topic Re: Dishcloth help please in Community Chat

Dishcloth help please

happygolfcartrider — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:43:02 GMT

My dishcloth's sour overnight. Anyone have any suggestions on how to stop this. I have to use a fresh cloth everyday.

Re: Dishcloth help please

redtabby — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:42:00 GMT

Do you live in an area with high humidity? Since moving to a drier climate my dishcloths and washcloths do not have that issue, but I still like using fresh cloths everyday. Be sure to rinse the cloths thoroughly, squeeze out as much water as you can, a rinse with white vinegar can help, too, then hang them where air can circulate around (like over the faucet).

Re: Dishcloth help please

happygolfcartrider — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:57:13 GMT

I do live in high humidity. I try to wring them out as much as possible and I use microfiber to dry faster but they still sour.

I am going to purchase enough to use a fresh one every day and be done with the problem.

Thanks and have a great day!

Re: Dishcloth help please

depglass — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:25:37 GMT

I don't have a dishcloth or sponge in the house. I use Clorox wipes in the kitchen and bathroom. With the others I just feel like I'm spreading germs around.

Re: Dishcloth help please

RedTop — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:51:44 GMT

I have been having that problem this summer, because my husband likes to wash the dishes, but never rinses the soap out of the dishcloth when he's finished in the kitchen. The soap that is left in the cloth is what is souring. Every night he soaks the cloth in cold water with just a splash of bleach, and then rinses well. With this schedule, I change dishcloths every time I wash a load of towels, which is every 3 days, and am confident my dishcloth is not spreading bacteria in my kitchen.

Re: Dishcloth help please

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:10:59 GMT

Do you run a dishwasher load after dinner? Set it to run while you sleep and stick the dishcloth on the top rack of the dishwasher. I do with with sponges too, to freshen them up.

Re: Dishcloth help please

luvdoodles — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:57:28 GMT

I have never really had that problem. I do throw my sponges in the dishwasher when I run a load. It's usually every other day. I pull out a clean dish towel every morning and wash them when I do my normal laundry. I think sometimes people become too obsessed with germs and cleanliness.

Re: Dishcloth help please

chrystaltree — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 19:30:06 GMT

I don't use dish cloths but if I did, I'd use a fresh one everyday.

Re: Dishcloth help please

Abby Grace — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 23:45:01 GMT

golfcartrider, I've read recently that there is a connection with stinky dish rags/sponges & Dawn dish detergent. I don't use Dawn, and change mine every day also, so I don't have any way to validate the claims. I thought I would mention it just in case it could help you.

Re: Dishcloth help please

boyzs — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:16:42 GMT

you might want to try spraying them with febreze at the end of the night & by morning they should smell fresh & ready to go.

Re: Dishcloth help please

shoptilyadropagain — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:26:11 GMT

I rinse it out with clean water, wring it out really well, and lay it flat over the sink divider. Even with humidity, it is dry by morning. (I do dishes in the evening.) I use mine for several days before I grab a clean one and I've never had one sour on me.

Re: Dishcloth help please

kinda silly — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:59:29 GMT

Dish cloths tend to get musty smelling. What works for me is only using them for 2 days at most and prior to Each use, wet it, and put in in the microwave for 1 minute- kills the bacteria. Most of the time now, I just use a dish scrub brush, it doesn't appear to harbor smells.

Re: Dishcloth help please

shoekitty — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 01:50:51 GMT

It is because the bacteria has never washed quite out, and the bacteria is reactivated when it gets wet and warm again. I have found when I have let a dish towel go bad, because there aren't enough to do a load, they are always like that! Same with bath towels. I have many vintage dish towels, and do not use bleach on them. So I wash right away now, or hang them to dry while awaiting a wash. I only use them for a couple days max. I also have to make sure I don't get food on them. I have a habit of wiping the tile off with them...not good/

Re: Dishcloth help please

colliegirls — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 03:30:13 GMT

I wash mine every day, no issues that way.

Re: Dishcloth help please

ROMARY — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 04:44:01 GMT

I use dish scrubber brushes and also unscented baby wipes. Keep a tub of them on my sink/counter. Also, those flat, green squares for removing stubborn foods. And, also, very strong paper towels . . . . Bounty or Brawny (don't recall the stronger of the two brands). p.s. O/T: I never leave wet towels in my mesh hampers (only dry clothes). I have two wood drying racks and let the wet bath towels dry on those racks until I throw them into the washer/dryer, every couple of days or so. I have a side door (not main entrance) and outside porch which is where they dry until wash time.

Re: Dishcloth help please

gidgetgh — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:12:33 GMT

On 7/25/2014 chrystaltree said:
I don't use dish cloths but if I did, I'd use a fresh one everyday.

I don't use them either and don't have any, but if I did, I'd also use a fresh one daily. I don't use dish towels either. I have a zillion of them, but I don't use them.

Re: Dishcloth help please

Pook — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:46:05 GMT

I use a clean one daily or just use a sturdy paper towel to wash my dishes. I only use the dishcloth for the dishes also and not for wiping counters etc.

Re: Dishcloth help please

wagirl — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 16:22:23 GMT

Put the dish cloth into a bowl of hot water with some bleach in it. I do this every night and add my dish brush and veggie brush as well.

Re: Dishcloth help please

qbetzforreal — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 16:58:20 GMT

zap sponges and dishcloths for a few seconds in the microwave.

Re: Dishcloth help please

hckynut — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 22:14:43 GMT

Do you wash them out with soap or something else when you are done cleaning your dishes? I wash most of what I used to eat and drink by hand many times I use a brush for that purpose. When I finish washing the utensils I then wash and rinse the brush(s). If that doesn't work I will put it in the dishwasher and use another brush or clean microfiber cloth.