Tell me I’m not the only one who gets manky-smelling dishcloths, face washers and sponges? Like me, do you do all the right things, like washing them frequently and drying them in sunlight to tackle lingering germs, but still find that they hold a less-than-pleasant odour?
Well, problem officially solved! This simple Dishcloth Deep Clean ‘recipe’ is a beauty. It’s immediately effective, requiring little effort and ingredients! Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.
Dishcloth Deep Clean
Makes: enough for one use Prep time: < 30 min.
Ingredients
- approx. 2 – 4 lt water
- 1 tsp sodium percarbonate (see notes)
- 1 tbsp sodium carbonate (washing soda)
Method
1. Fill a large saucepan with approximately 4 lt of water (the bigger the saucepan the better; ensure it is at least 9 lt in capacity).
2. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat to low-moderate. Add the sodium percarbonate and 1 sodium carbonate. Be careful here as the sodium percarbonate will foam up and may overflow.
3. Throw in your cloths and, using a wooden spoon, ensure they are fully submerged (add more water if necessary; items must be completely covered).
4. Allow it to simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, agitating periodically with the wooden spoon. Stay nearby to ensure the liquid does not overflow.
5. Turn heat off, then wait for the saucepan and its contents to cool down. Carefully remove cloths and throw them into the washing machine, running your usual cycle (hopefully with this washing powder and this fabric softener!). Discard water.
6. Marvel at how icky the water is (these pics are not made-up, and my dishcloths were clean!) before discarding!
Recipe Notes
Sodium percarbonate definitely gave me the best results. But I have also tried liquid hydrogen peroxide which works well too.
Be careful when adding the sodium percarbonate as it releases oxygen and foams and fizzes up to almost double the volume! Evidence:
I recommend only using this technique on items you’re not too precious about (colour-wise mainly). I haven’t noticed a major ‘bleaching’ effect on my dishcloths, but it is possible depending on the colour-fastness of your items. When I tried it on the kids’ school socks, the grubby soles were dealt with, but so were the green stripes around the top of the socks, which have definitely faded, so it’s not ideal for everything!
If you have fancy, expensive dishcloths, make up your own mind on whether you want to try this technique. I personally would, but I am me and you are you!
22 Comments
This works SO well. Definitely worth giving it a go.
this has been a game changer for me with dish cloths, face washers and kids socks! 😁
This is the absolute best for cleaning my dishcloths! And I’ve noticed it actually brings the colour back!
This worked so well! I couldn’t believe how gross the water was after. Definitely recommend
I have a big collection of Tunisian crocheted dish cloths and now I know how to give them their very own “day spa”! Thank you so much for this tip!
This deep cloth recipie is amazing, out with the old in with the new, real clean cloths, not just rinsed, thanks Krissie.
Where did you get your dishcloths
This is truely amazing . I cannot believe how dirty my seemingly clean cloths are
Every time I normally wash my dish cloths I think of this recipe. I need to get these stains out and know this recipe is the answer to my problems. (Plus I’m secretly curious how dirty the water will be ?)
Amazing results which I couldn’t believe!! Need to do another soak & must do school socks too.
Thank you Krissy ?
I just love watching the bubbling and fizzing of this…and the pure disgust of my children’s faces when they discover what is ‘cooking’ on the stove and the aftermath of what we thought were clean dishcloths. Sensational!
This works so well!
Hi Krissy,
So just to confirm, washing soda is completely fine as a replacement?
Thank you
Yes, just not as good as SP.
thank you
I’ve been doing this for years with vinager and water to clean my kitchen cloths. Keen to give this a try once I get some sodium precarbonate ?.
Is sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate the same??
Thanks Krissy, love your work ??
Nope, they’re different.
Sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda, softens water and is effective at removing stains. It acts as a fungicide, helping to eliminate mould and mildew. Sodium carbonate is harvested from deep underground deposits of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. The slurry is brought to the surface where it is filtered and refined, leaving us with pure sodium carbonate.
Sodium percarbonate, also known as oxygen bleach (the powdered form), is an effective disinfectant and household cleaning ingredient, brightening clothes and removing stains. It is most effective when combined with warm/hot water. Sodium percarbonate breaks down into oxygen, water and soda ash, making it an eco-friendly, as well as powerful, ingredient.
Hi, What is a common name for sodium percarbonate OR what’s it called as a brand and where would I buy it?
Oxygen bleach. Check out this link for suggestions on suppliers > https://krissyballinger.com.au/blog/my-favourite-suppliers-of-natural-ingredients-packaging-accessories/
Definitely giving this a try?
Let us know how you go when you do!