My Favorite Reusable Products For The Kitchen
Replace paper towels, plastic wrap, and more with these reusable products for the kitchen that are better for the environment (and save you money!).
I’m always looking for ways to be less wasteful around the house, whether it’s recycling and composting or stocking the kids’ drawers with hand-me-downs. Here are my favorite reusable products for the kitchen–some I recently discovered and some that I’ve been using for years. Maybe they’ll work in your kitchen too!
Instead of paper towels: These Swedish Dishcloths (sponsored link) are made from plant-based cellulose and cotton, are all-natural and biodegradable, and are a perfect size for cleaning up messes. They can be used dry or wet, and you can rinse, wring-out, and use them again. I use them for all kinds of tasks: Wiping up spills, cleaning out the sink, wiping down our patio table and chairs–then I toss them in the washing machine (and lay flat to dry). So far mine have held up without a single rip or tear. Here’s more on how Swedish dishcloths are made, how you use them, and why they work so well.
Instead of sponges and scouring pads: My husband, the resident dishwasher, is particular about his tools. He likes to have some kind of scrubbing pad, but the plastic mesh ones we’ve used in the past get really gross really fast and end up in the garbage can. At the Housewares Show, I picked up a sample of these Skoy Scrubs, a reusable scrub pad that can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher or in the washing machine. I love that it’s easily cleaned and reused. Most importantly, my husband gives it the thumbs-up!
Instead of plastic bags: What I love about these Stasher Bags is how easy they are to open and close, unlike some reusable bags I’ve used in the past. They’re food-grade silicone, and you can store, microwave, freeze, and even sous-vide with these bags–plus they’re dishwasher safe. Pick from several sizes (including half-gallon, sandwich, and snack sizes) and colors.
Instead of harsh kitchen sprays: Instead of using smelly sprays for grime and stuck-on stuff, use this little plastic scraper when you’ve got stuck-on stuff on dishes, counters, and stove-top. We use these Lil’ Chizlers every day and put them through the dishwasher to get them clean. I love these so much I’ve given them as little gifts to friends and family.
Instead of Plastic wrap: These washable and resuable bowl covers are perfect when you don’t have (or can’t find!) a lid–or when you’re taking a salad or other dish to a party and don’t want to use plastic wrap–. The set comes with three sizes and there are a few patterns to choose from.
Instead of plastic straws: I like having a straw in my drink because I tend to drink more water when I use them. But throwing away all those plastic straws? No way. I’m a long-time user of the U-Konserve Stainless Steel Straws (they come with the must-have straw brush for cleaning!). Recently, the folks at Aardvark sent me a sample of fun paper straws that are biodegradable and compostable (they decompose in just 30-60 days). They come in lots of colors and designs and would be really cute for a party or event.
Instead of plastic produce bags: I spend a lot of time in the produce section of the grocery store, but using all of those plastic bags makes me feel wasteful. I bought a set of these Flip & Tumble Bags to use instead, and they’ve held up well even after multiple trips through the washing machine.
| You might also like: How to Compost at Home |
Instead of store-bought freezer pops: Last summer I bought a set of Zipsicle ice pop pouches to create freezer pops, and my kids loved them. Though the pouches can be reused, they are thin and seem more like a one-time-use product. But when I spotted these Russbe Reuse-a-Pop reusable popsicle bags at the Housewares Show, I knew I had to try them. They sent me a sample, and I’ve used them multiple times. They’re well made, thick and sturdy, easy to clean, and hold just enough for a refreshing ice pop. (They have a zip-top that my kids find a little tricky to use, but opening the ice pops for your kids is a small price to pay for a pouch you can use again and again!) These are no longer available but here is another reusable ice pop pouch.
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My husband and I have been on a mission to get rid of disposable sponges for washing dishes, but the dish rags haven’t been cutting it. Definitely going to have to try those Skoy Scrubs! We’ve also started using microfiber cloths in place of paper towels, and those work great. Thanks for the tips!
Hi Kate! I’m a fan of microfiber cloths too. I’ve used Norwex for years, and I’m very happy to be rid of all those bottled cleaners under my sink! 🙂
Norwex envirocloths are so incredible!! I second your thought!
I have most of these items, too! I use MightyNest, which has a subscription service called MightyFix that only costs $10 a month. I’ve gotten the beeswax wrap, the produce bags, stainless steel straws, and some great cleaning cloths through the MightyFix. It’s kind of fun to get a surprise environmentally friendly “gift” every month!
Hi Beth–I’ve heard good things about MightyNest but haven’t tried it yet. Sounds like a great service.
Where do you keep your used, wet “paper towels” before you run them in the wash? I’ve yet to come up with a good system and would love some ideas!
Hi Patrice–I just hang them on the faucet, sink, or by the washing machine.
I keep two waste bins in the laundry room.. The
mesh one I use for recycling and then hang the wet rags on the side to dry. When I have more to dry, I just put them in the bin and add more to the sides.
Do you have a preference for which set of ice pop molds you like better? I want some, but I’m wondering which set, works better.
Hi Jacqueline–I prefer the Russbe ones because they are reusable. The Zipsicles worked great but they are a one-time-use product, so they are thrown away after one use.
Thanks. I certainly want the reusable version!
How easy are the reuse-a-pops and reusable sandwich bags to clean? I would imagine they’d be a bit of a pain to clean and to find somewhere to stand them up to dry…
Melanie–that’s a great question. With the bags, they’re pretty easy to wash, then I prop them open to dry over a wooden spoon or something similar in the utensil holder of the drying rack (does that make sense?). I do the same with the popsicle pouches on a butter knife in the drying rack.
I already use the scrubs, bees wax paper and produce bags – love them all! I’ve been reluctant to try the paper towel substitute because of the smell factor – I feel like my kids are constantly spilling milk and that is not a smell that easily comes out in the wash. We now have a designated “milk rag”! 🙂
Love all these ideas! Sometimes I feel like it is so hard to balance convenience with being wasteful, nice to know there are good options!
Thanks Kelli!
Love these ideas! And it’s nice to know my husband and I are not alone…we have been known to wash out a disposable ziploc, too! I also use the same produce bags you mentioned, stainless steel straws, and silicone 2 oz. popsicle molds. And sometimes I just put a ceramic dinner or salad size plate over a bowl as a cover so I don’t have to use plastic wrap, but the Bee’s wrap is cool! How do you wash it? I also have cloth zipper pouches that I use for dry snacks for my kids’ lunches, but they are tricky…sometimes things like pretzels get soggy or just lose their “crisp”, so they don’t work for longer storage times.
Diane–that’s a good idea about putting a plate over a bowl in the fridge. Why haven’t I thought of doing that?! 🙂 I agree with the cloth pouches, they definitely don’t keep food fresh very long, but they are good for a packed lunch or snack eaten within a few hours. Thanks for your comment!
My husband and I use paper towels like they are going out of style so I just bought these Norwex towels to clean everything from my kitchen, bathrooms, glass doors and more! The best part is you only use WATER to clean too (wet, clean, rinse, hang dry)! Hard to believe it but it works! My sister has been using these for a few years. Clearly it takes me a while to get on board with things!! https://norwex.biz/en_US/shop/product-detail/101720
Maria–I have used Norwex for years and love it! 🙂
Thanks so much for your recommendations. I just ordered the Skoy pads (have been looking for a disposable sponge replacement!) and Swedish towels (have been using If You Care Reusable Paper Towels which last a week or more but they are still disposable) and can’t wait to try them. I also love reusing the jars from salsa, marinara sauce, jelly, etc – I simply wash the labels off with soap and hot water and use them to store bulk items like nuts, oats, trail mix, dry beans, etc. It’s a great way to keep an organized pantry (that looks nice too) without the extra packaging. I really appreciate your post, it’s nice to know others are thinking of these small changes to their kitchen habits too!
Amelia–glad you found some products that will work for you! I’m a big jar reuser too. My favorite are Smucker’s natual peanut butter jars (the glass ones). I keep rice, lentils, etc, in those. But I’m too lazy to wash the labels off well. 🙂
Bonne Maman jars (preserves, with the red/white checkered top) are perfect for overnight oats, snacks, and storage. Bonus: since the label is paper, one run through the dishwasher and it pops right off in one piece. We don’t actually use that much jam, but after a couple years I’ve got quite the collection.
Do the Skoy scrubs get sour quickly? I tried using the Norwex ones but they would turn sour after a day and no amount of washing could get the smell out.
Hi Jessica–I haven’t noticed they get sour quickly. We use a new one at least once a week–throw one in the laundry, get a new one out. We have about five or so, so they’re easy to rotate.
Tupperware is one of the best re-usable kitchen products. It keeps food fresher than any other product and most of us have some stored somewhere in our kitchen. If not, you can always buy some online. It really does last a lifetime and often lasts longer than a lifetime (I’m still using some of my grandmother’s old Tupperware!!)
LOVE the Skoy washcloths. I have a few Ember heated mugs, which I love, but they get stained with tea and can’t go in the dishwasher. I have tried so many things from salt to Brillo pads and nothing worked, but the Skoy clothes worked the first time with some elbow grease. I’ve already shared with others. Thank you!
We need more posts like this! It disgusts me how wasteful most humans are : ( Have you discovered Grove? I LOVE their Swedish dishcloths and I LOVE their reusable Ziploc-style bags even more! They’re THICK and have super cute designs. Also, I love that they have a variety of sizes too- snack, two different sandwich and a HUGE storage one which is what I use to keep multiple sandwich fillers in – Tofurky “lunchmeat”, PB cheeses, pre-sliced onions, tomatoes, etc.