The Best Reusable Paper Towels, Tested by Cleaning Experts
Our top picks cut back on waste, not convenience.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
When cleaning up spills or wiping down surfaces, paper towels are often the go-to in most households. They aren't without their drawbacks, though. Being disposable means their cost adds up over time, and unless you compost them, they can also create a lot of trash. Fortunately, there are many reusable alternatives for anyone looking for more sustainable or cost-effective options.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care & Cleaning Lab, we test all kinds of cleaning tools and cloths. When choosing the best paper towel alternatives, we consider factors such as ability to clean spills, absorbency, and other strengths and weaknesses. For this test, we tried nine different reusable paper towels to determine the ones worth buying.
- Best Overall: RECYCO Swedish Dishcloths
- Best Value: Ecozoi Reusable Bamboo Paper Towels
- Best Kitchen Cloth: Maker's Clean Kitchen Cloth
- Best Microfiber: Fabuloso Microfiber Cloths
- Best Premium: Guests on Earth Waffle Cleaning Cloths
Pros
- Very absorbent
- Compostable
- Excellent at cleaning spills
Cons
- Inflexible when dry
Material: 70% cellulose, 30% cotton | Size: 6.7" x 7.5"
Primarily used for washing dishes, Swedish dishcloths are also an excellent alternative to paper towels. They are highly absorbent, quick-drying, and easily washed and reused—and these Swedish dishcloths from Recyco are among the best we've tested.
Recyco's Swedish dishcloths are available in a wide variety of patterns and come in packs of four, five, or six. Made of cellulose and cotton, they are 100% compostable at the end of their life. They performed well in our Lab tests, earning a nearly perfect score for spill cleaning. They also proved to be very absorbent, easily holding over 90 mL of water. To clean them, they can be washed in a washing machine or the top shelf of your dishwasher and then air-dried. Note that they are inflexible when dry, so they are best used pre-moistened when wiping down surfaces.
Pros
- Resemble conventional paper towels
- Affordable
- Can be used in the microwave for covering food
Cons
- Some reviewers complain about shedding
- Bamboo labeling is misleading
Material: 70% rayon, 30% cotton | Size: 11" x 11"
On top of being affordable, these reusable kitchen towels from Ecozoi are the closest thing to conventional paper towels of all the alternatives on our list.
Just like conventional paper towels, Ecozoi's Bamboo Reusable Kitchen Towels come on a cardboard roll with 20 sheets. They're made from rayon and cotton, and the brand claims each sheet can be washed and reused up to 50 times. (Note: While the rayon in these towels is derived from bamboo, the material is made by chemically processing bamboo wood pulp, resulting in a semi-synthetic final product that does not contain bamboo.)
They performed well in our spill test, leaving only a few droplets behind after a single swipe across the countertop. These towels also impressed us by holding over nine times their weight in water. Like their single-use counterparts, they can even be used to cover food in the microwave to prevent food splattering. Some online reviewers complain that the fuzzy texture sheds when cleaning surfaces like glass, but we did not experience this in our Lab tests.
Pros
- Hanging loop makes them easy to store and dry
- Waffle texture helps when scrubbing messes
- Good absorbency and spill cleaning
Cons
- Not compostable or biodegradable
Material: 80% polyester, 20% polyamide | Size: 10" x 10"
While any old cloth can clean up spills, some will leave streaks or shed when cleaning surfaces like glass, unlike their disposable counterparts. These kitchen cloths from Maker's Clean claim to mimic paper towels, and we agree that they do.
Maker's Clean Kitchen Cloths come in a 5-pack, and we like that they have a loop, which makes them easy to hang and dry between uses. In our Lab tests, they tied for the highest score in our spill cleaning test, and they were able to absorb over 1/4 cup of water. We also sent this product to 10 readers for home testing, and they said that the waffle texture helps scrub and grab onto messes. One tester said, "They were soft, easy to use, and didn't leave any streaks." Unlike some other options on our list, they aren't compostable, but they are likely to last you a long time.
Pros
- Very absorbent
- Come in multiple colors
- Did not shed or streak on glass
Cons
- Should not be dried with heat
Material: 80% polyester, 20% polyamide | Size: 13" x 13"
Microfiber cloths are a great tool for dusting, buffing streaks on glass, and cleaning up spills. These microfiber cleaning cloths from Fabuloso soaked up more water than any other paper towel alternative we tested.
They're also the largest we tested and outperformed other microfiber cloths in terms of absorbency and spill cleaning. In a single swipe, they removed spills without leaving behind any visible residue, and they held over 140 mL of water when submerged. We also tested them on glass, and they cleaned without shedding or excessive streaking. They come in multiple colors, allowing you to color-code cleaning tasks. The cloths are machine washable, but note that microfiber should be air-dried or tumble-dried with no heat.
Pros
- Waffle knit helps trap spills and debris
- Made with recycled polyester
- Excelled in cleaning up spills
Cons
- Expensive
- Not biodegradable or compostable
Material: 80% recycled polyester, 20% polyamide | Size: 12" x 12"
If you want reusable paper towels that look as good as they work, these waffle knit cleaning cloths from Guests on Earth are a standout. In addition to being functional, they’re one of the best-looking options we tested, with a muted green color and a textured weave that feels elevated enough to leave out on your counter.
These cloths are well-made and highly absorbent. While they are not made of biodegradable or compostable materials, they do incorporate recycled polyester. In our Lab tests, they excelled when cleaning up spills and wiping down surfaces. We liked that the waffle texture helped trap spills and debris, making them especially useful for kitchen counters and dining tables. They’re machine washable and designed to hold up over time, which helps justify their higher price.
How we test reusable paper towels
In the Cleaning Lab, we evaluate reusable paper towel alternatives by testing their spill-cleaning ability and absorbency. To determine spill-cleaning ability, we pour 15 mL of water (roughly 1 tablespoon) onto a sealed stone countertop and slowly swipe the towel across the spill. The towel is weighed before and after the spill test to determine the amount of water soaked up in a single pass. We also note whether the towel pushes and spreads the spill, leaves any droplets behind, or forms a streak.
To determine absorbency, we submerge each towel in a bowl of water for 30 seconds. When we remove the towels from the bowl, we allow them to drip until droplets are fewer than one every 10 seconds. We then weigh them again to see how heavy they are when saturated. We use the difference between the initial dry weight and the wet weight to calculate the total amount of water held, the amount of water held per square inch, and the water held compared to the weight of the towel.
What to look for when shopping for the best reusable paper towels
✔️ Material: Reusable paper towels are made from a range of materials, including cotton, cellulose blends, rayon, and microfiber. Consider what surfaces you’ll use them on most and how important biodegradability is to you. While natural fibers like cotton and cellulose tend to be more breathable and biodegradable, synthetic materials like microfiber are great for cleaning stainless steel and glass without excessive streaking.
✔️ Care: Most reusable paper towels are machine washable, but drying time and care instructions can vary. Quick-drying options are more convenient for everyday use and less likely to develop odors. Some can also be cleaned in the dishwasher, which may be helpful if you’re short on laundry space.
✔️ Biodegradability: If reducing waste is a priority, check whether the product is compostable or biodegradable at the end of its life. Reusable towels made from natural fibers like cotton or cellulose blends are often compostable, while synthetic materials like microfiber are not. Keep in mind that some items may require industrial composting to break down properly.
How do reusable paper towels differ from just using a towel?
While you can use regular dish or bath towels for household cleaning, it’s helpful to have dedicated tools for different cleaning tasks. Most towels are meant for drying hands or dishes, while reusable paper towels are designed specifically for cleaning. Materials like microfiber are great for wiping glass without streaks, while textured options like waffle knit help with light scrubbing.
Any towel can harbor bacteria and develop odors if it doesn’t dry fully between uses, especially when used repeatedly for messes. It’s also not ideal to use the same towel to clean dirty areas, like bathrooms and food-prep surfaces. Having reusable paper towels just for cleaning helps keep tasks separate, more hygienic, and more effective.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Noah Pinsonnault is the product reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Cleaning Lab. His passion for sustainability drew him to environmental research, where he spent three years researching water quality and estuarine vegetation. In the Cleaning Lab, he puts his experience to good use by developing protocols and refining tests for a wide range of cleaning products. In addition to testing these paper towel alternatives in the Lab, he uses them at home on a daily basis.
Readers Also Read
The Best Cleaning Products on Amazon
The New Toys Every Kid Will Be Talking About
10 Cleaning Myths You Need to Stop Believing
Best-Smelling Cleaners for Every Room in Your Home
