Are your dish rags stinking up your kitchen? That’s a sign of bacterial growth which can lead to cross-contamination and illness. In this article, we’ll explore the cause of the odor, steps to get rid of it, and tips to keep your dishcloths from smelling bad in the future.
When you notice a sour smell coming from your dishrag, it’s not just unpleasant, it’s a sign of bacterial growth. As you use a dishrag to wipe away food particles and grease, these — along with moisture — create a breeding ground for bacteria. As the bacteria break down these substances, they emit an unpleasant stink that can linger. This means exactly what you think: your dishrag smells because of bacterial farts.
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Using a smelly dish rag can spread harmful bacteria and germs to other surfaces and food, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Bacteria can also create a biofilm that gets transferred to any surface you wipe, including counters, sink, appliances, and even your hands. This can lead to cross-contamination and cause food poisoning and other infections. So, it’s important to deal with dish rag odors when you first notice them.
Common white vinegar is an effective laundry aid for eliminating dishcloth odors and bacteria because it has antimicrobial properties and an acidic nature that dissolves organic matter, grime, and dirt buildup.
One effective method to eliminate odors in dish rags is to boil them in a vinegar solution. To do this, you will need a pot large enough to hold your dish cloths and vinegar without boiling over. Here are the steps to follow:
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If you do not have vinegar available or dislike using it, here are two other methods you can use to deodorize dishcloths and eliminate the smell:
Laundering dish cloths and kitchen towels in their own load and at the correct temperature is vital to getting rid of odors and preventing cross-contamination from lingering bacteria. Here are the steps to properly wash dish rags:
Check your water temperature. The EPA recommends laundering in 140°F (60°C) to kill bacteria in laundry. If you do not wish to turn up your water heater or you use shared laundry facilities, add a laundry sanitizer to the load when washing dishcloths.
Do not use fabric softener. Fabric softener can leave a residue on fabrics which traps odors and bacteria. Fabric softener also slows the air-drying process, so the material stays wet longer. This creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth that causes odors.
Use thin, loosely woven dishcloths. Plush dishcloths are more difficult to rinse, take longer to dry and trap more food particles, which makes them prone to bacterial growth. Choose thin, lightweight dishcloths that can air-dry quickly. I use these which feature a waffle weave so they dry rapidly.
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Wring and hang dishrags after use. Leaving a damp dishrag in a wad on the bottom of the sink leads to odors. After each use, run soapy water through the rag and rinse it well, then wring it out. Hang it on a hook, over the faucet, or in some spot where there is good airflow, so it fully dries.
Change dishcloths daily. To reduce odors, let your used dishrag dry overnight and swap it for a clean one in the morning. Never add a damp rag to your laundry hamper, or it will cause mildew smells.
Not everyone has access to laundry machines in their home. That doesn’t mean you’ve got to put up with the lingering smell of stinky dishcloths. Here are two ideas to keep dish rags from growing mold or mildew between laundering:
Freeze them: Stash used rinsed dishcloths in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer. The cold temperatures will keep bacteria, mold, and mildew from growing. On laundry day, pop them straight out of the freezer into the washing machine.
A bucket soak: Soak used dishrags in a plastic bucket of water with either a few spoonfuls of chlorine bleach or a cup of white vinegar, but not both. Choose a bucket with a tight-fitting lid so the water doesn’t evaporate, and neither kids nor pets can get into it.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
This post was last modified on 26/10/2023 17:51
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