on the Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change, Dont Leave Home Without This Green Camping Gear, Earth911 Podcast: TCO Certifieds Andreas Nobell on Choosing Sustainable Technology. Well get into the details of our test below. Prices start at $4. These bamboo paper towels come tightly rolled like popular grocery store brands, but they dont have any fluffwhat makes brand-name towels look thicker and more absorbent. When he finally went on the Bark Potty, it worked exactly as described I didn't smell anything and there were no leaks. We launched with four artist collaborations Jessica Walsh, Laci Jordan, Ramzy Masri, and Abbey Lossing. While the packaging contains a clear warning that you shouldn't stick it deep into your ears (with the gentle plea to "swab responsibly"), let me just say that IF you decide to put the ribbed swab end into your ear and give it a little twirl, it MAY or may not feel like you're getting an ear massage, and it MAY or may not be glorious. This dish towel can be responsibly composted after a few months of use. What it is: A modern twist on the handkerchief and an alternative to single-use tissue packs. The active ingredient in CleanWell Botanical Disinfectant, thymol, has been recognized as a cleaning agent for centuries. The company suggests replacing a towel after two or three months but says a towel can be used for up to nine months. When you first use a Papaya towel, there is an extra step that isnt required to use a regular towel the stiff Papaya towel needs to be wetted. Ethique does not use any plastic at all, and one of its shampoo bars has just 8 percent of the carbon footprint of the equivalent liquid product. It was probably one of the hardest and most exhausting periods of my life, but launching through Covid allowed me to put into perspective what was truly important and focus on getting what mattered done quickly and efficiently. How it works: Succulents Box offers more than 300 varieties of succulents, delivered to customers via subscription boxes. Also, the LastObject swabs are just so much sturdier than the typical cotton swab, which can bend easily. ! Its cute. We hung the towel to dry over a bar and it was there that we discovered a shortcoming. We already had the design for our Mod Papayas paper towel and we thought, What about Papaya? UPDATE: Papaya responded to our packaging suggestions, saying they are doing almost exactly what we recommended: Weve redesigned our packaging to a very thin, envelope style package that reduces the amount of cardboard used for each order. They have personality and are the best way to add some low-effort pizazz to a desk, shelf, bookcase, or patio. Papaya towels come in 19 different designs, each featuring an artists work. They actually absorb spills, can take on tough messes, and are easy to keep fresh. They can also be composted after useexcept if theyve come into contact with toxic chemicals (like bleach) or bodily fluids (which can be a biohazard). Making the switch to being as eco-friendly as possible takes time and planning. A larger size would also have supported doubling the towel to prevent tearing. One holds about 20 times its weight in liquid. More than 40 percent of total plastic use comes from product packaging, and It takes hundreds of years for plastic to even begin to degrade. These cloths can be used with water and cleaning products. As an e-commerce brand trying to educate our audience through social media and drive people to our website, we grew incredibly fast and built a community of 50,000 eco-conscious people in just a year and a half! Before co-founding Papaya Reusables with her husband, Eric Prisman, Rena Green had struggled to decrease her reliance on paper towels for years. Starting at $6. Yes, you need to clean the vinyl siding on your househere's how. How it works: These paper-thin laundry detergent sheets are pre-measured, with one sheet needed per load (although for extra cleaning power or for large loads, you can use two or three). CleanWell lives up to its name. I had no good place to store it after I used it, so it would end up either sitting wet at the bottom of my sink breeding bacteria and smelling like mildew or hanging awkwardly over my faucet. You can use microfiber cloths both wet and dry and wash them with your laundry. Plus, we will be rolling out that refill option for our subscription customers so they only receive the paper towels on their recurring orders, not the hooks.. Dishes, countertopsyou name it! Paper towels are almost irresistibly convenient, but as a major cause of deforestation, theyre a convenience thats dangerous for the planet. Review: As someone who has been using Bath & Body Works shower gel for years (middle school habits die hard, #pearberry4life), I unexpectedly fell in love with Ethique's Charcoal, Kaolin & Oatmeal bodywash bar. Most were one word. Its fun. Plastic pollution hurts wildlife, with thousands of sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals dying every year after eating plastic or getting caught in it. The best part? 2022 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. According to Papaya, a single cloth replaces 17 rolls of paper towels. I have one hook on my backsplash for cleaning my appliances and counters, one hook by my sink for washing dishes, one hook on my daughters highchair to clean her hands and face, and the list goes on! I like to keep a few microfiber cloths on hand for specific cleaning needs, like dusting tech screens and drying fragile glasses and vases. Our lemon-scented disinfectant did carry a strong scent of thyme, an earthy odor that one person in our household initially found unpleasant but became used to it after a few uses. The wraps keep their seal, the designs are fun and vibrant (I love the bears and bees pattern), and cleaning is a cinch Bee's Wrap is a winner. When my husband and I were brainstorming potential business ideas, we thought, Hey, heres a great material its made of cellulose and cotton, so its 100 percent compostable and theres room to innovate and make it. Just note, if you have multiple items wrapped up and can't remember what's what, these wraps aren't see through, so you will have to do a little unwrapping to see what's inside. Theyre easy to wash, and you can even toss them in the dishwasher to clean them. One thing that has become abundantly clear to me over the last year is that everything you do has a ripple effect. 8 spring cleaning steps you can't afford to skip. It arrives stiff and, while we found it could absorb a lot of liquid when dry, it worked best when wet. When doubled, it was tough but unfolded it was easy to tear. By joining you accept KCM Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Environmental impact: For every product sold, whether online or in a brick-and-mortar store, Attitude plants a tree. I've used the bread wrap to save half a baguette, the small wrap to keep half a lime fresh, and the medium wrap to cover a bowl of mango. What it is: A reusable paper towel. Thank you for subscribing! $21.95 for 60 sheets. According to Oona Goods, each 4-pack of dishcloths can replace up to 60 rolls of paper towels. And if you dont love it, how can you expect anybody else to? Thats why we were jazzed to find Papayas reusable paper towel, a 100-percent compostable, highly absorbent alternative. Review: Sorry to the Brawny man, but paper towels are right up there with plastic wrap for things I want out of my kitchen. We rate the Papaya reusable paper towel as clearly Better than the traditional paper options. You can make your own cleaners, but if you want pre-made alternatives for spring cleaning, we recommend you try CleanWell Botanical Disinfectant and the Papaya Reusable Paper Towel. Get Bamboo Paper Towels (12 rolls) at Cloud Paper for $34. What it is: An alternative to traditional laundry detergents that come in plastic jugs. Try this seriously easy way to clean all your stainless Companies also use chlorine bleaching to make the towels extra white, Get the Dots and Spots 4-pack from Oona Goods for $18, Get the Ladies Who Lunch Reusable Paper Towels 6-pack from Papaya for $54, Get Five Two Compostable Sponge Cloths 10-pack from Food52 for $29, Get the Linen Tea Towel from The Homebodies for $11, Get the Italian Washed Linen Napkins, Set of 4 from Williams Sonoma for $49.95, Get the Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloths from Amazon for $11.99. and we thought, What about Papaya? CleanWell has eliminated the volatile organic compounds and bleach that are common in familiar cleaning products, and Papaya has a solid concept for reducing paper waste. We estimate that we avoided using 2.8 regular rolls. We used a single Papaya towel for three weeks around the kitchen, to wipe oil spatter from the stovetop and, in the ultimate case, to wipe up after one of our dogs got sick. Environmental impact: More than 50,000 trees are chopped down every day to make single-use paper towels, which release methane gas (a leading cause of global warming) as they decompose. first discovered by accident in a 1930s laboratory, 17 trees and more than 20,000 gallons of water. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. If your answer is higher than youd care to admit, youre not alone. I am officially a bar believer. The flecks of oatmeal offered some light exfoliation, and the bar worked up a good lather, leaving my skin feeling squeaky clean in the shower and soft for the rest of the day no dry skin here! Great news! Cloud Paper towels are flexible, absorbent, and withstand multiple uses. Mitch is the publisher at Earth911.com and the sustainability leader at Metaforce, a global marketing firm. This guide aims to make the transition away from single-use products a little easier, explaining what products are out there, the problems they solve, and how they help the Earth. We tested CleanWells lemon-scented spray disinfectant and Disinfecting Wipes and found the spray to be very effective. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Machine wash the tissues, air or tumble dry, and then repack the case. I knew that if I had this desire, others had it, too. While Bee's Wrap works great with bread, cheese, fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables, they're not recommended for raw meat and fish and need to be kept away from heat. The lower price point makes Attitude's products accessible to most people, without cutting corners on the final product the dishwashing soap provided a deep clean and the fruit and vegetable wash ensured that the cucumbers I bought at the store didn't have that gross waxy taste that can ruin a meal. There is a tray liner to prevent leaks and because the Bark Potty lasts for a month and is regularly replaced, you don't have to worry about cleaning it (although if there's any solid waste, you will want to pick that up pronto!). You can stick the hooks strategically around your home for different uses. They also have a small hole in the corner so you can hang them up to dry. It performed very well in each application. It is clearly designed for retail display, so we urge the company to reduce its e-commerce packaging the cardboard box is not necessary for home delivery. KCMs Mary Kate says the Edible Arrangement pack is her personal favorite, but she has her eyes on the Roses Are Yellow set for her next round. One day, I came across a staggering statistic about the deforestation caused by the demand for paper towels, and I realized I needed a product that would help me eliminate my paper towel usage once and for all. For those who want new ones sent on a regular basis, Papaya offers a Reusable Paper Towel Subscription, with customers putting together their own box of cloths, for delivery every two, three, or four months. When you're finished, wash it with soap and water and let it air dry (Papaya sends a little hook to put up), or throw it in the washing machine or the dishwasher's top rack. As mentioned, the Papaya towel is tough when wet. You can stick the hooks strategically around your home for different uses. Oona Goods' multi-use cloth sponge is a perfect match for any task in your kitchen. Environmental impact: Artificial grass is often used as a puppy potty solution, and in addition to being a beast to clean, it also emits volatile organic compounds that may have short- and long-term adverse health effects on animals and people.