Cloth or paper napkins?

[EllenFrasier]

We have always used paper napkins, except on holidays. Lately the quality of the paper napkins has gone way down hill. They are as thin as toilet paper and we end up using 3 or 4 for each person per meal. That's a lot of napkins with 7 people!
I was wondering if anyone here uses paper napkins and if there is a higher quality type that I can buy somewhere? We looked in BJ's at the dinner napkins, but they were outrageously expensive.
Then I was considering cloth napkins. I know I'd have to buy a few sets because I don't wash dishtowels everyday, but they would last a long time. Any thoughts on cloth napkins?

 

[pixiemagic30]

I quit buying paper napkins years ago for daily use. I will still purchase them for parties and the like. I love our clothe napkins. We do have enough so that I don't have to wash them daily.

 

[Miss Peach]

If you have a sewing machine or a serger, napkins are one of the easiest things to sew.

I have been sewing my own for years--and I HATE sewing. You can get a yard or two of a nice cotton and whip them up in no time at all!

Cathy

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Always use cloth napkins - my house is not a low end fast food restaurant!

Could not serve a great meal and use paper napkins - just seems weird to me.

 

[laurafergie]

I also quit buying paper napkins for daily use and I put away the paper towel so it is hard to get to. (I keep it around for frying and window washing) That makes everyone use the stack of hand towels I bought just for the kitchen.

I started not buying paper products as a way to cut back on my grocery bill. Using fabric doesn't add really much to laundry, I just throw them in with the towels.

For the fabric napkins for daily use, I went to Michaels when I had a 20% off everything coupon a few years ago and bought a ton of their bandannas in Navy and Red for .80 each. They wash well and if you fold them right out of the dryer, they don't wrinkle much. I have them stacked in a basket on the kitchen island.

 

[rubato]

Cloth all the way. They're super cheap if you sew. I am not good at sewing and was able to make them, so it's really easy. I don't want to buy paper products any more than I have to. It's a waste of money and it's an environmental issue also (bigger deal to me). I also don't use tissues anymore, just handkerchiefs. Why use something disposable when you can reuse?

 

[Kate and Pete]

We use cloth napkins - I make my own because they're so easy! Plus, I LOVE fabric (I'm a quilter), so it's another reason to buy gorgeous prints.

Once they have lived their lives, they become rags - so they'll certainly serve their purpose!

 

[MacFam4]

I found an 8 pack of cloth napkins at Sam's for $7, and they're very large, quality napkins. I too am trying to cut back on paper goods, so I thought this was a pretty good buy. I may pick up another pack the next time I'm there.

 

[Colleen27]

We switched to cloth quite a while ago, partly to save on the grocery bill and partly because I'm slowly eliminating pretty much everything disposable from our household routines. I made most of mine from free-to-me fabrics from my late grandmother's sewing cabinet, but I also have some pretty store-bought ones from Pier One clearance sales that cost about $1 ea and are great for holidays/entertaining.

I'm not sure exactly how many everyday napkins I have. Probably about 3 dozen? More than we need for a week, anyway. I just keep them folded in a wicker basket in the pantry and wash them with the towels. I have a dozen of the nicer ones in each of two different patterns, one "springy" and one "wintery", to go along with my service-for-12 china.

 

[tinkarooni]

I bought a ton of clearance cloth napkins whenever I saw them and now I have an interesting collection. We use them for most meals and only use paper for parties or lazy paper plate kind of nights. I throw them in with the regular wash and haven't had any trouble.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We only use cloth here. I picked mine up at the thrift store for cheap a couple years ago, but I've seen them on clearance at Kohl's as well. I just throw them in the washing machine after they're used and when I wash a load they're washed with whatever color I'm washing at the time, it doesn't really add to the laundry at all.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Cloth all the way. They're super cheap if you sew. I am not good at sewing and was able to make them, so it's really easy. I don't want to buy paper products any more than I have to. It's a waste of money and it's an environmental issue also (bigger deal to me). I also don't use tissues anymore, just handkerchiefs. Why use something disposable when you can reuse?

Handkerchiefs? OMG - I used to use those when I was a kid. Always thought it was gross too. Disposable tissues, along with toilet tissue of course, is something I prefer to use.
Now, for those that make your own cloth napkins - what kind of material do you buy? Is it linen? Material like cotton that sheets are made out of or what? Do you sew them with a particular stitch?
I own a sewing machine - brand new. I used it about 3 years ago when I wanted to start making things to sell at craft shows. Then I found out how much material costs and decided not to pursue that! I did make our dog a nice dog bed though - but that's it.

 

[Kae]

I am in the process of switching I have a dozen right now, I got them on clearence at Walmart bought all they had they .50 for a 2pk. I have always been a washrag & real towel type, so we don't even use a roll of paper towel a month more like every 6 weeks.

Kae

 

[Leshaface]

We use cloth napkins for every meal, but keep paper towels handy (for bacon grease, etc)

It has saved us a lot of money from having to buy paper towels once a month and all we do is just throw in our cloth napkins with our towel load to wash them! Very easy!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I think Costco's Kirkland napkins are thick enough. But I might get enough cloth napkins (about 20-24) for the week so I'll start looking for a sale.

 

[Green Tea]

I have used cloth for many years. I buy new ones when I see a pattern I like, but have never had to throw any out for wearing out. I hate them unless they are all cotton and soft. Any polyester makes them non absorbent and just not useful.

I like Pier 1 for this item.

 

[prncess674]

I just shop the clearance racks at Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls & Pier 1. Just look for some which are not 100% polyester or 100% cotton. The linen or 100% cotton get super wrinkled and the 100% poly just don't feel right to me. I hate the cheapo paper napkins, especially on spaghetti night!

I have stacks of cloth napkins and use them whether it is pizza or fine dining. It always irks me when I give some a cloth napkin and they are dining at my house and then they say something like "I don't want to dirty the nice cloth napkin" so they go and grab a paper towel off the roll.

I do it partly for enviromental issues, but partly just because I hate the feel of a paper napkin. In the old days a baby would be given a monogrammed napkin ring as a gift and everyone would have their own napkin identified by the ring and the napkin would only be changed on wash day. Everyone has assigned spots at the kitchen table and occasionally if the napkins were just used from morning cereal I will just leave them out for lunch.

If we are having movie night and eating in front of the TV I hand out dish towels since eating on your lap is harder and messier. The dishtowel gives a bigger "catch zone" for the inevitable mess. I would rather throw out a stained dishtowel than try to get pizza sauce out of a white shirt.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I don't know why I have not used the cloth napkins for our daily use instead of only at holidays. This thread has inspired me...I am so tired of buying paper napkins and paper towels, what a waste of money, space and energy..Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[Piper]

I use cloth napkins instead of paper, real cloth handkerchiefs instead of Kleenex, and flour sack dish towels instead of paper towels. I live by myself and just toss them in the washer when dirty and do a load once a week.

I have also started making my own dish soap and washing powder. Easy to do and saves money, too!

 

[Kycha]

Vanity Fair napkins are really good for daily use. They are large in size and they are thick and absorbent. You can usually find coupons for them. Combine that with a good sale and you could get some cheap, paper napkins. Personally, I prefer paper towels to napkins. But everyone on this thread has inspired me to look into cloth napkins.