The Ultimate Guide to Swedish Dishcloths for Your Kitchen
Swedish dishcloths are taking the cleaning world by storm, and for good reason. These eco-friendly alternatives to traditional sponges and paper towels combine the absorbency of a sponge with the quick-drying capabilities of a towel. Crafted from a blend of cotton and cellulose, they are reusable, compostable, and incredibly durable.
Why Choose Swedish Dishcloths?
- Absorbent and Quick-Drying: Perfect for wiping spills, drying dishes, and cleaning countertops.
- Eco-Friendly: Reduce waste by replacing paper towels; they're fully compostable at the end of their life.
- Cost-Effective: Last for months and can replace up to 15 rolls of paper towels.
- Functional & Stylish: effectively helps you wash dish and wipe countertops in the kitchen and bathroom yet the prints and colors are stylish.
Our Favorite Eco Friendly Brands
We tested top brands to find the best dish cloths for your kitchen.
#1 Best Overall: EKOH Swedish Dishcloths
Shop EKOH Swedish Dishcloths on Amazon
- What We Love: EKOH dishcloths are stylish, highly absorbent, and available in vibrant colours like lime green, botanical and coffee prints. Their dual-textured design ensures optimal cleaning performance.
- Key Features: have a various pack sizes, from a 2 pack to the 12-pack. thes cleaning cloths are reusable up to 200 times, compostable.Made from 70% cellulose and 30% cotton OEKO-TEx certified and gennearly have the diamond weave pattern,
- Why EKOH Stands Out: These cloths are durable, quick-drying, no plastic packaging and perfect for eco-conscious households. EKOH Swedish Dishcloths offer various pack options and fun trendy designs ideal for a housewarming gift or for a busy house when you buy the 12 pack.
- Earth Friendly: no plastic in the packaging or materials and cloths are proven to be 100% biodegradable in 2- 8 weeks.
- Planting trees for forests of the future with Trees That Count
#2 Best Budget Option: Wettex Swedish Dishcloths
- What We Love: Affordable yet effective, these cloths come in various colours and patterns and available in local supermarkets.
- Key Features: Made from 70% cellulose and 30% cotton, different packs sizes to choose from.
- Downside: Slightly less absorbent than premium options however they are packaged in plastic wrap.
Key Considerations When Buying Swedish Dishcloths
- Material: Look for cloths with a 70% cellulose and 30% cotton blend and also certified sustainable.
- Texture: Dual-textured designs (ribbed and diamond patterns) perform best for drying and absorbing, however look out for those that don't have this feature as they may not be made in the original method in Germany.
- Durability: Ensure they are machine washable and dishwasher safe for long-term use.
- Design: Look for the diamond weave , they tend to scrub better and dry faster.
Do you know the origins of Swedish Dishcloths?
The Swedish dishcloth, or "sponge cloth," was invented in 1949 by Swedish engineer Curt Lindquist. He combined cellulose and cotton to create an absorbent, reusable, and biodegradable material, offering a sustainable alternative to paper towels and sponges. Initially produced by Wettex, a Swedish company, the dishcloth quickly gained popularity across Scandinavia and Europe due to its durability, eco-friendliness, and versatility. Today, eco friendly dishcloths are sold and beloved worldwide, valued for their practicality, happy prints and minimal environmental impact.
Quick Care Tips for Swedish Dishcloths
- Cleaning: Wash in the dishwasher or washing machine, however a void tumble drying your cloths, this will shorten the life of the dish cloth.
- Sanitising: Soak in sanitiser or boil briefly, you can also microwave when damp for a quick refresh
How to care for your eco sponge cloth to ensure it last for many weeks:
- The dishcloths are made from natural materials, so they will shrink and expand, changing size
- Machine washable - Washing machine or top rack in the dishwasher
- To sterilise, pop damp in the microwave for 20 seconds or use a soaker and hot water.
- Hand wash by soaking in a eco friendly soaker - rinse in hot water and the air dry flat.
- Do not Tumble dry
- Air dry on the dish rack
- Excessive rubbing or wringing of the dishcloth can damage the natural ink used in printing and also the fibres, so take care.
Eco Cleaning Tips for you home and business
- Perfect cleaning cloth for washing dishes cleaning appliances like your Coffee Machine in the kitchen from your Espresso, POD, Filter Machine, Stovetop, Fridge and countertops, wiping surfaces and mirrors and so much more.
- Also use the eco sponge cloth as a damp, non-scratch polishing cloth; it dries and cleans shiny surfaces streak-free and lint-free.
- For best polishing results, wet the cloth and squeeze out excess water. Wipe over spills and residue in a circular direction.
- If the surface is wet you can use your dishcloths as a dry cloth.
- Gentle and soft enough to use to clean the leaves of your indoor plants.
Now you know why eco cloths can make the difference to cleaning and washing dishes, make the change for good today in your kitchen and ditch plastic sponges and wasteful paper towels. Sign up with EKOH and get an introductory discount of 10% on your purchase.
