In that case, paper towels work great when dealing with greasy pots and pans that are ready for washing. But you won't have to buy any towels if next time a package arrives in the mail and the contents are wrapped with brown paper. You can save and use that paper!
I used to stash the brown wrapping paper as is, somewhere in our storage room, but quickly learned to roll it up into tidy little packets so it wouldn't take up much space or look messy. And then they could be stored more conveniently in a kitchen cabinet rather than me walking to the storage room and dealing with an unruly pile of paper, as before.
So when I finish frying something or there is a greasy pot that needs cleaning, I can unwrap and tear off a piece as needed to do the job.
If doing this with a pan made of cast iron, I also like to spread a little of the grease collected on the paper, onto the back of the pan to prevent rust.
And when finished wiping off any excess, the pieces of greasy paper can be saved for fire starters if you have a fireplace or fire pit!