Most homes use a lot of paper towels for cleaning up spills, wiping down counters, as well as general kitchen cleaning. The problem with paper towels is that they all end up in the trash. If you're trying to make your house more environmentally friendly, one way to do so is to stop using paper towels.

I bought a bunch of old wash cloths from the thrift store for a total of $1. Instead of using paper towels, I now use these wash clothes. They are great at soaking up spills and I find them better to use when cleaning since they don't rip apart. And the best thing is, there's nothing to throw away or buy. When the was cloth gets dirty, you put it in the laundry with your clothes.