I did the math on paper towels one afternoon and nearly choked. I was spending about forty dollars a month, which is almost five hundred dollars a year, on things I used for thirty seconds and threw away. That math made me switch, and three months later I have not bought a single roll.

Before you picture a pile of stained rags, hear me out. The swap is easier than it sounds and saves real money.

What I Replaced Them With

I bought two things:

• A pack of bar mop towels, the white restaurant towels, about a dollar each
• A few microfiber cloths for glass and mirrors

That is it. Ten towels and five cloths, total cost under twenty dollars, and they have lasted me three months with no sign of wear.

How I Use Them Day to Day

The bar mop towels handle the jobs I used to burn paper on: wiping counters, drying hands, cleaning up spills, drying produce. I keep a clean stack folded on the counter and a damp one hanging by the sink for quick wipes.

The microfiber cloths are for glass, mirrors, and the TV screen. They pick up smudges without streaks and wash out easily.

The Laundry Part Is Easy

I worried about the extra laundry. It turns out to be nothing. I toss the towels in with the regular load and pull them out dry. I wash them every three or four days and they come out clean and white.

For the gross jobs, like wiping raw chicken juice, I use the towels too and just wash them hot. They survive, and the cost per use is pennies compared to paper.

What I Still Keep Paper For

I am not a purist. I keep a small roll for the truly nasty stuff: cleaning the litter box area, soaking up oil, blowing my nose when I have a cold. That one roll has lasted two months, which makes the savings real.