While grocery shopping the other day, I noticed a change. Granola bars which used to be sold in boxes, were now out on the shelf, simply bound together with a rip-apart package. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but overall, the amount of paper saved from that simple change has to be huge.

That’s what this is about for me those simple changes. I started out on this journey as a completely green non-green. I am always trying to find ways to make simple changes.

I have a long way to go – but I will get there. One of the simplest changes we’ve made is dumping paper towels. I may keep a couple rolls under the counter for a serious disaster, like a doggie explosion or other just as nasty event, but we do not use paper towels anymore. I buy white bar mops or rags in bulk and use them and wash them until they are really really RAGS, then they’re going into a bucket for RAG use.

The towels? They don’t really add to our laundry, they are small, and go in regular loads, so it’s not really adding to our total water use and impact there.

I remember my parents always had a supply of cut up old fabrics for rags, and they were always useful. It hadn’t occurred to me to do this until this past year. We used and abused SO MANY ROLLS of paper towels. I could easily use a roll a day (don’t even ASK about toilet paper) in my household. The messes come fast and hard in a family of six.

I think my next step, which is equally simple, but will even help us use less paper? I have been going through my kids clothes from last summer and tossing worn out t-shirts, but I can so use those for this purpose, right? All I need are some good shears, and we’re stocked in rags (perhaps a lot more colorful!) for the year.