Does anyone use, like, reuseable cleaning cloths+ which is most long lasting?

[me4real]

I mean like jay cloths or kitchen towels, but ones you can machine wash and reuse.

I've heard that a friend tried this with a dish cloth and it only lasted about four washes, so would be interested to hear about anything that lasts long-term.

Oh and if you do this, how many cloths are the optimum amount to have in your opinion?

I use cut down towels that were on their way out.

Or a pack of flannels that you get for about 25p each.

Can't be doing with jay cloths. Complete waste of space.

if you do this, how many cloths are the optimum amount to have in your opinion?
No idea, they just sit in a small basket under sinks and get washed when they need it.

I have a whole drawer full of cloths that I wash, including j-cloths, e-cloths, old flannels, ripped up shirts etc. I’ve had j-cloths which have definitely lasted many more than 4 washes, but then I don’t care if they have the odd hole in them!

I use the elbow grease clothes and can rewash them at least twice.

I know this doesn't sound like much but when you pay £1 for 10 it's a real bargain.

I get some compostable ones from or local eco shop, they come in a pack of 5 and get washed several times before I compost them.

I just use dish cloths. Spontex long lasting. 2 packs of 2, last forever.

Microfibre cloths last forever!

@BungleandGeorge How many do you have? Is there an optimum amount? Which brand do you use? Do you wash them in the machine and do they take much drying? Sorry for all the questions.

I use the kids old best vests

Ugh. That was meant to be the kids old baby vests

I use e-cloths which seem to be fairly indestructible. Wash in the machine, dry on the line. I have different ones for washing up, kitchen, bathroom, glass.

I use microfibre cloths - smaller ones as dishcloths and larger ones for other cleaning. I just bung them in the washing machine and they come out almost dry.

Mine came from Aldi.

E-cloths or the fake e-cloths from the supermarket (which aren’t as thick or big). They last years. Only thrown one away than that’s because it was used to mop up varnish and went hard.

I haven't used j cloths for years. I di like the microfibre ones, but they shed plastic and I no longer buy them. I now crochet or knit my own out of cotton. They look nice if you use the dyed cotton, can be put on a hot wash and last a long time. I'm sure you can buy something similar if you don't knit.

@knittingaddict Ooh excellent.

Do any of you think there is an optimum amount of reusable cloths to have?

Micro fibre clothes or an old fleece blanket cut up tried it with towels but the fray if you don’t hem them

I just use rags from clothes which I can't give away. So damaged or poor condition.

When I get new tea towels I downgrade the tatty/bleached/stained ones into cleaning and mopping up cloths. I use dishcloths for bathroom cleaning - mine are at least 5 years old I’d guess. Just cheap ones from Tesco.

second the microfibre cloths from aldi use wash in machine and they stay good for ever i have some i bought about a year ago and they still wash well

I got some from B & M. They were so good I went to get more. They came in a pack of three. Two check and one plain. They are grey, blue and white. I think they also do pink ones. They are like rough facecloths. They wash brilliantly, and always look clean. Other ones I found after a while went sticky after bleaching.

Sadly, microbre and e-cloths leach microplastics into the water system and should be avoided. Until the next theory, bamboo seems the way to go if you cannot reuse textiles you already have. Different sizes and weights widely available.

I use old cotton socks, t shirts etc for cleaning after decorating, blacking fireplaces and seasoning pans. Everything else is bamboo cloths - I have two packs of twelve that are used for all washing up, cleaning and as a substitute for kitchen towels. Washed with tea towels and other not quite whites. Three years on, a couple have started to fray.

Sadly, microbre and e-cloths leach microplastics into the water system and should be avoided.

@Cynderella Apparently natural fabrics can shed plastic microfibers too. The microfibers and plastics thing is a bit of a moral panic. The West aren't the primary cause of plastic pollution and also that's not something I'm interested in. The only things I avoid are ones that aren't pleasurable and/or good value.

You all give a good idea of using old clothes etc though. I chucked loads fairly recently (all originally charity shop.) What a shame.

I am sure all fabrics shed fibres, but microplastics are the issue - do you have a link to the evidence for microplastics being a 'moral panic', @me4real ? I haven't heard about this although I am aware that domestic pollution is dwarfed by industry output.

I wash j cloths in the machine multiple times.
I wash sponges in there too. They last ages.