Monday
1 paper towel to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
2 paper towels to clean up cat vomit
1 paper towel to wipe up sink in bathroom
2 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
Total: 7
Tuesday
1 paper towels to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
1 paper towel to wipe up sink in bathroom
2 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
Total: 5
Wednesday
1 paper towels to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
1 paper towel to wipe up sink in bathroom
2 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
Total: 5
Thursday
1 paper towel to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
2 paper towels to clean up cat vomit
1 paper towel to wipe up sink in bathroom
2 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
Total: 7
Friday
1 paper towels to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
1 paper towel to wipe up sink in bathroom
2 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
Total: 5
Saturday
1 paper towels to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
1 paper towels to wipe up sink in bathroom
4 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
4 paper towels to clean kitchen trash bin
Total: 11
Sunday
1 paper towels to clean up after feeding cats
1 paper towel to wipe and clean cat’s eyes
3 paper towels to clean up cat vomit
1 paper towels to wipe up sink in bathroom
2 paper towels to wipe kitchen counter
4 paper towels to clean mess on kitchen floor
Total: 12
Grand Total: 52 paper towels for the week
By tracking my paper towel usage, I can see in which situations I seem to use paper towels the most. Where there is a spill, I can use an old towel to wipe up the mess and then clean with a cloth rag. This upcoming week I will try to reduce that amount by even more. Over the years, I have tried to use rags as much as possible, buying washable cloth rags in bulk. However, I have discovered that for the more messy jobs or situations, I tend to grab the paper towels. Onwards and upwards!
©Michelle A. Potter
Wonderful...we all do our bit to help...I love your blog and welcome you to Blotanical as your mentor. There is a gardeners sustainability project going on at the blog, Thanks for Today. There is info on my blog about it too...you should enter one of your posts...
ReplyDelete@Donna
ReplyDeleteThank you! And thanks for letting me know about the Gardeners Sustainability Project...it was fun!
Oh, our poor messy kitties!
ReplyDelete@. . . Lisa and Robb . . .
ReplyDeleteAren't they? ...but we love them anyway :)
Poor cat, what is wrong with her eyes?
ReplyDelete@Elephant's Eye
ReplyDeleteWhen she was two years old, she developed this bothersome tearing of the eyes. We have taken her to the vet, tried natural remedies, and improved her diet. And athough she has improved from when the secretions were black and crusty, she still has tearing. All we can do is keep trying...other than that she is a very happy and healthy Siamese cat!
your blog is great - we share many of the same sentiments about the earth (and a love of kitties!) :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try the paper towel challenge.
@Ginger
ReplyDeleteThanks! I try not to go overboard with it...but they are a HUGE part of my life...those little purr-ers! They are luxuriating by the heater on this cold, snowy day!
Dear Michelle, I know it would be hard with your kitties but why not try just not buying paper towels. I did that years ago and really it is easy. I just use cloth towels that I wash. Your post and challenge is a great inspiration for others! If you buy recycled non bleached paper towels- that I am sure you do . . . just cutting back as you are is already a great contribution.
ReplyDelete@Carol
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol, for your encouragement and support. Although I have some very good habits as part of my green living mission, using paper towels is one of my vices. I suppose I can be somewhat of a germaphobe, and for some reason, I think reaching for the paper towel will prevent germs. This is precisely why I offered myself up for The Paper Towel Challenge. I am improving. :) I caught myself several times this week reaching for the paper towels, and then retracting to use a rag. It is a matter of re-training, I think. I hope someday we will completely stop purchasing paper towels. I hope the post will demonstrate that we are not all perfect and that we can challenge ourselves in the smallest ways to start new habits that affect the planet in a positive way.
Have you considered switching to cloth wipes? I gave up on paper towels years ago because I didn't like the waste and for us, it was an easy switch, but I know it's not for everyone.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer. I am moving towards cloth, slowly but surely. :)
ReplyDelete