Thinking of ways to make eco-friendly swaps in your home? The kitchen is a great place to start as it’s where we use and throw out so many single-use products. From the packaging on our food to the soaps we use, there are plenty of ways to reduce our carbon footprints in the kitchen. One of the best swaps you can make is replacing paper towels with Swedish dishcloths.

Swedish dishcloths, also called sponge cloths, were invented in 1949 by a Swedish engineer. They’ve come racing into popularity recently as more people look for eco-friendly alternatives to the single-use products they’ve grown up using. Comprised of around 70% cellulose and 30% cotton, they’re durable, natural, and biodegradable.

Here are the top 8 benefits of Swedish dishcloths that will convince you to switch:

A single Swedish dishcloth will replace 17 rolls of paper towels – cleaning up hundreds of messes (typically 200+) and spills and drying out again before they lose their effectiveness. This not only makes them much kinder on the pocket but much kinder on the environment, too.

Unlike paper towels, which often come apart in your hand as you try up a spill, Swedish dishcloths can be washed in your dishwasher or washing machine to keep them clean and smelling fresh if you forget to hang them to dry in a suitable place to dry. You don’t need to use them delicately or grab a handful of 10 just to be in with a hope of cleaning up a spill without them falling apart.

Swedish dishcloths aren’t just a more sustainably-sourced alternative to paper towels, they’re actually compostable. This means it will quickly biodegrade once it reaches its final destination, whether that’s a landfill site or your compost heap in your back garden.

Swedish dishcloths aren’t just a more sustainably-sourced alternative to paper towels, they’re actually compostable. This means it will quickly biodegrade once it reaches its final destination, whether that’s a landfill site or your compost heap in your back garden.

Any cloth you use in the kitchen tends to get smelly – and one of the reasons people want to hold onto single-use products is for sanitation. They argue that it’s unhygienic to use a reusable product, and the truth is, they’re not always wrong.

Things like household sponges can create the perfect environment for bacteria because they’re moist, warm, and they’re used to clean off leftover food. In many cases, they carry more bacteria than anywhere else in your home (yes, even your bathroom!).

So, you might think that Swedish dishcloths are just the same. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Provided you hang them up or out to dry fully before you reuse them, they won’t trap odors or breed bacteria. Plus, if you need to, you can just put them in the dishwasher or laundry and then hang them up and they’ll be good as new.

They’re also microwave-safe, so you can put them in there for 60-90 seconds to kill off anything nasty.

You can also use your Swedish dishcloths for cleaning your home – you can use them with water, soap, and commercial cleaning products for use on countertops, glass, stainless steel, and granite. You can use them to clean the stove, windows, floors, wash up dishes, clean your car, clean the bathroom – the list never ends!

Paper towels aren’t usually ugly… but they’re not exactly something you’re proud to show off. They usually take up counter space and unless you have a particularly attractive holder or do a fancy fold every time you use a towel, they aren’t exactly a feature of your home décor. We offer over 45 styles that range from florals to patterns, and seasonal to those you can use all year long. That means any Swedish dishcloth you leave on the counter will brighten your day, not just get in the way!

How much do you spend on paper towels? $5 a week? If you’re trying to be eco-conscious, you may be spending $10+ a week for recycled or bamboo alternatives. While these latter options are certainly better than the former, they can quickly become so expensive! Do you really want to spend $200-$500 a year on paper towels – something you’re literally using and throwing away? That’s crazy!

Swedish dishcloths are so much more affordable – one cloth costs around $7 and lasts for at least 9 months. If you only spent $5 a week on paper towels you’re still looking at $260 a year just on paper towels – if you bought 10 Swedish dishcloths over a year (so you have about 5 in use at any time), you’d only have spent $70. What’s not to love about that?

Swedish dishcloths can replace your kitchen sponge, paper towels, and other cloths you use for cleaning around your home. They offer fantastic value and are even better for the planet – there’s no reason not to make the switch. You can get your hands on Swedish dishcloths in our store.