Americans are Weirdly Obsessed with Paper Towels

[dottyblue]

I ❤️ The Atlantic

Americans are Weirdly Obsessed with Paper Towels

“Nielsen suggests there’s a financial story behind these numbers. “Homes with lower relative incomes show greater reliance on reusable tools such as rags and cloths,” the report reads. “Meanwhile, homes with higher relative incomes rely more heavily on disposable options like paper towels.” Basically, Americans use so many paper towels because they can afford to.”

“They’re not just using them—they’re throwing them away, too. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2015 the country generated about 7.4 billion pounds of waste consisting of paper towels and other “tissue” materials, like toilet paper.”

[rupertpenny]

This seems to be talking about home use, and my H is definitely one of these Americans.

Somewhat related, here in Hong Kong it is impossible to find paper towels out in public, like in bathrooms. I work in a university and none of the bathrooms have paper towels even though they don't all have hand dryers. Often someone leaves out a big roll of toilet paper by the sinks, like that is supposed to work for drying hands. It drives me crazy! Most of the time I just shake my hands dry, but sometimes you just really, really need a paper towel.

[imojoebunny]

My DH loves paper towels and will use 8 times more than he needs to for any job. Fortunately, he isn't home when the bulk of messes are cleaned up. I mostly use rags or dish clothes, except for in place of a plate for eating food on, cooking bacon in the microwave, and cleaning up dog grossness. If DH isn't on vacation, we can use the same roll for a month. I get irrationally irritated when kid who come over use paper towels to dry their hands. We definitely go through toilet paper, and I am not changing that. You, also, can't pay me to touch a sponge, except to wash the car. Not in my kitchen.

[Deleted]

I switched to cloth napkins and rags/dish clothes earlier this year and I absolutely love it. A roll of paper towels will last me months.

[VillainV]

Dec 11, 2018 19:36:03 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

My DH loves paper towels and will use 8 times more than he needs to for any job. Fortunately, he isn't home when the bulk of messes are cleaned up. I mostly use rags or dish clothes, except for in place of a plate for eating food on, cooking bacon in the microwave, and cleaning up dog grossness. If DH isn't on vacation, we can use the same roll for a month. I get irrationally irritated when kid who come over use paper towels to dry their hands. We definitely go through toilet paper, and I am not changing that. You, also, can't pay me to touch a sponge, except to wash the car. Not in my kitchen.

Between me, H, and our 4-year-old, we can easily get a single roll of paper towels to last a month or more. We do use old rags for some messes. And we do use Clorox wipes in the kitchen and bathroom.

[AAM2012]

We’re high (I think) income and don’t use paper towels hardly ever. My parents (low income) use a million paper towels every day. HOWEVER....the only reason we switched was because I realized there were other options because of this board and Pixy.


My in laws are coming next week and I’m tempted to tell them we have no paper towels (and hide any residual napkins) and see how long they can last.

[stever]

This is totally about my mom and step mom.

[gibbinator]

I never buy paper towel or cling wrap because dh uses it like it's going out of style. It's nuts. He clearly learned that behavior growing up. A couple weeks ago I watched his mom tear off a strip of tin foil, realize it was a little too short, ball it up and throw it out and tear off a new one. And MIL gets annoyed when she accidently buys the half size paper towels because she needs a full sheet for every situation apparently?

Its annoying not being able to buy them because there are the rare occasions where it would actually be more convenient to have a piece of paper towel or use cling wrap but having them in the house just creates way too much waste.

I don't understand what is so difficult about grabbing a dish towel to clean spilt milk off a table.

I grew up quite poor and dh's family had a bit more money but still working class.

[imojoebunny]

Dec 11, 2018 19:38:38 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Dec 11, 2018 19:36:03 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

My DH loves paper towels and will use 8 times more than he needs to for any job. Fortunately, he isn't home when the bulk of messes are cleaned up. I mostly use rags or dish clothes, except for in place of a plate for eating food on, cooking bacon in the microwave, and cleaning up dog grossness. If DH isn't on vacation, we can use the same roll for a month. I get irrationally irritated when kid who come over use paper towels to dry their hands. We definitely go through toilet paper, and I am not changing that. You, also, can't pay me to touch a sponge, except to wash the car. Not in my kitchen.

Between me, H, and our 4-year-old, we can easily get a single roll of paper towels to last a month or more. We do use old rags for some messes. And we do use Clorox wipes in the kitchen and bathroom.

The big paper towel drag in our house is the regularly vomiting dogs.  I just can't with rags.  

[Susie]

I am generally all in on electric hand dryers in public restrooms, but since starting Invisalign last spring (and consequently starting to brush my teeth in public all the time), I really really miss when places at least had the option of a paper towel.  A dyson hand dryer really doesn't help with the tooth brushing situation.  

[aurora]

Dec 11, 2018 20:16:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

I am generally all in on electric hand dryers in public restrooms, but since starting Invisalign last spring (and consequently starting to brush my teeth in public all the time), I really really miss when places at least had the option of a paper towel.  A dyson hand dryer really doesn't help with the tooth brushing situation.  

I feel like I am missing something. I sometimes brush my teeth at work, and I do not use a paper towel to brush my teeth. It's it something to do with the Invisalign?

[aurora]

We go through maybe 3 rolls of paper towel a year. I keep a whole drawer of rags and an old bin under the sink to put used ones before I gather them to wash every once in a while. I will say that living in a dry climate makes a big difference for this method since I can just hang the times rags on the side of the building to dry between washes.

[Susie]

Dec 11, 2018 20:25:16 GMT -5 aurora said:

Dec 11, 2018 20:16:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

I am generally all in on electric hand dryers in public restrooms, but since starting Invisalign last spring (and consequently starting to brush my teeth in public all the time), I really really miss when places at least had the option of a paper towel.  A dyson hand dryer really doesn't help with the tooth brushing situation.  

I feel like I am missing something. I sometimes brush my teeth at work, and I do not use a paper towel to brush my teeth. It's it something to do with the Invisalign?

It's nice not to leave the bathroom feeling like I still have water on my face after my teeth are brushed, trays and elastics back in, a few times every day.

Maybe you're a neater public toothbrusher.   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[crazycakes]

This is timely, because I just bought paper towels for the first time since moving into our house 5 years ago. I buy the big one from Costco that has like 24 rolls or something ridiculous and it lasted us over 5 years. I keep a ton of rags under the sink and use those for pretty much all messes.

[TR]

Dec 11, 2018 20:25:16 GMT -5 aurora said:

Dec 11, 2018 20:16:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

I am generally all in on electric hand dryers in public restrooms, but since starting Invisalign last spring (and consequently starting to brush my teeth in public all the time), I really really miss when places at least had the option of a paper towel.  A dyson hand dryer really doesn't help with the tooth brushing situation.  

I feel like I am missing something. I sometimes brush my teeth at work, and I do not use a paper towel to brush my teeth. It's it something to do with the Invisalign?

Do you not have to wipe your mouth off at all when you’re done? At home, I use a towel. To not have anything would feel weird. Not impossible, but not comfortable. 

[sillygoosegirl]

My in laws are obsessed with paper towels. They flip out about us not having them (or Kleenex) in the house whenever they come to visit. You'd think we were asking them to use "family cloth" the way they flip out about being expected to use real napkins at dinner and handkerchiefs or TP for their nosed. This is in spite of the fact that supposedly they used napkins and handkerchiefs when DH was a kid... so it's not exactly like they are unfamiliar with the concept.

We don't use paper products except TP, and we are high income... but people are constantly reminding us how exceptionally weird we are for it.

[agnes]

My aunt who washes and reuses sandwich bags will use a bit load of paper towels. The waste just does not click.

[katfco]

I think it’s more that Americans are obsessed with convenience and waste, not just paper towels.

[LanaLang]

Dec 11, 2018 20:09:46 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Dec 11, 2018 19:38:38 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Between me, H, and our 4-year-old, we can easily get a single roll of paper towels to last a month or more. We do use old rags for some messes. And we do use Clorox wipes in the kitchen and bathroom.

The big paper towel drag in our house is the regularly vomiting dogs.  I just can't with rags.  

Ugh, H insists on using paper towels to clean up dog pee when our anxious Rottie leaks. Yes, it's a little gross to use a rag, but he has some rank pee and it makes the garbage reek! We only use about one kitchen trash bag a week so that stuff just sits in there and ferments until I can smell it in the kitchen with the trash lid closed. Use a rag, rinse it out, and throw it in the wash dude.

[pixy0stix]

I honestly don't remember the last time we bought paper towels. 8 years ago maybe? Using rags is just so convenient.

[pixy0stix]

*side eye*

When I asked Jennings about these environmental impacts, she noted her preferred way to go through fewer paper towels: reuse them. “We’re very much in the mentality of use-and-toss,” she says. “But if you use them once, and you rinse them, they can be used again. They don’t have to be as disposable or as single-use as some people may think they are." She says it’ll be apparent when the paper towel has done all it can, “because the fibers start to break apart from each other.”

Or, use a rag?

[aurora]

Dec 11, 2018 23:01:28 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

*side eye*

When I asked Jennings about these environmental impacts, she noted her preferred way to go through fewer paper towels: reuse them. “We’re very much in the mentality of use-and-toss,” she says. “But if you use them once, and you rinse them, they can be used again. They don’t have to be as disposable or as single-use as some people may think they are." She says it’ll be apparent when the paper towel has done all it can, “because the fibers start to break apart from each other.”

Or, use a rag?

I...don't understand.

In what world would it be easier to rinse and re-use a paper towel than a bit of old cloth cut up from a t-shirt you had in college that will easily fit in your next load of laundry?

[fumbalina]

I do keep paper towels on hand, but I do not use that many of them. I have specific towels for dog messes and they also get their own load in the washer (there are many- old set of towels). I usually end up with the paper towels if I am too far behind and have not done the laundry or if it is a wet sloppy mess that needs some scrubbing. I wish I could find something as effective on grease as Clorox wipes though. I really only use 1-3 a week but I would rather do something reusable.

I am actually surprised it found low-income people using reusable things since many low-income families have to go to the laundromat to do laundry and that could make it more difficult.

[sillygoosegirl]

Dec 11, 2018 22:24:46 GMT -5 katfco said:

I think it’s more that Americans are obsessed with convenience and waste, not just paper towels.

It often looks to me like Americans are obsessed with the idea that waste creates convenience, even when it doesn't.

For example, I often see parents of babies with really sensitive skin advised to wash the wipe solution out of their disposable wet wipes before wiping baby. I'm not going to argue that pre-moistened wipes aren't convenient when used as designed, especially if used where you don't have a sink handy. But if you are washing the solution out of them first, then you really aren't getting the convenience value-add anymore.

And don't even get me started on bottled water...

[wambam]

Here’s my beef with this: people are disgusting. They don’t wash their hands and if they do, they do so inadequately. I cannot, will not touch anything (faucet, door handle, etc) after I’ve washed my hands. As a diagnosed emetophobe, it’s too risky. Combine that with how a lot of times, the doors in public restrooms open the wrong way and I absolutely need a paper towel. At home, I know the two people using the cloth wash their hands appropriately.

[icedcoffee]

Dec 11, 2018 22:44:58 GMT -5 LanaLang said:

Dec 11, 2018 20:09:46 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

The big paper towel drag in our house is the regularly vomiting dogs.  I just can't with rags.  

Ugh, H insists on using paper towels to clean up dog pee when our anxious Rottie leaks. Yes, it's a little gross to use a rag, but he has some rank pee and it makes the garbage reek! We only use about one kitchen trash bag a week so that stuff just sits in there and ferments until I can smell it in the kitchen with the trash lid closed. Use a rag, rinse it out, and throw it in the wash dude.

I actually find it way easier to use an old towel to clean up dog pee.  One towel to sop it all up and another small rag to spray and wipe with one of those pee cleaner sprays.  Then I throw it in the washing machine with the rest of the rags from the week.  I've never had issues with it not coming clean or anything.  I don't even rinse it.  It would take like half a roll to clean up using paper towels.   Dog puke and poop get 1 paper towel or doggy poop bag to get most of it and then a small rag to spray and wipe with.

We use very few paper towels.  Mostly just for bacon and my H uses them to heat tortillas.  If I don't remind him he'll use them for all sorts of stuff though.

[msmerymac]

Dec 11, 2018 19:46:14 GMT -5 stever said:

This is totally about my mom and step mom.

It's definitely my stepfather. My H and I can use the same roll of paper towels for a month (although I could get even better), but for some reason whenever my stepfather visits we end up going through a roll every day or two. It's like he's drying the dishes with them or something. :/ At least my parents aren't the type of boomers who use paper plates for everything.

[msmerymac]

I saw some reusable (up to 200 times) bamboo paper towels on Shark Tank, but I'm not sure the company is still around. I'd buy those.

[CloudBee]

Dec 12, 2018 8:04:05 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Dec 11, 2018 22:44:58 GMT -5 LanaLang said:

...

I actually find it way easier to use an old towel to clean up dog pee.  One towel to sop it all up and another small rag to spray and wipe with one of those pee cleaner sprays.  Then I throw it in the washing machine with the rest of the rags from the week.  I've never had issues with it not coming clean or anything.  I don't even rinse it.  It would take like half a roll to clean up using paper towels.   Dog puke and poop get 1 paper towel or doggy poop bag to get most of it and then a small rag to spray and wipe with.

We use very few paper towels.  Mostly just for bacon and my H uses them to heat tortillas.  If I don't remind him he'll use them for all sorts of stuff though.

Our dog is older and having more accidents. I usually grab a beach towel for pee accidents, and do the same. Toss right into the wash.

For vomit and poop I've been using toilet paper and flushing. 

[mmmomof2]

People don't put their cooked bacon on rags do they?