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AIBU

Husband doesn’t understand the whole dishcloth/cleaning rag thing!

(115 Posts)
Sago Wed 30-Jul-25 17:41:16

We recently moved home and we have got rid of masses of stuff and bought lots of lovely shiny new things.
However some things cannot be replaced.

I have a huge kitchen drawer with a basket of probably 30 dishcloths and another of cleaning rags.
The cleaning rags are pure linen tea towels that are old and worn, they polish like magic, the dishcloths are proper Lancashire dishcloths, I think some of these have been with me 40+ years.

They work brilliantly are not made in China and I love them.

My husband cannot understand my attachment and bought me some new dishcloths (yes been thoroughly spoilt I know!)they are Chinese rubbish so have been relegated to the utility room.

He thinks I am mad……I think I am perfectly sane.

AIBU?

Babs03 Thu 31-Jul-25 12:50:29

I cut up old tee shirts for cleaning cloths and buy dishcloths from the shops when my old ones look worn and discoloured.
Am not sentimental about it at all, perhaps because I hate cleaning.

Sago Thu 31-Jul-25 12:53:42

petra

Sago

I even iron my rags😱

Sago
You’re not my friend, Pam from many years ago at Tollesbury, are you? 😂

No sorry!

Sago Thu 31-Jul-25 12:55:08

Mt61

I’ve never heard of those Lancashire dishcloths either, only Lancashire dusters.
I bought mine from Lakeland shop. Must have had them donkeys yrs. They don’t shed like those yellow dusters.
My dishcloths must be large, 100% cotton so that I can bleach them, Same with tea towels, white.
The only thing I can’t seem to get a hold of is those herringbone oven cloths, mine are freyed now.

I have these too!
Amazon.

Sago Thu 31-Jul-25 12:58:55

I may ask him for some of these for Christmas..

I would love to say I’m joking………

www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjo_e2mheeOAxWpmFAGHYOZLsEYACICCAEQIhoCZGc&co=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6P3tpoXnjgMVqZhQBh2DmS7BEAQYASABEgJezvD_BwE&cce=1&sig=AOD64_01UqebQlr2CHubk7UbiDB3cNRkIg&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiLvOmmheeOAxWacUEAHcsTCFgQ5bgDKAB6BAgGEAs&adurl=

Sago Thu 31-Jul-25 13:03:56

Sago

Mt61

I’ve never heard of those Lancashire dishcloths either, only Lancashire dusters.
I bought mine from Lakeland shop. Must have had them donkeys yrs. They don’t shed like those yellow dusters.
My dishcloths must be large, 100% cotton so that I can bleach them, Same with tea towels, white.
The only thing I can’t seem to get a hold of is those herringbone oven cloths, mine are freyed now.

I have these too!
Amazon.

Just purchased more woven oven cloths from the link I posted earlier.
I’m on a roll now!

Casdon Thu 31-Jul-25 13:27:45

I have to admit to having no commitment to dishcloths or rags. I’ve got a brilliant 20 year old microfibre window cloth, I reckon the harm it did to the environment has washed out after being washed weekly for the last 20 years, so I don’t feel guilty. I use old cut up white T-shirts as rags, I have lots, so I save them up and do them on a hot wash when I’ve got enough. My son uses them to clean his golf clubs, which is fine.
As an aside, you might be interested to know that apparently the last British manufacturer of tea towels is Bancroft Mill in Lancashire, I saw them on Buy British Made, and they look really nice.

Babs03 Thu 31-Jul-25 13:32:39

One bit of useless information from a Lancastrian is that in Lancashire we say ‘pot towels’ for ‘tea towels’. When we first moved down south and I said pot towel people stared at me as if I’d gone mad.

Mojack26 Thu 31-Jul-25 13:44:13

I agree with your husband!🤣

Romola Thu 31-Jul-25 13:55:57

I do agree about linen tea towels, but they are hard to find.
Apart from that, I'm not fussy.

Keeper1 Thu 31-Jul-25 14:01:28

BlueberryPie

I mean, sometimes I dust with a washcloth. Other times, a paper towel or a sock or even the cat. No difference. shrug

Snap

madeleine45 Thu 31-Jul-25 14:10:35

I run my home , no one else!! So when I need a cleaner in or some job doing, I make it perfectly clear but politely ,what I want doing and how. Of course no doubt a lot of the reasons that these husbands dont notice the difference or pretend they dont is that they rarely or never do much cleaning to find out the difference. When in doubt follow the expert/owners!!

Woe betide anyone who attempts to make coffee and does not follow my strict instructions, about warming the pot, the exact amount of coffee etc etc and of course must be poured into my china mug. Absolutely NEVER in a horrible paper or earthenware cup! Well at the age of 80, there are many things that I either can no longer do , or have to admit take a lot longer for me to do. But my standards will never fall regarding my coffee especially. The japanese tea ceremony has nothing on me!!

Casdon Thu 31-Jul-25 14:13:00

This thread sent me on a quest as I like to find British made if I can. I found some beautiful linen tea towels and glass cloths made by Thomas Ferguson in Northern Ireland.
www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjr7sDylOeOAxVmlFAGHenEHjEYACICCAEQRRoCZGc&co=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6-7A8pTnjgMVZpRQBh3pxB4xEAAYASAAEgJeYPD_BwE&sig=AOD64_3BvscfcbcnWnNNsIfkwV_BCZfTLw&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwiGxLvylOeOAxWNZ0EAHXmjCcIQ0Qx6BAgKEAE

mrsba Thu 31-Jul-25 14:29:35

After 45. years my husband still can't grasp that only Yellow dish cloths are to be used to clean the toilet and he grabs tea towels for all sorts of cleaning jobs and spills in the garage. Go to dry the dishes and it's a hunt to find nice clean tea towels with no stains on

Cateq Thu 31-Jul-25 14:32:29

My gran and aunt used to knit dishcloths which became a much wanted gift as they lasted much longer than shop bought ones. In fact I still have some from 1985. Mind you it became rather difficult to find the hanks of cotton.

JamesandJon33 Thu 31-Jul-25 14:38:30

Categ knitting cotton is easy to find on the internet, edgy especially .

4allweknow Thu 31-Jul-25 15:36:27

I tok had to look the Lancashire cliths up. Just a muslin type clith to me. Do you need to iron them to keep the shape or do they wash and flatten out?

LilyoftheValley Thu 31-Jul-25 15:47:31

I am such a fortunate person.My late husband once bought me dusters, cleaning spray AND polish for Christmas!! Also included were a plastic poncho and a plastic container for my tapes....................

butterandjam Thu 31-Jul-25 16:06:27

Desdemona

I don't know what Lancashire dishcloths are, but I feel I have missed out and now I want some. smile

I'm saddened by the number of posters who are old enough to be grannies yet know so little about stuff from Lancashire.

My life would be bereft without my Lancashire peeler.
Also hotpot.

welbeck Thu 31-Jul-25 16:12:13

SueDonim

So do I Rosiesmaw. She is even more exacting about her cleaning implements than I am! She has a whole schedule pinned up on the inside of the cleaning cupboard door. 🤣🤣

I was amazing ly impressed
until I realised this didn't refer to the cat.

AuntieE Thu 31-Jul-25 16:13:56

Worn out socks are just the thing for cleaning brass, as you can throw them out after using them.

alisonsmith4 Thu 31-Jul-25 16:20:47

Are we in 2025 or 1957?!!!

welbeck Thu 31-Jul-25 16:21:38

Some this sounds like a fetish...

Kate1949 Thu 31-Jul-25 16:22:39

I don't do enough cleaning to worry about which cloth to use blush

welbeck Thu 31-Jul-25 16:25:31

What is a dish cloth?
Is it used for doing the washing up or drying g them.
I do washing up with a brush or occasionally a type of sponge fixed to a handle.
Couldn't bear my hands to be in wet contact with plates etc.
For drying I mostly use paper towels or let them drain onto a microfiber cloth and wipe off with similar.

V3ra Thu 31-Jul-25 16:44:48

LilyoftheValley

I am such a fortunate person.My late husband once bought me dusters, cleaning spray AND polish for Christmas!! Also included were a plastic poncho and a plastic container for my tapes....................

Fortunate indeed 🙂
More importantly, what did you buy him in revenge return?