Stinky kitchen sink dishcloths?

[kimnmiah]

I think it might be your dishsoap! I've had this problem with sponges...every time I use Dawn my sponges get a weird, icky smell if I use Palmolive I don't have the problem at all. Worth a try to just switch out your dishsoap good luck!

I could have written this exact post! I switched from dawn years ago and the smell disappeared.

 

[writersblock42]

I would prefer to use paper towels too but it just seems like an extra expense and a huge environmental waste. I use plain wash cloths and dish towels. I do think sponges are kind of gross but towels are washable. I use spray instead of dish soap. For washing dishes, I use a brush to wash them if I am not using the dishwasher.

 

[dimimi]

Another paper towel user. I buy them as inexpensive as I can. I just don't feel the dish cloth is clean.

 

[Lisa71]

Vinegar to wipe the tables and use bleach on the dish towels. Very clean and environmentally much friendlier. I only use paper towels to clean glass.

 

[disykat]

I go through two or three dishcloths a day. I also use the regular washcloths that I buy in a large pack.

I often do a final wipe down with a paper towel if I'm concerned about cleanliness, but find a dishcloth really cleans efficiently.

 

[seasheller]

I always use Dawn and never have a smell problem. I found out years ago that you always have to rinse the dishcloth with COLD water as stated above. Rinse well.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Vinegar in the wash cycle. Bleach is very very not environmentally friendly.

 

[jenimay]

I had similar problems and switched to microfiber clothes and found they clean better and smell better. I would also recommend trying a different dish soap.

 

[SandrA9810]

I do think sponges are kind of gross but towels are washable.

If you use a dishwasher, toss the sponge in there as well. My aunt's silverware caddy has a compartment with a lid that closes over it. I toss it in there every so often and the sponge comes out looking new.

 

[theelfqueen]

We use a sponge but it goes through the dishwasher every day. (We actually have two that rotate at any give time)

 

[NYCDiane]

I'm a paper towel person. For more difficult messes we use the scotch brite scourer. I just can't use a wash rag or dish cloth. I'm weird.
I also bleach every towel that gets thrown in the laundry. That will take care of the smell.

I must be weird, too. I can't use a wash rag or dish cloth, either. It just skeeves me out thinking about the germs, bacteria, etc that you're dragging around with them. Ewwww. I use paper towels to clean up crumbs, etc. To clean the table, counter, etc, I'll use a few lysol wipes. No towels or rags in my kitchen.

 

[michelleh1]

I use homemade dishcolths (crocheted or knitted) and they get stinky fast because they are so thick. I do lay mine out flat each night to dry and get a clean one each day. When we wash them we do two cycles back to back in hot water both times. The first time I use regular detergent with some vinegar (about a cup or so). Then immediately wash them a second time with a detergent with bleach (I use the Kirkland brand, but Tide with bleach works too). After drying them thoroughly they are good and not stinky! My dd only did them through one cycle a few weeks ago and I could tell because they started stinking mid-day.

 

[aubriee]

We use paper towels. I use them to wipe everything down and to dry my hands. No dish cloths in my house. They are kind of gross to me.

I agree! We go through tons of paper towels and lysol wipes. No dish clothes. I can't stand the thought of how many germs are in those things.

 

[xbatman]

I think it might be your dishsoap! I've had this problem with sponges...every time I use Dawn my sponges get a weird, icky smell if I use Palmolive I don't have the problem at all. Worth a try to just switch out your dishsoap good luck!

I agree with this. I had trouble when I bought Joy on sale. I never have this trouble with Palmolive. I also hang them to dry before putting in the wash (one day of use) and don't use fabric softener on dish cloths or dish towels.

 

[squirrel]

J-cloth, that's what I use. It's about the same thickness as a paper towel and it dries fast, which stops it from smelling bad.

Watched a show a long time ago and it rated J-cloths as being the best to clean in the kitchen and sponges the worst. My mom won't use J-cloths, not sure why but she likes the expensive anti-bacterial cloths (I think they smell bad).

 

[Jennabeth]

I think it might be your dishsoap! I've had this problem with sponges...every time I use Dawn my sponges get a weird, icky smell if I use Palmolive I don't have the problem at all. Worth a try to just switch out your dishsoap good luck!

As soon as I saw the title I was going post this. We noticed this a few years ago, I think they changed something in the soap formula. My sister complained of the same thing and we did an experiment with two of the same dish clothes. One we just got wet with water and let sit, the other we used water and dish soap. The one with the dish soap on it (Dawn) got funky quickly. We switched to Gain and haven't noticed it.

 

[seashoreCM]

The dish sponge or dish cloth rates as one of the top ten bacteria laden items/places known to man (I forget where I read that). (Also in that top ten, the underside of a lady's handbag)

Bad idea: Keeping several used dish cloths in a hamper for days awaiting wash day.

Good idea: Boiling the dish cloth(s) submerged for several minutes; this starts them over as being clean.

Good idea: Soaking them in bleach water (at least the strength for disinfecting, not just cleaning, floors and walls).

If it starts to stink or after cleaning up grease or semisolid material, no great harm throwing it out rather than trying to clean it.

 

[aprilchem]

We don't use any paper items in the kitchen at all due to their environmental impact. I use microfiber cloths and a vinegar/water spray to clean and sanitize my countertops. I would probably switch from Dawn to something else and change out more often.