Today I show you how to reduce or even stop your paper consumption by food.
The Sopalin has become the symbol of our society where everything is thrown away after just one use!
Did you know that every Frenchman uses 2 kg of paper towels a year ?!
If we all stopped using it, it would be 134,000 tons less waste every year!
In addition, be aware that the dirty paper towel is not recyclable at all...
So there's no need to put it in the yellow bin to ease your conscience...
Not to mention the fact that buying sopalin and paper towels every four mornings, it weighs on the budget...
So how do you replace paper in the kitchen?
As usual, nothing better than to be inspired by our grandmothers!
Here are 5 easy tips to replace paper towel and banish paper in the kitchen. Watch:
Eliminating paper in the kitchen is much easier than you think.
Let's see together the concrete cases to get started easily:
- To wipe your hands at the table: use a cloth napkin.
- To cook: use a cloth towel.
- To clean a stain on the floor and worktop: use a sponge.
- To dry fruits and vegetables: use a clean tea towel.
- To wrap a sandwich: use beeswax as explained here.
- To recover the peelings and put them in the trash: use a waste cup.
- To dry dishes and glasses: use a cloth towel.
- To remove fat and black in dirty pans: use a stiff brush like this one.
- To absorb fat from frying: use baking sheets.
- To blow your nose: use a tissue handkerchief.
You see ? It's not that complicated!
There is a paperless alternative for every everyday situation.
And to avoid buying cloth rags, know that you can use old tablecloths, old sheets or old towels.
Now we are going to see together how to change your habits and ban Sopalin in the kitchen with 5 simple and effective tips:
Yep, we don't go paperless overnight.
You have to prepare and get used to it gently.
Take advantage of what you have left in Sopalin to make the transition.
Start by introducing cloth napkins for eating.
Then, put tea towels in the kitchen rather than Sopalin.
And place the last roll of paper in a less convenient place in the kitchen.
The idea is to see less paper in the kitchen, to be less tempted to use it.
Finally, when the reserves are empty, eliminate the Sopalin from your shopping list.
It's time to stock up on rags.
It takes enough so you don't have to do laundry every day and can do a rotation.
Me, with about thirty rags, I don't do more laundry than before.
I have rags, tea towels, wipes ready to use.
I rotate between washing, drying and using.
I didn't buy them all at once.
Some are several years old and others come from garage sales or sales.
Are they mismatched? So what!
I find it quite nice...and they wipe very well, that's the main thing, right?
Choose different materials to wipe your hands, absorb spilled liquid or dry fruits and vegetables.
To stop using paper towel, the trick is to always have cloth rags at hand.
At home, I have several baskets distributed in strategic places .
One on the dining table, easy to access for the whole family and guests.
2 other baskets are near the sink in the kitchen.
In the first there are ultra-absorbent cloths for small everyday accidents...
...and in the other, softer cloths for wiping fruits and vegetables.
I also have a drawer full of rags in my kitchen :
On one side of the drawer those for the hands and on the other those for the dishes.
I also hang a hand towel on the cupboard handle that I replace every 2 or 3 days.
You will understand, the goal is never to regret the paper towel!
With these tricks, you will see, the changes will go through like a letter in the post office.
When the rags are dirty, they have to be put somewhere, right?
Nothing could be simpler!
All you need is a place to put those used rags easily.
Just like you used to throw Sopalin in the trash...
...you will now throw your dirty rags in this rag basket.
For this, I put a nice metal salad bowl on my work surface.
It's easy to access and it doesn't look ugly in the decor.
Once it's full, I wash all these paper towels at once, in the washing machine.
And presto, it's easy and fast.
Of course, you can use something other than a stainless steel bowl for that.
For example a plastic basin or even better a storage basket like this.
For the transition to "zero paper" everyone must do their part.
Whether it's your spouse, children or your roommate, everyone is concerned.
And it's even easier if everyone joins the project!
With us, my son took a little getting used to.
When he saw the rolled up towels he said "are we opening a spa here or what?".
And then finally, he played the game...
Let's say that it doesn't change his habits too much and that everything remains practical.
As it requires no effort from him, he does it.
Again, simplicity is key!
If you don't set up an easy and practical transition, you will get bored very quickly.
Choose different kinds of cloths:microfiber cloths, absorbent cloths, towels and tea towels.
Also take pretty baskets or fancy glass jars to present them.
