I’ve received a few questions about how to use cloth napkins on-the-go. We’ve got some great napkins in the shop at the moment, and they’re perfect for lunch kits, or snacks, or whatever else you’re eating while out and about. My favourite sources of fabric for these napkins are vintage cotton sheets and, especially, cotton dinner napkins. I think dinner napkins are too big for use on the go, particularly for zero-waste lunch kits or to send to school with kids. So I cut down the giant napkins, some of which are about half a metre square, into more manageable roughly 23cm by 23cm squares (9x9in). Much easier for little hands to use, and much easier to fit into anyone’s lunch bag.
All Something Different Upcycled napkins are made from thrifted upcycled fabrics that have been cleaned at least twice in the transition from whatever it was when I found it to the finished napkins and are ready to use. If you’re curious about how the napkins compare to our multi-purpose cloths, click here to read the Product Profile I wrote comparing the two.
OK but how do I fit reusable napkins into my on-the-go meal routine? Great question! It does take a bit of time to build the habit of remembering to take one with you, use it, and swap it out for a clean one for the next time you need it.
Read on for 3 suggestions about how to use cloth napkins in your everyday life:
Visual Cues
Keep your supply of napkins in the same spot where you keep your lunch kit stuff or where you pack your bag to leave the house. The key is to make sure that you can actually SEE the napkins so that you remember to take them. Once you’ve established the routine, you can move them to another location if need be.
You might start out by keeping your cloth napkins where your lunch kit is stored, or on a counter in view of where you prepare your meals to go, or even by the door you leave from. Pick a spot that will work for YOU and your household.
Refuse Single Use
Once you’re out and about, you need to remember to use the napkin that you’ve brought with you. This is less of a challenge if you’ve packed your entire lunch or even just a utensil set because the napkin is probably there with you already. If you’re buying lunch, you’ve got the added step of needing to remember to refuse the disposables. Try pulling your napkin or utensil set out of your bag or pocket with your wallet or phone to keep at the front of your mind as you order. If you’ve forgotten to refuse the single use ones, consider taking them with you to use at your workplace (add them to the break room’s supply) or home. If you leave them on the table, they’ll likely be trashed. Use your cloth napkin for your meal to help build the habit.
Clean and Tidy
So now that you’ve remembered to use it, what do you do with this dirty napkin? Put it straight back into your pocket, covered in the remnants of what you just ate? Not a chance! If you have a lunch kit, just stick it back in there and swap it out for a clean one when you are preparing your next lunch. If you’ve just eaten takeaway in the park or somewhere, you’ve got a different situation. For me, the easiest option here is to have a reusable silicone or upcycled plastic bag to tuck it into, which you can then stick in your pocket or bag. This is also a great way to use cloth napkins for tidying small hands and faces while out and about. You can also keep another bag with pre-dampened napkins or cloths to help with this!
Care and Cleaning
How do I clean these things? They’ve been sitting all week! Something Different Upcycled’s cloth napkins are made to be durable so you can just wash them with the rest of your kitchen towels. If you’re concerned about staining or colour transfer, rinse them out, stain treat and/or wash separately. Other than that, wash and use again! Click here to read about Product Care.
The shift from single use napkins to reusable ones is really all about building habits that support this change. It might take a few weeks but it is well worth the patience – you’re making great choices for our shared environment! Yay!
Got a tip about how to remember to take, use, and/or clean your reusable cloth napkins with you on-the-go? Please share them in the comments. Thanks!
Or maybe you have questions about choosing reusables or how to use cloth napkins. Send me a message or comment below.