The 5 Best Eco-Friendly Kitchen Towels

There are a variety of ways to clean up kitchen messes, from paper towels to old rags to a matching set of dishcloths. We tend to create a lot of waste in our kitchens as we simmer, saute, cook, bake, and clean. During the process, we might pile paper towels, plastic bags, discarded food, and more into the trash. By making small changes in our routines, like opting for more eco-friendly kitchen towels, we can do good for our planet by reducing the amount of waste we produce and lessening our contributions to landfills. Without further ado, let’s dive into some of our favorite eco-friendly kitchen towel finds!

Jump To Our Picks

What is an Eco-Friendly Kitchen Towel?

Eco-friendly kitchen towels are environmentally conscious alternatives to the usual disposable or poorly made kitchen towel. They may be designed to last longer, perform better, or utilize less environmentally negative materials.

Unfortunately, in the ecosystems of our kitchens, disposable or not, kitchen towels are items that are often easily thrown away. Whether they’re disposable paper towels or inexpensive dish towels patterned as a set, kitchen towels are often one of the many things stuffing the kitchen garbage can. 

But an eco-friendly towel is designed to last thanks to its natural materials and thoughtful manufacturing processes. The best eco-friendly kitchen towels are also highly absorbent so that they can take on any mess that comes your way.

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Towels: How We Chose

We’ve selected five eco-friendly kitchen towels to fit your kitchen based on their materials, functionality, reusability, and overall design. Whether you are an at-home chef mixing complicated creations in the kitchen or a busy parent cleaning up after kids, you’ll be able to find a place for these five eco-friendly kitchen towels in your kitchen cleaning routine.

Our Picks

All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author and DGHQ editors. However, Do Good HQ may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.

1. Dream Cloths by Who Gives a Crap

The Dream Cloths by Who Gives a Crap are creative sponge-cloth hybrids. These bad boys are built to soak up spills, wipe down surfaces, be thrown in the wash, and be used again. They come in adorable patterns to compliment any kitchen.

Highlights

These towels are super absorbent, biodegradable, and compostable – talk about a triple threat! They’re also both dishwasher- and machine-safe, so cleaning them up is a breeze. For $12, you’ll receive three long-lasting, super-absorbent, eco-friendly towels. 

Things to Consider

Who Gives a Crap offers a 100% money-back guarantee in the event that you are not satisfied with your product. Also, 50% of their profits go directly to their charity partners working in water, hygiene, and sanitation.

2. Public Goods Organic Cotton Kitchen Towels (Set of 2)

These eco-friendly kitchen towels are made of 100% organic cotton, making them perfect for effectively absorbing messes and being reused in your kitchen again and again. While these towels are both soft and stylish, they’re also tough on spills and grime.

Highlights

This product is perfect for the sustainability-conscious kitchen. It is 100% organic, Global Organic Textile Standard-certified, and biodegradable. They’re even vegan-friendly!

Things to Consider

Public Goods offers an annual membership that can save you hundreds per year on your purchases. If you’re interested in adding more than eco-friendly towels to your space, the membership might be up your alley.

3. Crate & Barrel Organic Cotton Dish Towels (Set of 2)

Crate & Barrel’s sustainable kitchen towels are the perfect addition to any kitchen. They feature a 100% cotton waffle texture and come in a variety of colors to fit your kitchen decor. 

Highlights

These cotton towels can be personalized, making them a great gift for new homes and apartments. Their texture allows them to delicately dry dishes and glassware without leaving behind an annoying coating of lint.

Things to Consider

Personalized items cannot be purchased in-app and are not eligible for returns or exchanges.

4. Blueland Cloud Cloth

The Blueland Cloud Cloth is both ultra absorbent and easy to sanitize. Just one cloth can absorb 10x its weight in water and replace as many as 1,500 paper towels. For easy clean up, it can be thrown in the dishwasher or boiled.

Highlights

These cloths contain no VOCs and no chlorine bleach. Instead, they are made up of all natural cotton and plant cellulose and designed to function as the perfect cross between a sponge and dishcloth.

Things to Consider

Blueland offers free returns within a 100-day window of shipping on domestic orders. You can also sign up for the brand’s “subscribe and save” program to get automatic refills of your towels shipping to your home every few months.

5. Budget Find: Threshold Cotton Waffle Terry Kitchen Towels

The Target Threshold cotton kitchen towels are an affordable, eco-friendly kitchen staple. They feature an absorbent, 100% terry cotton makeup, making kitchen cleaning easy. These towels can be tossed in the wash and reused as needed.

Highlights

With a range of color options, these towels can add a pop of color to any kitchen while keeping spills in check. While soft to the touch and chic in appearance, they’re perfect for dealing with everyday kitchen wear and tear.

Things to Consider

These towels can be returned within 365 days of purchase, shipping, or delivery, depending on the purchase type.

How to Find the Right Eco-Friendly Kitchen Towels

Kitchens are where we make our biggest messes, and it’s easy to produce piles of waste trying to clean them up. Opting for reusable kitchen towels made from durable materials such as cotton or plant cellulose can help you reduce the amount of waste produced in your kitchen, making cleaning up messes easier and more efficient and adding to the overall atmosphere of your kitchen.

We recommend opting for a towel or cloth that best suits your needs and how you tend to use your kitchen. Find yourself frequently cleaning up pet and kid messes? A reusable paper towel alternative might be a great fit. Want something stylish and soft? Organic cotton might be the way to go.

No matter what, you can’t go wrong with any of these product picks. Happy shopping!

Featured image via Crate & Barrel