Do you use a lot of paper/plastic products?

**Sara Noel** · 07-30-2002, 02:55 PM

I never used to use many outside of paper towels and toilet paper, but have found that we are now buying paper/plastic cups and plates more often now.

Sara

**doodlebug** · 07-30-2002, 04:39 PM

We actually use less than we used to. We were using styrofoam cups, plastic spoons and forks and a lot of paper plates. And I used to use a lot of plastic wrap. I now use paper plates only in dh's lunch once in a while and have plastic spoons and forks for picnics only. And I now use containers instead of always using plastic wrap over a bowl. And haven't bought styrofoam cups in a long time. We do use paper towels, tp, plastic trash bags, kleenex, ziploc type bags for storage and freezer, sandwich bags in dh's lunch and a little aluminum foil.

**Jenlee** · 07-30-2002, 04:59 PM

I use paper plates for each meal unless "real" plates work better. I tell myself I am saving water, so it doesn't bother me. Napkins are used every meal as well, but I try to use my dishcloths in place of a paper towel.

**Karla** · 07-31-2002, 04:01 AM

Most of our paper/plastic is for trash bags, napkins, kleenex, and of course tp. Very seldom do we ever buy or use paper-towels

**CAGmomof2** · 07-31-2002, 10:23 AM

No we mainly only use paper napkins alot!!

**Jerseygirl** · 08-01-2002, 06:36 PM

I have succesfully cut our paper towel and cup and plate use in half since we moved. It did take effort though.

**homesteadmamma** · 08-01-2002, 08:59 PM

Actually all that we use is tp. I've now gone to cloth everything, making my own hankies and using old clothes for cleaning up with. I knit my own dishclothes and with the cost of paper plates and cups here in Canada, it is just to costly.

I've made it a habit when we do any travelling to bring our own tupperware glasses so that we don't have to purchase plastic glasses.

**daisyplum** · 08-25-2002, 10:39 PM

I've really made a conscious effort to cut out paper/plastic products in the past six month.
I've switched to cloth napkins, cloth pads for that time of the month etc.
I do always keep a roll of paper towels on hand but rarely use them. I use rags, dishtowels, newspaper for what ever I would have used paper towels on before.
I use Quick Cover instead of Saran wrap.
The only thing we regularly still buy is toilet paper. And, that isn't going to change!!

**KathiS** · 08-26-2002, 09:32 PM

We use way too many paper products! I am ashamed of me! Can you say, "Nana gets lazy"?

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 08-26-2002, 11:23 PM

We use about half a roll of paper towels a month. We always use cloth napkins ( I bring home any extra fast food napkins to drain thigns on) and cloth rags for cleaning. I can't use cloth pads for that time of the month (everything I own would be ruined!). We do buy zipper bags, but don't use plastic wrap. We use wax paper and save the cereal box bags to cut up to use over things in the microwave.

We use toilet pape for blowing noses. Here's how to make a roll of tissue fit into any decor!

Buy one of the square boxes of tissue.
Use the tissues out of it.
Save the box.
Cut the top off of the box.
Take the core out of a roll of tissue and pull the center so that the tissue is unwinding from the middle.
Put a tissue box cover over the cut off top. Violá!

**QuilterMom** · 05-17-2005, 03:12 PM

We do use paper towels, but mainly for cleaning up dog

, which happens at least weekly. It's just too gross of a mess to deal with otherwise. Paper towels are not used as napkins - we have cloth napkins for that.

We also have a small supply of paper plates, but those are part of our hurricane season emergency supplies in the event we're without electricity for a period of time.

**jlxian** · 05-17-2005, 03:31 PM

We use paper plates a lot, but have never gotten into using disposable cups or forks/spoons/knives. I try to hold down the use of plastic wrap and try to re-use ziploc bags.

I also still buy paper towels. Its a hold over from when my kids were babies and I wanted to make sure I was wiping my hands on something very clean. I buy the kind with "select a size" and only tear off a small portion at a time.

**Chea** · 05-17-2005, 08:22 PM

We don't use paper plates, cups or napkins. I do have a roll of paper towel but its been around FOREVER. I use rags to clean things up, dishtowels and cloth napkins. We do use plastic freezer bags, garbage bags etc but I think we're doing pretty good!