If you don't have a dishwasher

[ISaySteadyOn]

How often do you wash your dishcloths?

[FlowerOfTheWest]

Every couple of weeks. But then I am a total slattern, don't go by my standards! That is assuming they have been used to dry dishes only, not mop up spills in which case they go in the next wash.

[dementedpixie]

Do you mean ones for washing dishes or for drying them? I have a dishwasher but still have to wash and dry items that don't go in it. I change the tea towel when it is wet so every day or two probably.

[Akire]

no dish washer sponge changed every week or sooner if very stained. Don't people with dishwasher use cloth or sponge to wipe surfaces too?

[ISaySteadyOn]

Drying. OK, I am sort of in the middle then. I do them once a week unless especially wet.

[Kidnapped]

Are dishcloths the same as dishtowels?

I thought dishcloths were sponges and things you use to get the cack off the plates while you were washing them in the sink.

And dishtowels are used to dry the plates.

I could very easily be wrong.

[Akire]

Tea towels every day

[ALaughAMinute]

I have a dishwasher and use to a clean dishcloth to wipe the surfaces every day. I then put them in a hot wash with the towels.

If people only knew how quickly bacteria multiplies on dishcloths they would be horrified! Make sure you use a clean one every day. It's not as if it's much trouble is it?

[seasidesally]

every day

[rabbit123]

We have a dishwasher but have white cotton cloths for washing surfaces and white tea towels for drying hands or mopping up water spills. They get changed twice a week and go in the washer on a 90 degree wash. We also use those scourer spongey things for washing up the few bits that don't go in the dishwasher, like the wok. We use a new one each week.

[GlitteryShoes]

Cloths and tea towels every day, after doing good hygiene course!

[cosytoaster]

Everyday for tea towels, disinfect dishcloths every day and shove them in whenever I do a darks wash (once or twice a week)

[hooper91]

tea towel to dry dishes once a day usually. Sponge to scrub dishes is every few days or as soon as it is dirty say after cleaning pots that are sticky or have made a heavy meal and need a good soak and scrub. I find washing up quite soothing and lovely when its all done and on the draining board sparkling!

[storybrooke]

Sponge for cleaning dishes and dettoling sides we change every 2-3 days (dettol spray on it after each use), tea towels I use about 3 a day and put in kitchen laundry basket for next wash. My dishes air dry though. I don't use those wet cloth things, they're just full of bacteria. My dh accuses me of ocd but I thought this was normal?

[TotalConfucius]

Dishcloths here are used to wash the dishes, tea towels are used to dry.
We don't have dishcloths we use a brush and a sparkly scourer, both get sprayed in antibacterial once a day and left in the empty sink. We usually have 2 tea towels on the go and they are put into the laundry basket every day about 5pm once the daily washing of animal bowls is finished (animals have their own brush and scourer in different colours and kept in a separate pot to human ones), when fresh ones are put out. They get washed on a 95 once a week with any other nasties.
I have about 30 tea towels so I never run out.
I wipe down the surfaces with antibacterial and a white microfibre cloth. Again, I have quite a few of these so after a couple of uses it goes into the 'nasties' to be washed bin.

[TotalConfucius]

I do have a dishwasher actually but it blew up about 2 years ago and I refused to get a new one until the kitchen is refitted hopefully later this year. The old one is still there (integrated) and comes in very handy for hiding things, like my lack of 3 walnut whips, as it would never occur to a teenager to go anywhere near a dishwasher, let alone one that doesn't actually wash dishes for you.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Towels and dishcloths every day regardless of whether I have a dishwasher or not.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Only just got a dishwasher. Always used kitchen towel instead of tea towels.

[Groovee]

I tend to shove in the machine when they are wet.

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

Teatowels 1-3 days then in next suitable washload.
Dish cloths get rinsed out after each use and microwave sterilised at least once per week (800w microwave - wet dishcloth - 2mins, full power). I've never actually washed one in washing machine.

[kimlo]

Twa towels and the cloths for anyibacing the benches are changed once or twice a day.

The sponges for washing dishes every coupke of days.

[EsmeraldaEllaBella]

Sorry to jump on here but I wash tea towels and hand towels everyday on a quick 30 min 40 degree wash. Will this kill all the germs?!

[Icouldbeknitting]

I have a pot brush and a green scrubby thing for cleaning dishes. I use dishcloths for cleaning - floors, surfaces, anything around the house. They are single use and go straight in the washer to wait for the next load of laundry. I don't dry dishes if I can help it and the teatowels get washed once a week even if I've never used them.