Bunkie Deck Styling with KLIIN – The Best Paper Towel Alternative

This post is sponsored by KLIIN, the makers of (in my opinion) the best paper towel alternative, and I’m so excited about it.  If you haven’t heard the name before, KLIIN is a Canadian company that produces 100% natural cloths that are an amazing cross between a paper towel and a wash cloth: soft enough for skin, but tough enough to scrub the dirtiest messes – and totally reusable and actually compostable.  I have been obsessed with the European version of these cloths for years, so I am beyond thrilled to collaborate with KLIIN and see these ingenious cloths become popular in Canada too!  Let me tell you why they’re so great (and the best paper towel alternative) – and show you my cute bunkie deck styling while we’re at it…

With the help of KLIIN, Hubby and I officially ate our first outdoor meal of the year!

It was a cause for celebration because I only stopped wearing my winter boots a week ago.  I really thought we’d get an early spring, but we got second-winter instead and there were a few heaps of snow around the property that lingered until mid-May.  I was itching to get moving on landscaping and exterior projects but every morning I’d warily look out the window, worried I’d wake up to a surprise winter wonderland.  I think we’re in the clear now though (because it’s been raining non-stop).  But I don’t mind the rain because it’s good for our well and the grass seed we planted lasted year.  It has definitely slowed my DIY project progress but, in between May showers, I’ve been slowly chipping away at my spring to-do list – starting with a good clean up! 

What Are KLIIN Cloths?

The property is still littered with renovation debris and lots of downed trees and branches.  But I wanted to start enjoying those rare sunny days immediately, so I tackled the bunkie deck area first.  We have plans to stain the deck black, replace the roof, re-do the fascia – but first it needed a clean.  I leave my vintage Eames chairs outside all year but by the time spring rolls around they’re super dirty!  I find that baking soda works really well to scrub them and I used my brand new KLIIN rolls.  I have been a HUGE fan of the colorful, compostable dish cloths but because they are so pretty, I have kept them in the kitchen.  When one of my cloths got super stained, it would get relegated to the rag pile, but I wasn’t reaping the full benefit of these cloths because I pretty much only used them for washing dishes.  But KLIIN now exclusively sells the cloths in a simple roll – which is the best paper towel alternative because it can replace 17 paper towel rolls and tackle even the grimiest messes – like my outdoor Eames chairs.  

Why KLIIN Cloths are the BEST Paper Towel Alternative

Here are some details to convince you that a KLIIN towel is the best paper towel alternative: each of the rolls has five 10″ x 9.5″ sheets with perforation for easy tear off.  They’re a bit thinner than the dish cloths, which means they feel more like a paper towel – although these are way more absorbent (one cloth holds up to 15 times its weight in water).  Plus they won’t tear or disintegrate on tough cleaning jobs like a paper towel.  Both the larger sheets and the 6.75″ x 8″ dish cloths can be washed in the washing machine up to 300 times (or toss them in the dishwasher!) and, when a cloth has served its use, can be composted (it biodegrades in 28 days).  Unlike sponges and thick dish rags, these never get that weird funky smell.   Plus – something I just realized recently – they leave a streak-free finish when used on glass or mirrors.  Honestly, getting a roll of these cloths has been a game-changer for cleaning, for both inside and outdoor jobs.  And did I mention there’s an entire nautical collection of designs?

A New Tulip Table Makeover?

I will always have a soft spot for the gorgeous designs (over 100 designs, with some featuring capsule collections and collabs with up-and-coming artists), but I am really loving the rolls!  My Eames chairs are now sparkling and, while I was scrubbing, I had a genius idea!  Remember that tulip table I hacked for my Mom?  (You can catch the before/after here).  She didn’t need it anymore, so it was in storage again.  I decided to try it on the bunkie deck and it fits perfectly there.  That’s the sunniest spot in the evening, so we often sit there if there isn’t anyone staying in the bunkie.  A dining table is the perfect addition.  I’d like to paint the tulip table when it’s finally warm enough to spray paint, but I’m not sure what color.  Copper (to match the house roof)?  Black (like the deck and new bunkie roof will be)?  Turquoise – to match my new favorite KLIIN cloth?  

Thanks to encouragement from KLIIN, I’ve finally started my spring clean (spring KLIIN?) and feel motivated to tackle all kinds of projects because now we have a great place to unwind and take in the view after a hard day’s work.  Living on Lake Superior, the view is dreamy but we’re also more in touch with nature – and the impact humans have on it!  Environmental change has seen the lake murky with more algae and we pick up a lot of garbage that washes up on shore.  Living rural, we also have to bring our garbage to a large open landfill and I’m always in awe of the amount of trash this tiny community accumulates.  Out here, we’re just so much more exposed to how much garbage and waste is produced.  I am so proud to collaborate with a Canadian company committed to reducing waste in a stylish, functional, and all natural way.  If you’d like to try the dish cloths (starting at $4.99) or the larger cloths (starting at $9.99), which I think are the best paper towel alternative, or you just want to learn more, check out the KLIIN website here.  You won’t be disappointed!   (You can also find KLIIN on Facebook and Instagram – and take a peek at the Spring KLIINing Combos here).