The first instinct one has after a spill is to look for paper towels to clean up the mess. These are convenient to use because they can absorb quite a bit of the liquid and be disposed of immediately. However, most people do not know that paper towels aren’t meant for all surfaces. Using them on the incorrect type could do more harm than good. Here are eight things one should not clean with paper towels.

Carpets and rugs
When soda or other liquids are spilled on the carpet or rug, one usually reaches for a paper towel, which is a mistake. While it may absorb some liquid, it will not do the job perfectly. Moreover, the towel itself might leave paper residue on the carpet, which is another mess to clean up. Another problem that may arise from cleaning carpets with paper towels is that scrubbing the stain might make the lint go deeper into the fibers, making it difficult to vacuum later. For such instances, one should use a clean, dry cloth to soak up the spill. After this, they must let the region dry and use a vacuum to extract any debris.

The tub
Individuals should avoid using paper towels to clean or remove residue from the bathtub because it could involve a ton of wastage and still not clean the area. Alternatively, one should use a mixture of vinegar with dish soap to help cut through the grime. They should follow this by wiping the area dry with a clean, reusable cloth. One should try using a cordless rechargeable scrubber to remove calcium deposits and water stains.

Hands while cooking
Cooking could involve a lot of oil, and the one way people usually get rid of it is with a paper towel. An individual should stay away from this because it results in using a lot of tissue, which could be costly. One could keep a clean, dry cloth handy to wipe their hands throughout cooking. They could also use an apron to keep their hands clean. The apron will also help avoid getting oil or grease on the clothes while cooking.

Dinner plates and cups
Cleaning dinner plates or cups with disposable towels is easy but a bad idea. Apart from the fact that one might waste a lot of tissue paper, it could also leave a lot of unwanted residue behind. Since paper towels are made with certain chemicals, consuming this residue with meals could affect one’s digestive system and lead to an upset stomach. An ideal cleaning solution in this regard is to use a damp kitchen towel to wipe off plates or mugs.

Fresh produce
Most people need to rinse produce after purchasing it from the grocery store, but using a paper towel isn’t the way to do it. Once rinsed in a colander, the individual should lay the small produce, such as blueberries and grapes, on an absorbable mat. One could also use an absorbent towel to hand-dry larger produce items like cauliflower and tomatoes. Using a produce drying mat could also help protect the vegetable from scratches or bruising, which usually happens after using paper towels.

Mirrors and windows
One cleans the mirrors and windows of their home to ensure they are sparkling clean and offer maximum visibility. But those who use paper towels to do the job risk leaving behind several tiny pieces of lint. And getting this residue off is a tedious business. One should opt for microfiber, coffee filters, or an old t-shirt instead of using paper towels to clean these surfaces.

Reading glasses
Reading glasses are another type of glass that should not be cleaned with paper towels. This is because the disposable tissue is abrasive in nature. Reading glasses or sunglasses are usually coated with a protective film, and using a paper towel to clean them could lead to multiple scratches. Even camera lenses are at risk of scratches from paper towels. There are special cleaning cloths dedicated to cleaning lenses and glasses, which one could buy online or from a nearby store.

Cutting boards
Using a disposable towel to clean up stains like meat juices on a wooden surface is not the best idea. The tissue isn’t going to soak up all of the liquid thoroughly. Furthermore, its delicate nature also means that there will be residue left behind after wiping the region. Instead of a disposable towel, one could use a damp cloth with disinfectant to remove all residue. For stains, the individual could use a cutting board soap and sponge or scrubber.