I use my pinkinh shears to cut my old t- shirts. And i use the sunday paper ( the only one i get) to do the windows. I just bought a micro fiber mitten from the dollar bin at target. I got two. so i will always have a clean one. Not sure how well they work as i have not used them yet.

Sorry ment pinking shears.. Trying to multi task.

I'm so glad you posted this thread. I was thinking of posting almost the same thing. THANKS!

Well good, now I don't feel so dumb!

OK, so I'm surprised that so many people throw rags away. See, I thought the whole purpose of using the cloth rags was to be able to re-use them. I guess I would just throw them out if it was a really, really nasty job, though. Anyway, I think I'm sold on the microfiber ones. Thanks everybody!

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Trust God. Whatever risk there is in doing so, the risk of not trusting in him is far greater. - Spurgeon

That really surprised me too! I too have been thinking about phasing out paper towels because of the cost, but also because of the waste. I can't really imagine throwing away rags unless it was just really too gross, that seems like such a waste to me and even more wasteful than throwing away paper towels. I would think that paper would decompose faster in a landfill than a cotton rag. Just my thoughts though...

I use cut up t-shirt for different cleaning jobs - floors, dusting, mirrors, etc. and lately I have been thinking about adding microfiber towels cleaning and using the t-shirt rags for paper towel type stuff and washing them instead of throwing the paper ones away. I also just saw a knitted "sponge" on a website of homemade stuff and thought that was a really good idea. I'm going to see if I can find a pattern to knit one myself.

I use the microfiber cleaning cloths for cleaning, I absolutely love them. I used to use paper towels for everything. I prefer microfiber cloths over rags because they don't leave any lint behind. I bought mine at Christmas Tree Store 4 for $3.

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I have many different piles of rags for cleaning. I have the microfiber which are excellent. The old tshirts for cleaning items that require something softer.
Kitchen towels for different purposes and what I don't want to use anymore my DH does out in the garage to cut down on papertowl. I actually only buy maybe 1 roll amonth if even that.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I've never purchased microfiber, but it sounds great.

Here's my thought, though, on buying any cleaning supplies...
My grandma kept an immaculate home and she never had the types of gadgets and formulas we have today. I am working on simplifying my cleaning products to just: oil soap for wood, vinegar, baking soda, bleach, and detergent for the clothes/dishes. Nothing else.

So, I'm applying the same principle to the supplies, like towels. I've used a feather duster for years, which requires no maintenance and almost no washing. I use rags until they fall apart. They get laundered unless too gross and that's pretty rare.

I guess for those of us who are trying to really watch our spending, we have to ask--Will it really make a difference? For me, I can't see the payoff for buying any type of rag when we make them for free by using old clothes.