AIBU - putting dishclothes into the dishwasher

Don't like that . Going plastic free I have knitted dishcloths which I put in a hot wash with the tea clothes

I’m with you. The cloths will be heavy with dishwasher chemicals during the rinse cycle because they are not spun. That must leave a residue on the dishes, even with rinse aid.

Don't like that idea, I put my dish cloths and tea towels in a pail with a little bleach water and soap powder every night and they stay there until I have a few and then machine wash. Pail sits in my out house. Does anyone think that's extreme?

I've not heard of this before, but I rinse mine in hot water and then I bleach them.

I would be worried about fibres or larger bits getting lodged in the waste pipe.

I'm sure I have read somewhere that its the best way to clean and disinfect cloths.

I always put my cloth dishcloths in the dishwasher, take them out at the end, rinse them they stay white and smell fresh.

My colleague puts one of those boil in the bag fish dinners in his dishwasher! Says it does 2 jobs at once and saves water and energy. He's a single lad, as if you couldn't guess!

From a hygiene point of view I can't see a problem - presumably the dirt on the dishcloths is the same type of kitchen dirt that's on the plates, unless you're washing the floor or loo with them!

I'd be more worried about them dripping onto dry dishes at the end of the cycle or getting caught up in the moving parts.

BBbevan What material do you use to knit dish cloths? Mine are getting a bit old and it would be fun to knit some - especially if they are 'eco' friendly

I put my dish cloths and tea towels in a pail with a little bleach water and soap powder every night and they stay there until I have a few and then machine wash.

Blimey! - that's what I call obsessional!!!!!

I put my trainers in the dishwasher :-)

not with the plates though :-)

I haven't used a dish cloth for years. I use the sponges with the scourer on the back, put them in a bleach solution over night and bin and replace weekly.

Don't fancy it myself. All my cleaning cloths, oven gloves, tea towels and aprons go in together on a hot wash.

I have never got over the post on here many moons ago when I was new to GN, from someone who said they put their toilet brush in the dishwasher ...

goldengirl I buy cotton yarn on eBay. I knit flannels and dish clothes. There is also a slightly rougher yarn I use for exfoliating cloths. Being cotton they can all be boiled !!

When not washing dishes I put in all sorts: washing up bowl, toothbrushes, plastic kitchen sink organiser etc. etc. What's the problem?

Dishcloths-no.
Scourer/sponges - yes.
They sit neatly on the top of the rack that holds glasses in place.
Washing-up brushes fit there too.

I wet washing up cloths and sponges with soapy water and zap in the microwave for 30 seconds to sterilize them.

(I have taken the cloths out and re-run the dishwasher.)

What a waste of water and electricity! What on earth do you do with your dishcloths if they're so disgusting you won't put them in with the dishes which, if you were doing them by hand, would be washed using the same dishcloth.

I wouldn't put cloths or sponges (I put those in washing machine) but I do put plastic brushes with bristles in with the cutlery. Tend to give them a good rinse first.

I don't see a problem with washing the dishcloths in the dishwasher, and I am very pernickety.

I change my dishcloths daily and put them in a 90° wash every couple of weeks with the teatowels, or when there are enough to run the machine.

I have been thinking about running the machine with the loo brushes, their containers and small rubbish bins from the bathroom and loo. The temperature in the dishwasher is far hotter than any water I could touch with my hands, even with the cotton-lined marigolds I use.

How did we ever live this long ?

I read about this some time ago. Never tried it...I just stick all my cloths brushes etc in a solution of bleach every so often. www.tips-and-tricks.co/cleaning/clean-dishcloth-within-2-minutes/