Reusable Paper Towels, Worth The Hype?

How are reusable paper towels different 
than a rag, washcloth or traditional paper towels? 

I'll tell you: for one, they're more absorbent. Once you sop up your mess you simply hand rinse and hang to dry - for a quick deeper clean, just pop them into the dishwasher. They're also sturdy enough to handle being tossed into the washer and dryer, which I do after a few uses. No more [smelly mildewey] wet rags in your sink! Also, depending on the brand, they're antibacterial and/or biodegradable; they dry soo quickly they inhibit the growth of bacteria. Some are even compostable! So they don't contribute to landfills. These are also a great waste-free alternative to using regular paper towels. If you're like me and feel like you throw away Way Too Many single use disposable items in your home, this is an easy and affordable way to start the transition to multi use, low waste items. They eventually wear away getting holes or tears, so when this happens (or if they stain beyond an acceptable amount) I toss them into the trash and don't feel half as bad as I do when using regular paper towels or wipes. And by eventually, I mean eeeeveeeentuaaallyyyyyyyy. It takes a good long while for these to wear down. I can honestly say I've only gone through about 7 of the [purple] ones I use to clean, without a need for more off the roll and it's been 3 months. The cream ones I now solely use at the table for tiny kid messes but mostly as reusable everyday napkins - in place of wipies, of which we used to run through an embarrassing amount of each time we sat to eat. These things not only save us money (paper towels get pricey in a house with 3 boys and animals) but they are also ridiculously versatile. I use them as dish towels, hand rags, napkins, a mat to dry dishes, to clean messes big and small, I've even used them as sweeper refills (be sure to label the ones used for the pets and floors with a sharpie!) which is easy to do because they're perforated which means you can tear off one which is a standard paper towel size or leave 2 attached for the swiffer/sweeper or larger messes. Below, I'll list the two brands I keep in my home to help you make the eco-switch today.