probably a daft question... but what do you do with dirty dishcloths/tea towels?

embb

I use a clean micro-fibre dish cloth every two days, in the meantime I soak it in washing up liquid and a little bit of bleach at the end of the day to keep it fresh. If it's a while before they're going to get washed I hang them either over the back of the drainer to dry, or over the radiator in winter when it's on. Tea towels I use a clean one everyday, but they doesn't usually get that wet as I have a dishwasher or leave things to drain dry.

peachespeaches

I wash them at 60 degrees as this temperature kills all bugs. As I use washable nappies I use the 60 degrees wash quite often. Even if you dont use washable nappies, when the little one comes the washer will be on every day, I can guarantee it!

kethry

tanith wrote: »

I bung my dishcloth in whenever I put the dishwasher on. I buy 3 for 27p at Tesco and throw them away at the end of each week not very money saving but its only 27p ... teatowels go in a hotwash once a week with the hand towels... I have plenty so its not a problem doing them once a week

This may come across a bit preachy (and i'm trying very hard not to be), but its not only not very moneysaving, its also not very environmentally friendly!! i do understand the need to be hygienic, could you consider disposing them in alternative ways, perhaps cleaning them first with boiling water and soap, then drying and putting them in the cloth recycling banks (as opposed to putting them in landfill). Some cloths you can even compost, if they're made of natural materials.

I personally wash mine (in the washing machine, on the highest temp setting) until they're falling apart. The high temp setting plus soap and vinegar (as a conditioner) kills enough bugs for my taste. The other way to kill off the bugs is to put them, wet, into a microwaveable bowl (use the same one each time and only for that purpose) and zap em in there for a few seconds. be warned though, you can only do that with certain materials.

HTH - and apologies in advance if it came across a bit holier-than-thou...

keth
xx

TAG

I put mine in the dishwasher if it's going on. Or put them in the half bowl bit of my sink in a bit of bleach. Otherwise if there's a load of towels going in the washing machine then they go in there.

Ellidee

I've noticed that my next door neighbour always has tea towels on the line with undies so I assume she washes them together. Eueew !

MoJo

I soak mine until I have a towel wash going in. I keep a bucket by the washer and just accumulate them day by day.

joannasmum

I have a bucket under the counter in the kitchen and all the little things get chucked in there ie dishcloth, teatowels, kitchen hand towels, the facecloth kept in the kitchen for dirty hands and faces and when dd was smaller her bibs and muslim cloth also got chucked in. It normally gets switched on when I have a full load or a towel wash is going on at 60.

dannahaz

I have a bucket on top of my WM in the utility room. Like you, I use a clean cloth each day, plus extra for cleaning. I put the used cloth on the side of the bucket, then when its dry (usually when I put the next day's cloth there), I put it inside the bucket.

csarinaknight

I leave my tea towel and dishcloth to dry and then out them in the laundry basket ready for the next wash day.......use a clean dishcloth and tea towel each day and have an old dishcloth that I use for my miniscule kitchen floor, that also goes in to be washed each week. I buy the dishcloths from Dunelm, the packs of 10 for 99p last time I bought them. When we go on holiday I take an old dishcloth with me and chuck it away when we leave. I leave it in soak in a drop of bleach overnight to make sure there is nothing nasty on it, take several teatowels with me and wash them out in hot water each night after we have washed up.

odds-n-sods

BTW, you shouldn't mix bleach and soap together as it creates msutard gas! One or the other, folks!