Breaking Up with Paper Towels (Kind Of)

 

Let me confess something: I used to have a serious paper towel habit. I’m talking at least four rolls a week—more if something got spilled, the dog made a mess, or life just felt especially sticky (which, let’s be honest, is often). My family and I used them for everything: cleaning, wiping faces, drying hands, laying under snacks—basically, if it could be paper-toweled, we did it.

Then I saw a meme that said,

“I have the paper towel habit of a much wealthier woman.”
And let me tell you, I felt so seen... and a little called out.

That was my wake-up call. Not only were we throwing money away—literally—we were also tossing roll after roll of trash into the landfill. So, in my quest to be a little greener (and a little less broke), I started looking into unpaper towels.

Enter: The First Swap

I wasn’t sure how it would go. Would they work? Would they gross me out? Would my family actually use them?
Spoiler alert: It was a total win.

Unpaper towels are washable, reusable, and surprisingly satisfying to use. We keep a bin of clean towels tucked in a kitchen cabinet, and when they’re dirty, they go into a basket under the sink until laundry day. Easy peasy. I don’t miss the rolls at all—well, except for the occasional super gross mess. We still keep a backup roll around for those moments, because balance.

The Real Victory

Switching to unpaper towels was the very first change we made on our sustainability journey, and it felt like such an easy win. It saved us money, reduced our trash, and made me feel a little more in control of the chaos.

And honestly? Every time I grab a reusable towel instead of tearing off a paper one, I feel like I’m slightly outsmarting the system—and that’s a good feeling.

Welcome to My Wildly Imperfect Sustainability Blog

Hi there! I'm Evelyn — and if we haven’t met before, you should know this upfront: I’m a little all over the place. I suspect I have ADHD (still waiting on an official diagnosis), I’m deep in the rollercoaster of perimenopause, and anxiety is my ever-present sidekick. So, if you’re looking for a perfectly organized blog with a clear, linear narrative... you may want to adjust your expectations. This is going to be a bit of a ride.

The heart of this blog is simple: I want to encourage families to live more sustainably — starting with mine. Full disclosure: my family isn’t exactly excited about this journey. They’re more like... reluctant passengers. But I’m hopeful that with time, these eco-habits will catch on. I’ll be sharing what we try, what flops, and what (hopefully) sticks. Honestly, if I’d started this when my kids were younger, it might’ve gone smoother. But here we are, with teens who are very much set in their ways. Still, once I get an idea in my head, there’s no stopping me — and I’m bringing everyone along for the ride.

Oh, and one more thing: I’m lazy. Like, deeply lazy. My spirit animal is a sloth, and I wear that with pride. I like things simple, quick, and low-effort — because after a long day at work (which involves a lot of calls, emails, meetings, and brainpower I don’t always feel like I have), I come home, put on my comfiest pajamas, whip up an easy dinner, and collapse into my recliner for the night.

So if you're looking for real-life sustainability tips from someone juggling work, teens, exhaustion, and a desire to just do nothing... you're in the right place.