June 22, 2012
Cleaning Rags
Cleaning rags are a part of my cleaning routine – it saves money on paper towels, is more environmentally friendly and if you use the right ones, you don’t leave lint behind when you are cleaning. But without the ‘proper’ care, they become a gross, smelly mess. So today, I’m going to do a little chit chat about the type I use, where I use them, and how I launder them.
Kitchen rags – I use these in lieu of the beloved paper towel – these are from Target – REstyle brand in the kitchen section. They are small ‘bar mop towels’. I have had the same 2 packages for a couple years. I love keeping them on the counter because they are handy and I can grab one instead of paper towels. (Want to read about my obsession and how I switched from paper to cloth?)
I use one or two a day for wiping down counters and the kitchen table, NOT for washing dishes. I hang the one I’m using that day from the faucet or under the kitchen sink on a hook until it’s dry (no musty/moldy smell) and then it goes to the laundry room to be washed with other kitchen towels (I wait until I have a week’s worth or so before washing them all). I wash kitchen towels and rags together – I don’t mix the rags up with other cleaning rags. It’s probably not necessary, but I don’t like them to be cross-contaminated (even though I am washing them). I wash them on the ‘sanitize’ cycle of my washing machine, occasionally splashing in some bleach with the laundry detergent, but you could also splash in a little white vinegar instead of the bleach.
Felicia Palmer Says
Is the mirror/window microfiber a different rag? Or is it one you just designate for mirrors/windows?
Clean Mama Says
It’s different – made for cleaning windows and mirrors — they work great!
The Valentis Says
Why do you use the microfiber ones for the bathroom? Is there a reason you prefer microfiber?
Clean Mama Says
They wring out almost dry and can absorb more water/cleaner and they don’t leave any lint or residue behind. I like the cotton ones in the kitchen because I like the way they ‘look’ and they work well for the counters and wood table.
Leigh Says
I love using the feet of holey sweat socks cut flat for rags for washing up the table, the floor, under the high chair etc. I also have a bin of old receiving blankets and worn out hand towels for bug messes. I have a pile of small baby washcloths for wiping little hands and faces and a pile of target dish clothes (with they nylon mesh scrubby side) for dishes. All get dried out on the edge of a basket under the sink then sanitize washed.
Liz Slater Says
I use my son’s old onesies for wiping down counters.. I put my hand through the part for the torso, snap the bottom and wipe everything down, flipping to the other side as needed. I wash them after each use and toss them when they get yucky.
Jeanette Says
Im from Denmark and using rags is the only way to do it here – those baby wipe like towels you speak of I have never seen!
I use probably between 4 and 5 rags a day, they are all washed with towels, dish cloths, baby cloths and underwear at 90 degrees Celsius. This is more than enough to kill all germs.
Liz Slater Says
Det er utrolig hvor mange forskellige slags “wipes” der eksistere her i USA – en til vinduer og glas, en anden til møbler, en tredje til vægge, en fjerde til råstfrit stål (og jeg kunne blive ved). Men det er umuligt at finde en gulvklud (dem sender min mor fra Danmark)
Precision Janitorial Services Says
This is different! Most people just throw their rags in one big pile and wash in hot water or hot/warm water.
Chelsea Says
I use rags for cleaning, mostly ripped up old clothes. And I’m guilty of throwing them in the wash with the regular laundry, but I’ve never been very germ concerned (no kids). I still have paper towels in the house because I have cats. Unfortunately when they get furballs and end up throwing up at 3 in the morning, paper towels really are the way to go!
yellodaisy Says
I also use microfiber cloths and old baby receiving blankets for cleaning. I have an empty baby wipes container full of cloths and I pour a little cleaner in it, shake it up and they are ready to go when I need one. I wash them all on a sanitize cycle with other towels a couple of times a week.
Nurture Mama Says
Just curious- what do you use to wash your dishes with? We just moved to a new home, and it is time for a new washcloth and rag system for meM
Clean Mama Says
I use a dish brush that I got at The Container Store – it goes in the dishwasher every night. Love it! I looked for it on their website and am not seeing it, but it looks like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-1086-Round-Dish-Brush/dp/B00561ELJO/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1340649233&sr=8-18&keywords=dish+brush
xo, Becky
Christina @ Christina, Plain and Simple Says
I have never thought about throwing the brush in the dishwasher! How smart.
Becky Says
Post authorThanks Christina!
Surrounded-By-Boys Says
I’ve really been thinking about using microfiber cloths…this post made me put them on my shopping list!
Christy Says
I am also wondering what you use for dishes.
Clean Mama Says
I use a dish brush that I got at The Container Store – it goes in the dishwasher every night. Love it! I looked for it on their website and am not seeing it, but it looks like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-1086-Round-Dish-Brush/dp/B00561ELJO/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1340649233&sr=8-18&keywords=dish+brush
xo, Becky
Paul (The Kind Cleaner) Says
Putting bleach in the wash cycle is unnecessary. A hot cycle + detergent will suffice.
As a professional cleaner I swear by good quality microfibre. I’m a fan of the e-cloth brand from UK. Colour coding is a good idea to avoid contamination.
jack Says
i live west Texas and the dust is rediculous I think one of these would actually help.
polish pad
cleaning rags Says
I’ve really been thinking about using microfiber cloths…this post made me put them on my shopping list! also use microfiber cloths and old baby receiving blankets for cleaning. I have an empty baby wipes container full of cloths and I pour a little cleaner in it, shake it up and they are ready to go when I need one.
Asaka Says
Hi Jack, i guess you should try using fuster as one of your cleaning materials.
Thanks,
Asaka from http://featherduster.org/duster-jacket
lisofby Says
what is the cross contamination (where does one find facts)? does a wash in a machine kill germs? does vinegar on the rags do the job? in the kitchen, i tend to wipe with whatever cloth is on the bench perhaps with bicarb, then use the ones people wiped hands on with vinegar, than a clean one with vinegar (or earth friendly cleaner) and wipe and dry again. sometimes adding essential oils. i throw them into the wash. i never wipe more than once with a cloth. in the bathroom, i wipe the door ad mirror with vinegar, perhaps transfer to the shower or sink, then the toilet and wash, or from sink to floor and wash. i may repeat 2-3 times. i use a variety of microfibres and cut up towels, old tea towels. i figure one wipe of counters per cloth with vinegar then in wash is clean. am i wrong?
Becky Says
Post authorSounds like you’ve got your bases covered!
Kirstin Says
Bought some shop rags and a nice big jar today and my husband is on board with decreasing paper towel use. We already use cloth napkins so that is a plus. Love that I have discovered your site. Easy to keep our current apartment clean, but good habits to start so when we get in a house I’ll be ready to Conquer the added potential for clutter.
Jessica Says
I started doing this months ago, thanks to this post, and it is awesome! I got the same rags from Target and I usually just add vinegar to the wash. They’re working out so well! Thanks for the idea!!
Kayle Says
Do you think it is appropriate to was all of the rags (bathroom and kitchen), as well as Shark floor steamer pads in the sane wash? Maybe on sanitize with vindicated or soap? Thanks!
Becky Says
Post authorHi Kayle!
I wash the floor pads separately from the kitchen and bath rags – I wash all of them separately and on sanitize.
xo, Becky
Nelly Says
Are the rags you use for the mirrors different than those you use on the rest of the bathroom?
Becky Says
Post authorYes, you can purchase microfiber cloths specifically for windows and mirrors – I highly recommend them!
xo, Becky
Stephanie Says
Hi Becky,
Thanks for this! I’m trying to get past paper products and searching for a way to clean grimey floor rags (used for the kitchen floor) without bleach or harsh cleaners. Would it be a matter of soaking them in vinegar? I’d love some advice here. Thanks!
Also, while I’ve got your ear, I’m looking for advice on creating a cleaning plan for my household. I have roommates and the place gets pretty dingey, though it’s a lovely apartment. We never had a talk about cleaning at the move-in level and I wish that we had, but I was out of town when the latest roommate was chosen, and one doesn’t like the idea of clean-together days, but she’s moving out. Now that there’s a big room up for grabs, it seems like a good time to work out a plan. Any experience here, anyone?
Becky Says
Post authorTry soaking them in OxiClean to remove stains and get the grime out. As far as the roommates, I would suggest cleaning up after yourselves and rotating through the main rooms.
Le Says
I use microfiber + preaty dish towels (that my gracious mother in law constantly suply). I was towels in the machine as said, but microfiber I red loses it’s powers rather quickly in washing machine, so I wash it by hands every night in the sink. I found it does double duty as it washes the sink aswell. Time after time I’ll add boiling water to sanitize it.
In the bathroom I use towels for my face that I change every day as I have acne prone skin. So for nature sakes I created a Saxons purpose for it – once the towel used I wipe mirror and sink with it – so both are always clean 🙂
Becky R. Says
I have recycled a couple of shirt into cleaning rags. I use them for car washing and (today) I washed the eaves in prep for painting. Also, once my kids were out of the spit up phase, I started using the cloth diapers that I was using for burp cloths as cleaning rags. I only use them to wipe down the counters and table in my kitchen.
jenny Says
Kids undershirts and panties are also nice for cleaning with. But i do love cloth diapers. Have tons of them using them for years
jenny Says
I love insides for dusting I usually cut the snaps off
Nicole Says
Love this very helpful post! What do you do about cleaning kitchen counter tops when you know that raw food has been handled? Which types of rags/cloths do you use? And how do you clean them? Many thanks! I use a TON of paper towels and am trying to figure out how to kick the habit!
Natalie Says
Yes Nicole- I have been wondering the same thing about raw meat!
Elisabeth Says
Costco has a great deal on microfiber cleaning cloths ( $15.99 for 30 bright orange ones) . It isn’t my favorite color by any means by they work super well and they would get mixed up with any other laundry .
Nancy Says
I bought the same ones! But my issue now is how tag them as specifically as dish towels, cleaning towels, bathroom towels. They all look the same. Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Kym Mulvey Says
Maybe you could see a little strip of ribbon on a corner of each towel all colour coded for various jobs.
Cynthia Says
I use old wash clothes, socks, and cotton underware as rags. Wash in hot water and line dry. Have a few microfiber clothes that I use on my swifter as we have wood floors.
Ben Says
Somebody asked about handling raw meat, clean up, etc.
We have one of those flimsy dishwasher safe cutting boards that is just used for meat. So we use that, then it goes right into dishwasher. Then a quick spray with whatever you use to disinfect, dry with paper towel or rag. We do keep paper towels in our kitchen but use them very infrequently, mostly for this and also have noticed if friends come over, they usually prefer to grab a paper towel.
Megan Says
What’s the difference between the sanitize cycle and the regular hot water cycle? My washer doesn’t have a sanitize option, just hot wash (with cold rinse). Thanks in advance!
Becky Says
Post authorSanitize is supposed to be a little hotter and I believe it has a warm/hot rinse 🙂
Megan Says
Ok, thanks for the clarification!
timnavas Says
Just a precaution to people, recently I read an article about mixing your cleaners with others. BLEACH & VINEGAR WILL CREATE TOXIC FUMES IF MIXED TOGETHER. Always on the lookout for easier and environmentally friendly cleaning solutions! Thank you!
Yoselin Says
Hey Becky I wanted to ask since u don’t wash the floor stuff together ,is it okay to wash my kitchen and like the rags I use for my room and living room together ?im think of just using paper towels I. The bathroom and a rag or two the most ..and wash them my hand but it it okay to wash my other house hold rags not including the bathroom with my kitchen ?
b r Says
Post authorFor sure!