Microfiber cloths vs paper towels: which costs less
Microfiber cloths vs paper towels? Cloths usually cost less within a few months if you wash and reuse them. Here is the math and where paper still wins.
Hamza Idrissi3 min read
Verdict: buy microfiber cloths for everyday wiping and keep one roll of paper towels for the messes you do not want to wash. The cloths cost more at first, then less every week after.
The break-even math
These numbers are examples, not quotes. Use your own prices.
A roll of paper towels costs $2. A household that uses one roll a week spends about $104 a year. A pack of 24 cloths costs $15. Say you wash them with the laundry and they last a year of regular use. That is $15 for the year, plus a little water and power for washing.
If you only replace half your paper use, you still save money. The cloths pay for themselves in about two to three weeks in this example.
Which wins on
| Factor | Microfiber cloths | Paper towels |
|---|---|---|
| Cost over a year | Lower | Higher |
| Up front cost | $ to $$ | $ |
| Greasy spills | Poor, they hold the grease | Good, then bin |
| Raw meat or pet messes | Not ideal | Better |
| Windows and glass | Good, if clean and dry | Leaves lint |
| Storage | A small drawer | Roll holder |
| Waste | Low | Higher |
Pick microfiber cloths if
- You wipe counters, tables and dust every day.
- You have a washing machine and do laundry weekly.
- You want fewer trips to buy rolls.
- You clean glass and screens and hate lint.
Pick paper towels if
- You clean up raw meat juice, pet accidents or vomit.
- You wipe oil or grease from pans.
- You rent a place with no washer.
- You host and want something you can throw away.
Rule that matters most: use cloths for what you would wipe again tomorrow and paper for what you would never want to wash.
How to make cloths last
- Wash them with other cloths, not with towels. Lint sticks.
- Skip fabric softener and bleach. The maker usually warns they clog the fibers.
- Air dry or tumble on low heat.
- Use a color code: one color for the kitchen, one for the bathroom.
Caution
A dirty cloth spreads germs. Wash after each use if it touched raw meat juice, and always wash at the heat the care label allows. Do not use the same cloth on the kitchen and the toilet. If someone in the home is sick, use paper for that cleanup.
For more small buys that pay back, see things worth buying for under $25, and for the same kind of math on bulbs, see LED vs incandescent bulbs.
Quick questions
Do microfiber cloths really save money over paper towels?
In general yes, if you wash and reuse them. The saving grows the more paper you use now.
Are microfiber cloths good for cleaning glass?
They usually leave less lint than paper. Use a clean, dry one.
Can I wash microfiber cloths with regular laundry?
Yes, but wash them apart from towels. Lint sticks to the fibers.
Is paper ever the better pick?
Yes, for grease, raw meat juice and sick-room cleanup.
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