My mother-in-law recently introduced me to the Skoy Cloth, which she discovered after hunting for eco-friendly alternatives to paper towels. I tried one out on a drink spill and couldn't believe how absorbent the thing was, and then I was impressed all the more by how fast it dried afterward. How had I not heard of these cloths before?

According to the company, Skoy Cloths have an absorption factor of 15x their own weight, and after seeing them in action, I believe it. And aside from working crazy well, it turns out they're also made from a natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp that is 100% biodegradable when properly composted.

Instead of throwing out each cloth after a single use, you can clean them over and over for a good while, whether you put them in the dishwasher, throw them in with the laundry to wash and dry, or simply wet one and microwave it for a minute to neutralize any bacteria.

You can get a basic pack of four Skoy Cloths for $8 on Amazon. They've got a number of styles and colors to choose from.