Swedish Dishcloths: How to Use, Wash and Store Them

Three printed Swedish dishcloths: sea turtle, crab and octopus

A Swedish dishcloth looks like a thin, flat sheet of sponge. It works like a cross between a sponge and a kitchen towel, and it is made to be rinsed and used again. If you have just bought one, or you are thinking about swapping out paper towels, this guide covers the basics: how to use it, how to wash it, how to dry it and when to let it go.

What a Swedish dishcloth is made of

Most Swedish dishcloths are made of cellulose, a plant fiber, blended with cotton and pressed into a flat sheet. Sweetgum Home, which makes our Sea Turtle, Crab and Octopus set, describes its cloths as cellulose and cotton. Many come with a printed pattern.

Your first use: stiff when dry, soft when wet

A new cloth feels stiff and papery. That is normal. It is just dry. Hold it under the tap and it turns soft and flexible in a few seconds.

  1. Wet it under running water.
  2. Squeeze out the extra. For most wiping jobs, you want the cloth damp, not dripping.
  3. Wipe, rinse the cloth under the tap, then wipe again.

For a big spill, keep the cloth wetter and wring it out as you go.

What to use it for

  • Counters and tables. Wipe, rinse the cloth, wipe again.
  • Spills. The cloth soaks up liquid quickly. Wring it out and keep going.
  • Dishes. Add a little dish soap and use it like any dishcloth.
  • Glass. Wring the cloth out well, then wipe windows or mirrors. The less water in the cloth, the fewer drips.

Many people keep one cloth for counters and dishes and another for messier jobs, like wiping around the stove. Different patterns make them easy to tell apart. A set such as the 3-pack makes that simple.

How to wash Swedish dishcloths

Day to day, rinse the cloth well under running water after each use. Then give it a proper wash every so often. Makers commonly recommend one of these:

  • Top rack of the dishwasher. Lay the cloth flat on the top rack and run a normal cycle.
  • Washing machine. Wash with regular laundry detergent and take the cloths out when the cycle ends. Temperature advice varies. Wettex says to machine wash at 140°F, while some other makers suggest a cooler wash of around 86°F. Check the care instructions that came with your cloths.
  • By hand. Soak in warm water with a little dish soap, rub the cloth against itself, then rinse well.

Many makers also advise skipping bleach, fabric softener and the tumble dryer. They say these can wear down the fibers or make the cloth less absorbent. Some makers suggest a weekly wash for a cloth you use every day. If a cloth has wiped up something greasy, wash it sooner.

Drying between uses so they don't sour

This is the step that matters most. A damp cloth left crumpled in the sink or folded in a pile can turn musty fast. After each use:

  1. Rinse the cloth until the water runs clear.
  2. Squeeze out the water.
  3. Hang it over the faucet, a hook or a cabinet handle, or lay it flat, so air reaches both sides.
  4. Let it dry completely before you fold it or put it away.

A dry cloth will be stiff again. That is fine. It softens as soon as it gets wet. For storage, keep dry cloths in a drawer. Having two or three in rotation helps, because one can dry while another is in use. A 10-pack gives you plenty to rotate.

Swedish dishcloth vs. paper towels

They do different jobs, so this is a trade-off more than a contest.

  • Paper towels are grab, wipe, toss. There is no rinsing or drying, but once a sheet is used it is gone.
  • Swedish dishcloths are reusable. You rinse, dry and wash them, which can take a little getting used to. Sweetgum Home says each cloth in its 3-pack can replace up to fifteen rolls of paper towels.

For some messes, like very oily ones, you may still prefer a paper towel. Plenty of households keep a roll under the sink for those jobs and use cloths for everything else.

How long does one last, and when should you retire it?

Makers give a wide range. Some say two to three months of daily use. Others say six months to a year with careful washing and drying. Yours will depend on how often you use it and what you wipe up.

It is time to retire a cloth when:

  • It has holes or frayed edges.
  • It has gone thin.
  • It no longer soaks up water the way it used to.
  • It still smells musty after washing and drying.
  • It feels slimy even after a good rinse.

Stiffness when dry does not count. That is how they feel. Before you throw an old cloth out, you can give it one last job, such as wiping a boot tray or a garage shelf.

What you need