First, let me say that dh cannot eat a meal without a napkin in his hand. I don't know where or when this habit started, but it drives me crazy.

I'd read here and there that using cloth napkins saved money and was good for the environment. WHen I found a dozen cloth napkins on after-Christmas clearance for about $3, I announced that beginning with the new year, we would be using only cloth napkins.

I love it. I don't know how much we're saving, but I love the effect. Our meals haven't changed -- I'm still preparing the same foods -- but everything seems more elegant. Dh even started lighting the candle in the centerpiece.

My toddler finds it easier to set the table with the heavier cloth than with the cheap paper napkins we used to use. After the meal, I put the soiled napkins in a basket under the sink. When it gets full, I toss them in with whatever laundry is going on. Because they were so cheap, we don't worry about staining them. We just won't used stained ones for guests.

The real test: I asked dh if he was tired of the cloth and wanted to return to paper. He chose cloth napkins.

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~Jeweled

Wow - good for you! I found some cheap ones after Christmas too! red ones - but they only had 2 packages! I got them and then the spending freeze started and I kept going back and forth between hitting another Target to buy more (since I only have 8) or returning them and saving the cash. Finally the decision was put off so long they're still in the pkg and I've forgotten about them! I guess I'll pull them out and try using them tonight! I've been wanting to do this forever, but keep forgetting!

I'm glad it worked out for you - I'm hoping DH & the boys will like it too!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

We love ours. I bought some almost a year ago to use after Easter on a great clearance. I wash them no matter the color in hot water and they seem to be doing great no real big color loss. I was watching someting about being green and they said that each person puts out 40lbs of paper napkins a year in a land fill.

The best part about cloth napkins is they work better and every dinner as Jeweled said is more elegant.

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we use old Washcloths here!! I may have to Get rid of those and get some nice cloth napkins (on clearance of course LOL) to use instead!! I do like the idea of not using paper soo much! we always have some on hand ! since I got 3 Packages Free!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

We went to cloth when the FTJ project started. We love it. The kids think they are eating "fancy" every night. BTW, we wrote each of our names on a clothes pin and put them on the napkins after meals. I'm a germaphobe and couldn't stand to use someone else's napkin!

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Megan

I am Also Going to start Doing this after our Last of the 800 pack of napkins runs out.

It is Really Dumb for me to Keep buying them! We use so Darn many and I am sick of wasting!

I also do wash every single day , so its not like I can't Just throw them in too!


I Actually have 8 napkins that Are sitting in my hutch! They match the Table cloth and I Bring em out for Guests
But they are going to Come out and Stay out!

Woo-hoo, I thought I was the only one using cloth napkins! We switched earlier this month, I was going through a roll of Bounty every 5 days and frankly just got tired of wasting and having to lug home the giant paper towel packs. I have used exactly 4 paper towels since the change (to clean the toilet, germ issues here) and don't even notice any extra laundry. I also switched to using my microfiber cloths for clean ups and yesterday cut up some old fleece to use in my swiffer. I am excited to find ways to go greener without spending more money and actually saving money!!!

I never thought of fleece in the swifter. I will have to try that.

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I would go ahead and use the cloth. Save the paper napkins for yucky stuff that you don't want on your cloth. Especially for soaking grease off of fried foods, etc. Just my opinion!

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Mom to Ryan ('06)

good idea with the fleece with three dogs there is lots of hair. They say that homespun fabric works the best with making napkins they would be a quick sewing project. We have been using cloth napkins for a couple months and have not complains. We also use cloth towels for everything except pet messes. It is good to have a couple napkins around for food prep and grease removal.

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