Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
20 Best Reusable Paper Towels of 2026: Top Eco-Friendly Alternatives
20
items Stop wasting money on single-use rolls. This curated list features the 20 best reusable paper towel alternatives to help you build a zero-waste kitchen in 2026. From highly absorbent Swedish dishcloths and organic cotton unpaper towels to sustainable...
Sections
4
🏆 The "Unpaper" Towels (Best for the Roll Feel)
🧽 Swedish Dishcloths (The Sponge-Towel Hybrid)
🎋 Bamboo & Specialty Fibers
🛠️ Heavy-Duty & Utility Swaps
🏆 The "Unpaper" Towels (Best for the Roll Feel)
Designed to mimic the "grab-and-go" convenience of traditional rolls.
These were my first swap! They actually stick to each other better after the first wash, so they stay on the roll without falling off.
Reusable Paper Towels - Unpaper® Towels
These are almost too pretty to use. I keep them specifically for drying hands and display because the prints are essentially kitchen art.
Reusable Paper Towels - geometry
These are the softest of the bunch. If you have kids with messy faces, these are much gentler than a standard paper towel.
3 Grove Collaborative Sparks of Joy Golden Bursts Organic Kitchen Towels
I love that when these finally wear out after years of use, you can just chop them up and put them in your compost bin.
Reusable Paper Towels - UnPaper Towels - ZWS
The "workhorse" of the kitchen. I use these for the grossest messes because they come in a huge pack and bleach doesn't ruin the integrity.
MioEco - Simple Sustainable Living
🧽 Swedish Dishcloths (The Sponge-Towel Hybrid)
A single cloth can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels. Stiff when dry, soft when wet.
The little hook they provide is genius. It keeps the cloth off the counter so it dries fast and never gets that "old sponge" smell.
Papaya Paper Towels
I give these as housewarming gifts! The designs are adorable and they are incredibly sturdy for scrubbing dried-on food.
Three Bluebirds Swedish Dishcloths
These feel a bit "meatier" than other brands. Great if you have large granite countertops that need a lot of wiping down.
FEBU Swedish Dishcloths 5 Pack Black
If you're nervous about switching, start here. You get 10 for a great price, so you won't feel guilty about using them for everything.
Swedish Wholesale
If you hate bright colors, these minimalist, earthy patterns fit perfectly in a modern or boho kitchen.
Reusable Dishcloth
I’ve put these through the dishwasher and the laundry dozens of times and they haven't frayed or thinned out at all.
SUPERSCANDI
These are some of the most absorbent I've found—they can soak up an entire spilled glass of water in one go.
Earth Ahead Floral Swedish Dishcloths 6-Pack
🎋 Bamboo & Specialty Fibers
Fast-growing, antimicrobial, and incredibly soft alternatives.
These are the perfect size for "napkins" during dinner. We stopped buying paper napkins entirely once we got these.
Cheeky Wipes
These feel like a thick sheet of paper but act like a towel. They’re great if you find standard cloths too "bulky" in your hand.
Eco-Friendly Cloud Cloth | Reusable
If your partner or kids are resistant to "unpaper" towels, start here. They come on a perforated roll just like Bounty, so the habit stays the same, but you just toss them in the wash instead of the trash. I’ve washed a single sheet 50 times and it’s...
Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towel - Single Roll
These have a slightly "scrubbier" feel than cotton, which makes them my go-to for getting grease off the stovetop without scratching the surface. They also dry much faster than my old dishcloths, so they stay fresh longer.
Bamboo Dish Cloths
🛠️ Heavy-Duty & Utility Swaps
I use these dry on my stainless steel appliances after cleaning to remove every single fingerprint. It gives that "just moved in" sparkle without needing any chemical polish.
MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 12 Pack
These are what professional window cleaners use. If you’re a perfectionist who hates streaks on mirrors or glass cabinets, these are the only thing you should be using.
Avalon Surgical Huck Towels 17x26, Pack 12
I keep a stack of these in the garage and the laundry room. They are my go-to for cleaning the inside of the car or wiping down muddy shoes—they’re cheap enough that I don't mind if they get permanently stained.
AIDEA Multi-Purpose Reusable Cleaning Wipes 40Ct
These are a dual-threat. One side is soft microfiber for wiping, and the other has a "scrubby" mesh texture that's safe for non-stick pans but tough enough for dried egg on the counter. I reach for these every Sunday during my "big kitchen reset" to ...
Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser 26oz + 16x16 Heavy Duty