Whether for cleaning, wiping up liquids or collecting leftover food - the kitchen roll is a real all-rounder in the household and can be found in most of us at home. This means that pretty much everything can be quickly brought back into shape and the paper towels are constantly used. They're nothing more than a kitchen rag replacement, and just because something is practical doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job. Many people use kitchen paper for things for which it is not suitable at all. There are actually many surfaces in the home that should not be cleaned with kitchen roll. We'll explain what these are in our article!
What not to clean with kitchen roll: Is kitchen paper bad for the environment?
Like all other paper products, kitchen towels are not good for the environment and if you want to live sustainably, you should limit their use if possible. To ensure that the paper does not dissolve so quickly, it is made of wood fibers to which numerous chemicals have been added. In addition, the material is often bleached with chlorine and many trees are felled for production. In Germany alone, 7 billion kitchen rolls are used every year and if we rolled them up, we could wrap the earth 2,100 times. Quite a lot, right?
Admittedly, cleaning with kitchen roll is very practical. Give it a quick wipe, throw it in the trash and you're done. However, this is just as quick with a sponge or dishcloth and we can simply wash them after use and use them again. This saves us a lot of money in the long run and does something good for the environment. But that's not the only reason why you shouldn't clean with kitchen roll.Some surfacescan even cause damage and after all we don't want that, right?
Although kitchen roll is always a great help in the home, there are certain areas and items where we should avoid it. We'll explain to you in our article which mistakes you should avoid and which surfaces you shouldn't clean with kitchen roll.
Carpets
Spilled red wine or coffee on the carpet again? To pick up stains from the carpet, we often use kitchen paper - we've all made this mistake at least once. However, the carpet is undoubtedly one of the items that we should never clean with kitchen roll. When scrubbing, the paper quickly dissolves and we can't completely get rid of the fine fibers even after repeated vacuuming. The regular tea towels, on the other hand, would be a much better choice for removing stains from carpet.
Mirrors and windows
Even we have cleaned our windows and mirrors with kitchen roll a thousand times. However, it turns out this is a huge mistake. Although the paper towel feels very soft, it has a rough surface and the small wood fibers can cause serious damage to mirror surfaces and windows. At the beginning the traces are minimal, but over time they become more and more noticeable.Mirrors and windowsSo you should rather wipe with microfiber cloths. And if you don't have a cloth to hand, use a paper bag or newspaper, but never kitchen roll!
Never clean glasses with kitchen roll
For the same reason, you should never clean the lenses of your glasses with kitchen roll. Since we always have any scratches in our field of vision, they are particularly annoying. In addition, the rough surface also removes the coating over time. The best way to clean your glasses is to wash the lenses with a few drops under running water. Then dry them either with a special glasses cleaning cloth or a microfiber cloth.
Screens
Regardless of whether it's a television, laptop or cell phone - you shouldn't clean screens and displays with kitchen roll either. As already mentioned, the wood fibers it contains can quickly damage and scratch surfaces. Instead, use a microfiber or cotton cloth. This also applies to camera lenses, which are even more sensitive and could be scratched even more quickly by kitchen paper.
Fresh foods
We all know that we should wash fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating them. However, did you know that you shouldn't wipe them with paper towels? Years ago, harmful chemicals were discovered in some rolls, which are even classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Although the measured values are usually below the permitted guideline values, you should avoid prolonged contact of moist foods with kitchen rolls. In addition, the rough structure of kitchen paper can damage the surface of some fruits and vegetables. Cotton cloths would also be a gentler alternative in this wall.
Stovetops and baking tray
We all know them - crusty leftover food on the baking tray or stove that is difficult to remove. No matter how hard you clean it with the kitchen roll, you will hardly get rid of stubborn residue. The paper becomes tattered very quickly when scrubbed and then immediately ends up in the trash. It would be best if you first soak them with lukewarm water and detergent and then wipe them off with a dishwashing sponge after a short exposure time.
