Review: Paperless Kitchen Skoy Cloth
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Manufacturer's Site
The Bottom Line
This versatile and eco-friendly cloth worked really well as an alternative to paper towels and synthetic sponges in the kitchen due to its ability to absorb water and clean surfaces without scratching. It also came in a handy 4-cloth starter kit, which included a variety of colors. Read on for more details.
Pros
- Company transparency: Product composition on product label and company website
- Composition: Made of natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp
- Effectiveness: Holds water well and cleans without scratching
- Environmental Impact: 100% biodegradable and compostable product
- Packaging: Wrapped in raffia ribbon and label printed on recycled paper
- Kits: Various kits offering different colors and quantities of cloths available
Cons
- Certifications: None
- Cloth Inks & Dyes: Unknown if synthetic or natural
- Sizes: Only one size cloth available
Description
- Type: Reusable Cleaning Cloth
- Kit: Paperless Kitchen Skoy Starter Kit - 4 cloths
- Cost: $8.99
Company Background
Paperless Kitchen specializes in offering green products that are alternatives to kitchen paper products, synthetic scrubbers, and more. In addition to its flagship product, the Paperless Kitchen Skoy Cloth, which is manufactured by Skoy Enterprises, LLC, the company offers a variety of eco-friendly brands and products, such as tableware, cleaning supplies and tools, towels, napkins, and accessories that make it easy for you to green your kitchen.
For more information about Paperless Kitchen products, business practices, and more, visit its website.
Directions
The manufacturer suggests getting the cloth wet before its first use and then wringing out any excess water so that it can easily absorb spills.
Product Effectiveness
The manufacturer notes that each cloth is as absorbent as 15 paper towels, which definitely seemed to be the case. I poured a half a glass of water on my countertop and used the cloth to absorb the spill. I had no problem cleaning it neatly up without leaving a trace of liquid behind.
I liked the fact that this Skoy Cloth does not scratch delicate surfaces. It came in handy when doing quick touch-up cleaning on my stainless steel appliances. Even better — it didn't leave behind any smudges or streaks and I didn't have to whip out a special stainless steel cleaner.
Keeping the cloth sanitary is easy. To clean the cloth, the manufacturer notes that you can put it in the dishwasher, washer/dryer, or simply get it wet and nuke it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Using chlorine is not recommended. I imagine you could also soak it in vinegar or a water and hydrogen peroxide solution to sanitize it as well, but I didn't get the chance to see how that would affect the cloth (i.e., if it would break it down or not).
Health & Safety
This non-toxic product doesn't appear to cause any health concerns.
Environmental Notes
This product is completely biodegradable and compostable, which I find refreshing. Most cloths can't be tossed in the compost bin when you're done with them! The fact that it is made without the use of chlorine bleach is reassuring as well. I just wish the manufacturer would give more information on the water-based dyes/inks it uses in its products. In other words, knowing what they are made from and what impact they may have environmentally would be helpful.
Final Thoughts
This safe and green product is a viable alternative to using paper towels and synthetic sponges in the kitchen. Overall, I really liked it and found it to be extremely effective. The only real question/concern I have is with regard to the inks and dyes. More information from the manufacturer would be helpful. In the meantime, I recommend giving this product a try as part of your green cleaning routine!
Manufacturer's Site
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.