I love barbecue ribs, and when you eat barbecue ribs the right way, with your fingers it can get pretty messy.  Of course since barbecue sauce is finger licking good you can remove much of the residue yourself, but eventually you’re going to have to clean off that final sticky residue.

What’s the best way to do it?

Most people use their napkins or paper towels to clean off their fingers, and face, and then toss the paper into the garbage.

A better solution is to use damp washcloths instead.  Damp washcloths can be used throughout the meal to clean off your fingers, and when you’re done, just toss them into the washing machine to be washed the next time you do a load of clothes.

In addition, don’t use paper towels to wipe up small spills of liquids, or to wipe your hands, and so on.  Instead, keep some cloths handy.  Dampen them, clean up what needs to be cleaned up, and then place them on a rack so they can dry and be used again.

Paper towels are often created from recyclable material themselves, so they can’t be recycled again, in particular because they may contain bacteria.  Some people recycle them as mulch, by putting them in their compost heaps. (The mulching process destroys any bacteria that might have been present.)

Paper towels are made from wood and other plant material, just like paper.  The material is ground up and separated into microscopic plant fibers.  Then the fibers are bleached white.  Why assist in removing yet more trees from the forests, when you can simply use a wash cloth to obtain the same result?

Of course, there are some spills where paper towels are necessary.  You wouldn’t want to use a washcloth to clean up a gunk of oil, then try to wash that out in your washing machine.