Best Ways to Clean and Care for Cleaning Cloths and Rags

Part of having dependable cleaning rags and cloths is knowing how to clean and care for them properly.

1. Rinse thoroughly.

Cleaning cloths are great at absorbing spills, all kinds of cleaners, and lots of messes. Their absorbency is part of why the work so well at cleaning so many different areas of the home. unfortunately that same absorbency allows them to hold on to residue of icky messes and cleaners. To really make sure your cleaning cloths are getting all the way clean, rinse them thoroughly when the job is done. You'll be rinsing away soap and a lot of dirt.

2. Wash separately.

Another reason cleaning cloths are perfect for wiping and washing surfaces is that they attract dirt, hair, lint, and debris. This makes them the perfect tool for any job. But this also means that they can attract all the dirt and debris from any laundry they are washed with. Make it a habit to wash your cleaning rags in a separate load to avoid rags that come out of the washing machine dirtier than when they went in.

3. Wash in hot water.

Because we depend on our cleaning cloths to tackle really nasty chores, they will frequently need to be washed in hot water. Cold water may cut it for most of our laundry, but clothing that needs to be washed and rinsed thoroughly will need an extra kick to remove all of the dirt and soap.

4. Hang to dry, even before washing

I like to hang my cleaning cloths to dry. This avoids a lot of lint and debris from attaching to them in the drying cycle. You can dry cleaning cloths in your dryer, too, if you prefer. If you have a wet cleaning cloth that you have to wait to wash, it's best to hang the dirty cloth to allow it to dry. Wet cleaning cloths can turn smelly very quickly creating some really obnoxious laundry odors. Even draping a dirty cleaning cloth over the outside of a laundry basket can help keep smells away until you are ready to wash them.

5. Color code your cloths and rags.

If you really want to keep your cleaning cloths at their best, you might consider color coding based on the chores or rooms in your home. Assign certain colors to rooms like bathrooms or kitchens. Or have colors for certain chores like dusting, scrubbing, or mopping. By color coordinating your cleaning cloths, you can extend their life and care for them separately according to their needs.

6. Know when to throw them away.

Even with all of your best efforts, sometimes cleaning cloths just wear out. Do yourself a favor and remove these items from your cleaning routine. Cleaning cloths with hardened stained areas, fraying edges, loose threads, spots of discoloration, or persistent smells despite washing, probably need to be thrown away or replaced. Inspect your cleaning cloths when they come out of the laundry to make sure they are still in fighting shape to clean your home and don't be afraid to throw them out when they need to be retired.

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