how do you do the washing up?

[pooter]

I dont do a lot 'cos i have a dishwasher, but it has struck me recently that the method i use isn't very hygenic. I use one of those sponge scourer things, then rinse it under the hot tap, squeeze and let it dry for use the next day. Bacteria city. I probably use it for a week then change.

What do you do? I also feel a bit bad about chucking them as it is such a waste and bad for the environment.

Well done if you haven't fallen asleep after reading this dull dull post

aaggh, i KNEW this was too boring! I need to know!! Am i poisoning my family?

Oh, I thought you wanted to know the order that I wash dirty stuff up in - I could write a lot about that.

Use a dishcloth and bleach it when it turns yellow every few days?

lol
i don't have a dishwasher so have to do all mine by hand (mad, I know). I use really hot water, which feels hot even with gloves on, dishcloth which I use for a few days, depending on how heavily it's used, then dishcloths get boil washed.
I tend to try and dry stuff straightaway if I have time as it makes me feel mentally calm not being faced with a load of stuff on the drainer.
Don't think you're poisoning your family, but not being very cost effective - dishcloths which you can boil wash and use over and pover would seem to make mjore sense.

thanks Tinker and FrankM

I think i will try your method for a few days. Do you do a boil wash in your washing machine or do you boil them in a pan? It wouldnt make even half a load would it. I sound so hapless

I do it a lot like you OP except I don't even have a dishwasher.

Pooter - I think a brush has less potential for harbouring bacteria. I had stopped bleaching dish clothes becuase bleach is bad stuff, but, even a boiled dishcloth can be a bit slimey. I may go back to chlorine free bleach. D'you think that's a good eco friendly compromise [hopeful emoticon]?

These dull dilemmas are the stuff of life!

I use a clean dishcloth every day and just stick them in the wash with the rest of the laundry
(not that I do lots of washing up, I have a dishwasher)

yes benson, i was wondering about a brush myself - you can get those wooden ones that you can take of the head and replace it - although they are pricey.

Claireybee - good to know im not alone, and its not such a disgusting thing to do

ruby - another vote for bleachy dishcloth - i think this wins the day.

thanks!

I have a dishcloth for wiping surfaces, throw them in the washing machine every couple of days.
Use a sponge thing for washing in the sink (not much as use d/washer). I throw them out when they are worn - they probably last a couple of months.

have a dishwasher too, and use plastic brush which I put in the dishwasher to clean, also the small sponges which I throw in the washing machine when I do towels cloths etc. They wash up fine.

Have also been known to put sponges in dishwasher but they hold the water!

Think you can disinfect cloths and sponges by putting DAMP ones in the microwave for 30 seconds. Must be damp or they will cause a fire! (For those who don't like to bleach!)

my dishcloths go in a boil wash with other things I'm boil washing in the machine.
Not at all slimy once they've been boiled - nothing's going to live on them after that extreme of heat and I've been doing it for years and no food poisoning or dodgy tums here!

mine go in a 40 degree wash with everything else, they have never been slimy. They are pretty grey, but not havens of bacteria.

i do my cloths the same as chasingsquirrels go in the same as yours (occasionally 60 if i have other things needing a hotter wash).

You can soak them overnight in a solution of Milton I think

I put sponges in the dishwasher but dh is the one who uses them. I don't wash much up.

What things do you boil wash in your washing machine (other than dishclothes)?

Try putting your damp sponge in the microwave as jazzandh said - I do it for 2 minutes though, and it smells great afterwards.
I read somewhere that this kills about 99% of the bacteria.

microwave eh? good idea - thanks jazzandh and mbm

Mabu clothes have a natural anti bacterial component and are pretty much stain resistant.
All you have to do is rinse them out in very hot water and I machine wash them once a week (do mine on 40c wash).
They cost £1.99 each but last for ages and no need to buy any bleach to keep them clean.

I have a 49p plastic brush from Ikea that goes in the dishwasher every couple of days and a cloth for wiping surfaces that goes in a 60 degree wash with towels. I also use j-cloths too and they go in the washing machine every few days too. They do wear out quicker than the other clothes though.

I don't have a dishwasher, i AM the dishwasher!

I use really, really hot water and antibacterial washing up liquid. I buy the 16p for 5 cheap Tesco Scourers and change them every 2 days.

I have a dishwasher but i use an ikea brush for hand washing things.

I soak it in bleach every other day.

For my worktops i use cheapo dish rags from sainsbugs & stick them in bleach every night.