The Best Reusable Paper Towels

Our winning bamboo rayon option had perforated sheets that allowed us to tear off a sheet like traditional paper towels. They absorbed more than double their weight in water in our absorbency test and effortlessly dried a load of dishes without linting. They were aptly named “tough sheets,” and resisted tears even after being dragged along an abrasive plastic cutting board 100 times. The sheets wiped up messy counters in no time, shined wooden tables with ease, and cleaned glass windows without streaks. Even after multiple uses, they remained strong. We were worried about staining after we used them to wipe up bright red hot sauce, but after a quick rinse in the sink they were almost as good as new. They’re great for people who want a reusable option but want the ease of cleaning with a product similar to a traditional paper towel. One flaw Although the company claims that a roll of these sheets can fit on any paper towel holder, they weren’t universal—a tester struggled to fit them on hers.

This colorful collection of reusable cotton flannel towels comes on a roll that you can add to your paper towel holder. Although we had to wash them before our first use, we could easily clean them in a washing machine. They were effective at absorbing spills, dried dishes thoroughly, and left our glasses sparkling. We also loved how soft they were in our hands and while shining wood surfaces. Testers liked that they could use them as napkins as well and appreciated that their edges were sewn down to prevent fraying. A couple of small quibbles Their fleece texture caused them to pill slightly, which made them look worn, and they linted a bit. These are great for people who want to store their towels on a paper towel holder.

These perforated sheets reminded one tester of Viva brand paper towels due to their supersoft texture. They were absorbent, stayed strong while drying dishes, and left only a little lint behind. They didn’t tear while scrubbing dried condiments from a kitchen counter and effortlessly cleaned a variety of surfaces. A drawback was the care of this product. After multiple rinses in the sink, they remained stained and there was still slight discoloration after machine washing. One tester noticed that the sheets were also fluffier after drying, which made them harder to fold and store in a drawer. We recommend line or air drying these sheets to avoid this problem. They’re good for folks who want the look of traditional paper products and the softness of a cloth towel.

Of all the products in our lineup, these cotton towels most closely resembled dishcloths due to their appearance, size, and thickness. They were nicely sized and felt good in our hands. They didn’t lint, shined wood beautifully, and were easy to launder. Although the towels worked well while wiping down counters or cleaning windows, testers noticed that they weren’t as absorbent when cleaning up big spills. The manufacturer recommends washing them before use to increase absorbency. We observed that their absorbency somewhat increased after we washed them and as we used them, but not to the level of our winner or runner-up. They did not come on a cardboard core and since they were on the thicker side, fitting them all in a drawer was sometimes a challenge.

We loved the simple unbleached and natural look of these hand-sewn towels. They cleaned small messes well and were perfect for making windows crystal clear. Washing them was a breeze and they showed minimal staining but they did not come on a cardboard core and needed to be stored in a drawer or stacked on the counter. Yet, these towels were not as absorbent as our winner, and testers sometimes needed to “double up” when wiping their stovetop or tidying up after a big spill. There were also visible threads hanging from them after our abrasive cutting board test.