We do have paper towels, but they are mostly for the 'gross' jobs that it's just easier to toss than wash. I think we've gone through a roll and half in 3 months? And that was after using 1/2 a roll to do a quick wipe down before moving in. Not too shabby.

I grew up using paper products galore, and my mom still does. But I worked for a family that used cloth everything, and it showed me how easy it was to do. They'd even wet cloth napkins and put in plastic bags (usually bread bags they had shaken out) and took those along for picnics! Since being introduced to their life style, I've found myself reducing and reusing in so many more ways!
Diana´s last [type] ..Burmese Chicken Curry

Most of my fellow Aussie housewives (the ones I know anyway!) use some type of reusable sponge or cloth. I switched to cloths that could be washed and reused, rather than sponges that would be disposed of after a week. I find if I rinse them well in hot water after each use and hang them over the tap to dry, they are fine and I will use them for a couple of days, easily. They mostly get smelly from wiping up milk spills without proper rinsing afterwards.

I also don't use napkins. In fact, I don't see many people who do that here either. When my children were small we had a damp face washer within reach for messy fingers, but for the most part we don't get messy fingers....or faces. On the rare occasion that we do, the kids simply go and wash their hands. I have but one friend who will grab a tissue sometimes, but she's the only one I know who does.

My SIL lives in the US and she made an interesting comment during Christmas when they were over. She uses heaps of paper products, but admitted if they'd stayed in Australia she wouldn't have dreamed of doing so.

I am completely fascinated, and can't wait to see what it looks like in practise when we visit there in a few months!
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..'Heart of Stone' by Jill Marie Landis =-.

I have been meaning to cut up an old sheet to use as napkins, but wondered about it fraying in the wash. Has anyone tried using a cut-up sheet?

Another way I save on waste in the kitchen is to reuse plastic storage bags a few times. I just rinse them out, let them air-dry and reuse them. Also, I like to keep glass jars to use for storing leftovers and other food in, like nuts and other snacks, because I'm slowy trying to phase out using plastic containers. And since glass lasts forever (or until it gets broken, that is), I don't have to keep buying more like I used to with plastic containers that would wear out.
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Five Top Reasons I Love Homeschooling =-.

As long as I rinse my washrag out very well (with water) after doing the dishes/wiping something up, and let it air-dry, I don't have any problem with it smelling and I use it for a couple days before I toss it in the dirty laundry basket. If I don't get it rinsed, or just leave it in a wet heap, it does get to smelling funky.