In an attempt to be frugal and thrifty and stick-it-to-the-man like I started making (not buying mind you, but I don't make the cloth, so then I'm back to consumer-ing) cloth napkins for the family. We've been doing this for several years, but I'm starting to wonder.
I have about 3 dozen made, but three meals a day times 8 people = I'm washing cloth napkins constantly in order to keep up. I could make more...I plan to, really.
Every night when my daughter sets the table and says, "There's no napkins," I wonder where in the world they all go. I find them under the couch and in the toy boxes and out in the yard and everywhere else, but there never seem to be enough clean. I recently discovered my 3 year old was using them as blankets for her baby dolls. As cute as this is, and it is cute, this is not their intended purpose.
 |
| There's one |
I'm feeling the tempatation to buy a package of cheap paper napkin's at the ol' Dollar General and call it quits.
What do you think? Do I make more and keep trucking or give in and go paper? Anybody got the numbers on laundering vs. disposable costs?
What do you use and what works for you?
you're environmentally friendly. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI bet you rock that baby blue polka-dotted dress with the empire waist of daisies n' ribbons! Lemme guess: Sunday go-ta-meetin' best, amiright? Work it, Ma!
ReplyDelete;-P
That just happens to be my little lady's favorite outfit, I think she'd object to me trying to wear it:)
DeleteWe tend to be more wasteful when it comes to paper napkins and there are only two of us! so, when we run out, we use cloth napkins. They get washed in the kitchen sink before the dishes, and are hung to dry around the kitchen right there and then. They only go into the machine on wash day. I grew up with cloth napkins *and* I had to iron them, and we were not even a bed-and-breakfast, lol. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought of hand washing them right then. It does seem like a lot of the time they aren't even "dirty" when they get put into the hamper. Great tip Petra.
DeleteYou must have amazing energy, I don't know how you do it. But back to the point, you may be spending more money on water, energy, and also washing machine use...give yourself a break and buy paper disposable ones. Use the nice ones yo made just for company.
ReplyDeleteI may do some supplementing with paper, at least to have when I run out.
DeleteI could use a break now and again.
Hi Ma, Interesting experimental subject, many options here. How about flour sack towels? I've found a lot of uses for these that come in a bundle for $12.48, set of 12, 30" x 38" 100% cotton gauze like lightweight, from Bakers & Chefs brand that I got from Sam's Club.
ReplyDeleteThey come hemmed on the two 30"sides and the 38" sides are self sealed so they don't ravel. Could be cut into many sizes, and hem the cut sides for neatness. Washing or rinsing a lot of them would be easy, they dry quickly because of open weave.
A few uses I've found;
Full size, kitchen hand cloth, drying cloth, polishing cloth, cleaning and rinsing with dishsoap or other
Cut in half, straining for jelly making instead of cheese cloth
Cut into quarters for napkins, two sides hemmed, would give 48 napkins per pack of 12.
I would think they would also be good for doll blankets if you "prettied" them up.:D
You could do any number of things, permanent markers or stamping or fabric paint/stains or even embroidering thread or ribbon into the open weave. They're so lightweight could be used as hankies too.
I'm finding new uses all the time for them, best of all if one is just too grungy or gets too damaged I can toss with no guilt.
I think I'm going to get busy making a few more, you're giving me all kind of ideas, that's one of the reasons I like your blog, Ma, you think out of the box! :D
I love the idea of that. I have always wanted some flour sack towels, but have never gotten any.
DeleteI know a couple of men in my life who use hankies, so this could be a good gift idea too.
And the tossing without guilt part, what could be better?:)
We use cloth napkins. I bought fabric that I liked and made 5 for us and some for my parents. We use ours everyday. I wash them with the towels 3x a week. I have no problem with them winding up anywhere else, because there are only 4 of us and the younger ones are teens. They leave their napkins on the table and my husband or myself put them in the hamper nightly. I much prefer a cloth napkin, because I found myself using more of the paper napkins, when we used them. We have been using cloth napkins for about 2 years now and I don't plan on ever going back. They don't use extra water or detergent, since I wash them with the towels. I feel that I save money, since I don't have to throw them away. If we used paper napkins, then that would be wasting money, because each of us would have to use several at each meal and then throw them away.
ReplyDeleteJust my thoughts....
I agree with a lot of this. That is why I started in the first place, but I guess I was just getting a little burnt out:P
DeleteI could find a better place to store them so that little lady doesn't run off with them too.
I think making your own napkins is an awesome idea! I Think I will make some of my own. Here, we are always running out of paper napkins!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joanne
They are super easy to make if you can sew a straight-ish line.
DeleteHi Ma,
ReplyDeleteI don't use cloth napkins because paper towels are so cheap here. I find I use paper towels for lots of spills and such then I just either throw them away or burn them in the fireplace. I use the roll end for starting fires so really nothing goes to waste.
Hope that helps you a bit.
Blessings,
<><
I haven't bought paper towels in YEARS. I use rags and sometimes they can be a real pain. After my last baby was born my mom brought some supplies over and there were paper towels included, the kids thought they were so great:)
DeleteHa! This brought back memories. When our kids were young we were too poor to buy napkins so I used cloth - But I didn't make em.
ReplyDeleteHow bout a happy medium? Use paper most of the time and cloth for special occasions or the fancier dinners?
Happy medium is good.
DeleteI like cloth napkins, but I really don't think I would save much money if we used them all of the time, considering the water used to wash them, detergent (even if you make your own) and drying them. Yes- if you line dry, you'll save money, but that isn't always an option.
ReplyDeleteI know that hubby prefers cloth, too. I think I simply don't have enough. I've got fabric in there waiting. I guess I could get busy, but don't get me started on my sewing machine...she has a mind of her own.
DeleteAbout the detergent. I haven't been making my own lately. (shhhh) I'm kind of in between ideologies with that too...
This has been perfect line drying weather, though, I love it!
I asked my wife about this earlier tonight, and she said that you should definitely continue using the cloth napkins if you are concerned about the environment or money. My wife is brilliant, and she has done a lot of research on the issue, so I would trust her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leslie:) And tell your wife thanks too.
DeleteMa-I use 100 percent cloth. I made the first run out of fabric I had around. I used old flannel shirts/flannel pjs/ shirts etc.
ReplyDeleteThen I went to joanne's fabric with a 40% off coupon and bought 6 yards of solid colors of flannel, and made cuter napkins that match things seasonal etc. Total cost for my cloth napkins around 20.00-3 or 4 years ago. I use clothespins with each persons name that clips to a cloth napkin, and for a day or so we use the same napkin...Now I rinse out in the soapy dishwater if it gets a bit off and I dry the napkin on the back of that persons seat.
This way we keep hygiene or lack of hygiene to the person all day. I also have a mini line above my washer to hang dry cloths.
Here's the post I wrote about this, and I use my original cloth napkins for mop pads...http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/2011/06/it-took-long-time-but-i-understand.html
LOL I noticed you had commented on this post, but I think it is important to say YES-it is worth it. And the children get better about how they eat as well as how they take care of their napkin.
ReplyDeleteThat is funny, I said I'd never go back...well I guess that settles it:)
ReplyDeleteThat's a fun question. I have used cloth for years and find it much cheaper as I always toss them in with other laundry. Lately, I felt like getting 'lazy' and sure am finding it expense.
ReplyDeleteHi Connie,
DeleteI think it may be laziness on my part too!