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What do you wash up dishes with? J Cloth, brush or sponge?

(99 Posts)
DillytheGardener Wed 01-Sept-21 09:05:49

Just this really? Curious as was brought up by some friends and everyone had a strong opinion on what they thought best/most hygienic.

Mollygo Wed 01-Sept-21 10:18:00

Sponge/scourer which goes in the dish washer. I nearly googled Mr Barney too.
My sister sent me an Elbow Grease scourer. Amazing on the oven and pie dishes.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 01-Sept-21 10:19:24

Dishwasher used daily, I have a brush and a green scrubby thing that go in dishwasher daily, and replaced frequently. For work services I use kitchen roll.

Davida1968 Wed 01-Sept-21 10:22:39

I use the dishwasher as much as possible.
However for what needs washing-up, I use various washing-up brushes (all these can go in the dishwasher) and a scouring-cloth called the "Wiz". (From Lakeland.) Plus a knitted cotton dishcloth, changed almost daily.) The cloths and Wiz can go in the washing machine.

MayBee70 Wed 01-Sept-21 10:27:07

Brush and sponge. I’ve tried to find a more eco friendly alternative to sponges but, this far haven’t. What I have started doing is cutting them in half. They work just as well. The older ones get used for all sorts of things. Cleaning stuff in the garden, trainers etc. They get a lot of use before they’re thrown away.

fiorentina51 Wed 01-Sept-21 10:29:31

When staying with my granny in Italy when I was about 11, I was roped in to do the washing up.
I looked in horror as she collected wood ash from the fire in a little dish and indicated that I should use it to scour the pans with a bit of rag, which I discovered later, was a remnant of granddad's underpants.
Her pans came up a real treat with little effort on my part.
I have, on occasion, resorted to using wood ash on burnt pans since but decided not to use DH underpants.

kittylester Wed 01-Sept-21 10:29:51

Dishwasher! I use a dish cloth too but have about 20 and get through about 4 a day. They are then hot washed in the washer!

TrendyNannie6 Wed 01-Sept-21 10:36:38

Silicone sponges thing and brush

M0nica Wed 01-Sept-21 10:40:31

I put everything in the dishwasher, rarely use brush or sponge for washing up.

Esspee Wed 01-Sept-21 10:46:44

My sons have excellent resistance to infection probably due to my unhygienic standards judging from the impeccable hygiene of other Grans on here.
I use a sponge with a scrubby side which goes into the microwave from time to time and is replaced as needed. For pots I have a brush for the worst of it finishing off with the sponge. The brush gets soaked in bleach once in a while.
I honestly think my standards are perfectly adequate. Haven't killed anyone yet.

M0nica Wed 01-Sept-21 11:05:25

Esspee I so agree. I do use wire wool for cooked on food, that gets washed through and soaked in bleach as and when.

I think a lot of people always include the evidence for impeccable hygiene whether they do it or not, for fear of being judged.

I am quite happy to be judged a slut, like you, no one has ever had food poisoning after eating at our house.

Barmeyoldbat Wed 01-Sept-21 11:39:51

When I was in Northern Laos a few years ago we decided to go on a day cookery lesson with a woman highly recommended in The Rough Guidr. I told M r B to make sure his nails were cut short and really clean and wear short sleeves. This woman who gave us the lesson was the dirtiest person I have ever met and the kitchen, well, there were cats all over the places licking plates and the frying plan. It was awful. We went along with the cookery lesson but when it came to sitting and eating, well I just couldn’t. Mr B, ate everything and said it was the best he had ever tasted and it didn’t effect him one little bit and you should have seen the dish cloth, it was black and filthy.

DillytheGardener Wed 01-Sept-21 11:52:44

No such thing as a boring question on Gransnet. I have been laughing and laughing at some poster’s replies. fiorentina51 your story and your turn of phrase had me howling.
That’s interesting, most posters seem to use a sponge combo like me. I haven’t yet killed anyone, but I will say that when one person had a bug in my house, cold or tummy etc, it would always get all of us when my dc lived with us as adults. I do wonder if the sponge was why? I use boiling water from the kettle to wash up with marigolds and a sponge, but dh uses bath temperature water with no gloves.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Wed 01-Sept-21 11:58:26

A non-stick sponge which I soak in boiling water now and again and gets ditched and replaced when it gets too tatty. It hasn't killed me yet.

JaneJudge Wed 01-Sept-21 12:02:30

eww at the mouldy j cloth and why would your dog be with you at a B&B? grin

I use a scourer, a brush and some sponge mat things that I got off the milkman. The scourer has a couple of journey's through the washing machine with the sponge mat and the brush goes on holiday in the dishwasher if necessary

MawBe Wed 01-Sept-21 12:21:02

A Bosch dishwasher

Calendargirl Wed 01-Sept-21 13:33:54

Esspee

My sons have excellent resistance to infection probably due to my unhygienic standards judging from the impeccable hygiene of other Grans on here.
I use a sponge with a scrubby side which goes into the microwave from time to time and is replaced as needed. For pots I have a brush for the worst of it finishing off with the sponge. The brush gets soaked in bleach once in a while.
I honestly think my standards are perfectly adequate. Haven't killed anyone yet.

I’m with you Esspee

Someone I think used about 4 dishcloths a day?

Crikey!

shock

Like you, we seem to survive on my rather slapdash way of doing things.

welbeck Wed 01-Sept-21 13:48:09

Monica, i'm sure you are not a slut.

silverlining48 Wed 01-Sept-21 13:57:41

Brush and cloth. The cloth gets washed when I use the washing machine, I had thought the brush was clean enough as it’s always in hot water with bubbles but will try to remember to put it in the dishwasher.
I am clearly in the slapdash gang too, but do change bedding more often, after I felt shamed on a GN thread a while ago. Washed some today actually. It’s grey and dull so probably wont dry in the garden. Here’s to a terrible summer.

greenlady102 Wed 01-Sept-21 14:02:43

dishwasher

Judy54 Wed 01-Sept-21 14:04:50

Dishwasher for me too. Anything needs washing by hand then my other dishwasher is Mr J.

annodomini Wed 01-Sept-21 14:09:32

Dishwasher but if I need to, I use a brush or a Wash-up Wizz scourer I buy from Lakeland (it lasts for years) , both of which go in the dishwasher with the dishes.

SueDonim Wed 01-Sept-21 14:11:49

The dog. ?

PS. I don’t have a dog. grin

I use a Wiz net scourer www.lakeland.co.uk/8904/Wash-Up-Wiz-Net-Scourer. It goes in the dishwasher every day and it lasts for literally years. I also have a silicon scrubber pad, again it goes in the DW and lasts for eons. I’ve only got the one and the shop I bought it from closed down years ago!

There are compostable sponges available now. www.peacewiththewild.co.uk/product-category/kitchen/dish-sponges/

Callistemon Wed 01-Sept-21 14:57:34

A refillable brush scourer and Spontex dischcloths which get bleached or put in the dishwasher or hot washed with tea towels/towels, whichever is happening next.
I keep forgetting the microwave tip.
The Dishmatic doesn't get put in the washing machine.

What a riveting thread ?

Apparently we have to be really careful what to feed dogs these days. Who knew? Ours used to eat anything, although I did know that chocolate was poisonous.

Callistemon Wed 01-Sept-21 14:59:08

I've just had a Lakeland catalogue - I shall investigate!

SueDonim Wed 01-Sept-21 15:01:44

Just don’t put the dog in the microwave, Callistemon. That won’t end well! grin