Keeper towels instead of paper towels

[Tussiemussies]

Saw these on Facebook and thought they were thoughtfully constructed but too pricy. Not sure what the material is either:

http://www.greenplanetparties.com/item_475/Keeper-Towels--Reusable-Paper-Towels.htm

[Wildflower]

Good idea, but I thought they were too pricey as well.

[Tussiemussies]

Would love to make these somehow. What do you think the material is? :)

[Wildflower]

The front side with the pattern looks maybe like flannel, I'm not sure. What do you think it is?

I think these would be easy to make. :)

[redfox]

Cute, pricey. I'm pretty darn happy with the regular linen & cotton kitchen towels I find at Goodwill for $1.99 each. When they get stained beyond decency, off to the cleaning rag bin they go!

[Mrs-M]

Neat-O! The second I seen the picture, I said to myself, "flannel"! Outside (flannel), inside (terry). They'd be a snap to make!

[Mrs-M]

Re: the price, I don't find it too overly out of context. The price of flannelette has skyrocketed over the past handful of years, and considering the workmanship involved, I think it's a fair and reasonable price, and the cloths will last forever!

[Mrs-M]

I was just thinking how great the Keepers would look (ones kitchen) on a free-standing stainless paper-towel holder.

[pony mom]

They seem easy to make and the snaps are a good idea. But I wonder if a snap would get in the way when using them. It's possible to ding or scratch something if you forget they're there.

We've always had a roll of paper towels in our kitchen, but when we moved we never put up the roll and just have the towels under the sink. Now we rarely use them. Outta sight outta mind.

[Dhiana]

My reusable 'paper' towels are an old set of flannel sheets in which I cut to different sizes and hemmed. Love the idea of making them work together as a roll of commercial style paper towels.
What about using little pieces of velcro sewn on instead of all those scratchy snaps? Those snaps are a bit pricey, aren't they?

[Tussiemussies]

Agree pony mom, didn't think about that butI do think that the snaps might scratch something.

Dhiana, haved saved old clothing to use as rags, DH does not want me to walk dirty rags anymore in the washer so I thought when I saw these I can clean them in a bucket with a plunger as some are doing with their clothing. Hemming them iis a good idea. Will have to put this on my to do list!

Mrs . M I thought you'd have an interest in these...: )

Wildflower, it does look like flannel, don't know how great that would be for absorbency?
Probably a terry cloth material would pick up liquids better?

Redfox, I used to go to goodwill too for things until I watched a few episodes of the show Hoarders, where is the stuff I'm picking up coming from? On anther forum a woman said she was in the linen section of the store and saw a bedbug on an item. She quickly left the store and then called them to them what happened. So for now I won't go to goodwill anymore...just sharing.

[artist]

Too pricy. I would find snapping them back together and rolling a pain as well. JMO I think I'll stick to my folded stack of towels that are in the linen closet. I need one, I take one out.

[catherine]

I bought a big bag of microfiber cloths at the auto supply shop for $16.00. They work GREAT for all kinds of purposes and they wash well. I keep blue ones upstairs to wipe down my bathroom and orange downstairs for kitchen and floor uses. Replaces almost all paper towel needs. They work well on windows and glass, too.

Now, you could argue that microfiber is made from synthetics, so there could be an environmental trade-off worth considering, but natural fabrics don't have the "grab" that microfiber and paper towels do.

ETA: I just looked up microfiber eco-friendly? and found this: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10066.html

[Mrs-M]

Tussie. I used 100% cotton flannelette diapers on my kids. Flannelette, is incredibly absorbent. Flannelette, is also softer than terry. My opinion as to why the Keepers are backed with terry... to bulk them up and make interested consumers think, "wow, so thick and absorbent"!

If I were making such, I'd opt out using the terry, and double-layer the flannelette. (You could triple-layer just as easily).

[Tussiemussies]

Thanks Mrs. M -- I know you have a lot of experience with this so I will, when I get to this project, get the flannelette. I have never heard of that material before, is it just flannel? Thanks Ms. M :)

[redfox]

Redfox, I used to go to goodwill too for things until I watched a few episodes of the show Hoarders, where is the stuff I'm picking up coming from? On another forum a woman said she was in the linen section of the store and saw a bedbug on an item. She quickly left the store and then called them to them what happened. So for now I won't go to goodwill anymore...just sharing.

Everything I bring home from GW that is fabric goes IMMEDIATELY from sealed plastic bag into dryer on high heat for 2 hours! I'm no longer buying soft furniture goods or rugs, and all wooden chairs sit outside till I can inspect them & spray them down with a vinegar solution. Dishes get washed immediately in hot hot water. I've taken these precaustions for years, and so far, so good. There are other worries besides bedbugs, like scabies, lice, etc. all of these die in high heat.

[Frugal Mama]

Here's a tutorial for the unpaper towels. I found it on www.pinterest.com http://cottontailbabies.org/2011/01/unpaper-towel-tutorial/

[Mrs-M]

Plain old flannel, it is, Tussie. :)

What I'd be doing is watching for a sale (fabric stores). You could glean from thrift stores/etc, but buying from a fabric store will afford you with a nearly unlimited offering of colours/designs.

Additionally, I folded over an old flannel diaper (double thickness to test), and double thickness is the minimum I would go for a project like this, triple thickness IMO was a bit much (thickness wise).

P.S. Great links, Frugal Mama! And... a great big welcome aboard!

[Mrs-M]

To add, if you do decide to temp the project, Tussie, be sure to wash/electric tumble dry all fabrics being used for the project (prior to starting).

After looking at Cottontailbabies link, I quite like the idea of adding terry to the cloths. I know I was a little against the idea at the start, but the idea is slowly and steadily growing on me. Using two types of fabric add a touch of interest to the project.

[Mrs-M]

Was just thinking about this thread and decided to post a couple of pics depicting the thickness difference between double flannelette, and single flannel with terry.

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=854&d=1343910309

Double flannelette (right). Note: This is old flannel, so is only half/third as thick as what new flannel would be.

[Mrs-M]

Flannel with terry.

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=853&d=1343910258

The terry is rough in comparison to the flannel, so I'd be inclined to either go with triple flannel, or sandwich the terry between two flannel layers.

P.S. I was too lazy this morning to pull out my iron out and press the tag down, as the silly thing would not co-operate (by-hand) no how!

[Mrs-M]

To add, just thought of it now, but I could have just as easily turned the terry over... Blaming the lack of early morning coffee!

[Tammy]

I cut tags off of everything. They really bug me. That's probably diagnostic. ;)

[Mrs-M]

Originally posted by Tammy.
I cut tags off of everything. They really bug me. Call me a slow-learner, but I'm getting there! LOL!

[Jill]

I just have a pile of cloth diapers that I use as paper towels. I also use them as napkins, for hand-mopping the floor, etc. Not pretty but who cares?

[Mrs-M]

Originally posted by Jill.
I just have a pile of cloth diapers that I use as paper towels.Ditto!

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?5250-Evidence-of-My-Frugality/page2

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Mrs. M.,

Love the idea of the cloth with terry, think it would be really absorbent!;)

[Mrs-M]

I think so, too, Tussie.

[AliceRachel]

Trader Joe's sells packs of two reusable "keeper towels" for about $3. Practical and affordable

[Mrs-M]

AliceRachel. Welcome to our home! So nice to have you!

By chance, are the "keeper towels" you are talking about made the same as the ones in the OP?