I hate sponges, but I don't know what else to use to wash my dishes, lol. I was raised with *no* housekeeping skills, so I feel like don't even know what my options are. It's taken me yeas of housekeeping to even get the courage to ask this question without feeling silly.
I have plenty of cotton yarn, in different weights, and the skills to either knit or crochet dishclothes, but in the past, we have found them too big to use. Should I try to make something about the same size as a sponge, and maybe thick and nubby to try and get close to what I'm used to? All of the patterns I have seen are pretty big squares, so I feel like I am missing something regarding their use.
DH suggested washclothes once, but they are still a bit big, and feel flimsey to us - maybe get terry and use my serger to make the perfect size, and make a triple layer to make it feel more like I am used to?
Making enough to throw into the wash bucket daily to avoid bacteria is not an issue. It's deciding what to do in the first place, lol.
What do *you* use?
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Jennifer
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I hate the size you are supposed to knit a dishcloth. I knit mine about two inches by three inches and love them. I have found the seed stitch "scrubs" the best. I can do bigger clothes if they are loosely knit on big needles so the are an open weave. Then I usually fold them over. I love making me own. They are fun to knit (such quick satisfaction) and nice to use. I know I am not adding to the garbage as I replaced my sponge every week or two. Now, I use a new cloth I knit, each day.
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Michelle
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I crochet my dishcloths to fit my hand (I like a tight crochet) and then it usually ends up shrinking to the perfect size. I even convinced my dh we didnt need sponges after using them. I always used sponges because I hated how big washcloths were. In fact, til I figured out how to crochet I would get a cheap bag of baby washcloths and use those. Or I also used my own baby wipes.
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If it were me... and I don't krochet... but I do sew... I would make some that are around the size of a large sponge. I would also lengthen them so that you can fold them over and sew the ends together to make them thicker like a sponge. If you do make some... let me know. I would love to try a sponge alt that isn't a dish cloth.
Val
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Well, I tried my first un-sponge creation tonight. . . I took MotherMoon's idea about the seed stitch and knit it a bit bigger than my hand. I think it will shrink a bit in the wash, so I decided this was a good size.
I like the way it washes dishes. So now I just need to make sure that it washes up OK and I still like the size after it shrinks.
If I like it, I'm going to make up an even dozen! Nice project to do while watching TV at night, it only took me about 45 min.
What's so bad about sponges? You can throw them in the wash, just like with dishcloths, so I don't get what the problem is. Is there some other problem??
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alex
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I do use a sponge most of the time. I grew up with the nasteyist dish clothes. I swear my mom still has the same ones that I used when I was 10! Just can't get myself to go back to cloth. Those knit ones might change my mind though.
otherwise I use a natural bristle nail brush which works nicely.
Chole
__________________ 18th century Mama to a exciting 8yr old, SO to a graphic novel guy
Well, I *my* problem with sponges may be a bit different that other people, lol.
1) I never remember to throw them into the dishwasher, and I don't have a microwave.
2) I live in a very humid place - things in the house so not dry quickly most months of the year.
3) Even if I could be sure that they are getting clean, I never mind replacing a disposable product with a more durable one.
I don't know about the dishcloths getting gross long term - I was planning on making enough to use a new one for each good bout of dish washing - usually twice a day around here. So they will be getting machine washed and dried pretty regularily, which can be hard on the fibers, but at least I'll know they are *clean*, yk?
We already have a basket of "nice" kitchen towels for using on most stuff, but the ones that are older looking are behind those for spills on the floor, stuff that I know will stain, etc. So maybe eventually I'll do something similar with the cloths, lol? Dish washing after Chili or baked beans gets the ratty ones, salad or veggie soup get the nice ones
Um,
The problem with sponges is that they never dry. They have holes, and spaces, and are basically a condominium for bacteria.
If you think your cleaning method is fine, it probably is. You would have evidence that it didn't work- a smell, a color change, things like that.
The argument in favor of dishcloths is that they are washed, bleached, and dried at a high heat- enough to kill all the bacteria. Also, that one uses a fresh dishcloth with each washing.
The "research" showing that it's more sanitary to air dry dishes, than dry them, didn't have a clean, new drying towel, each time, for instance.
Or, let's see, that one scours a sink before rinsing vegetables in it.
The argument for shape is just - tradition. Nothing else.
I wonder if knit nylon net would give a scrubby surface.
I've had a yarn shop owner tell me that her set of knit dishcloths lasted about fifteen years.
I should have added that I have a stack (about a dozen) of white cotton terry Bar Cloths. They are the perfect size for spills and to I use them folded to lift hot pan and pot covers off what I'm cooking. I don't like the stiff feel of regular potholders. I think I got them at a bed and bath place. I just throw them in the wash through the week. I don't care if they don't stay white-white. I don't bleach them.
If you wanted to make things dedicated to heat- you might want to try a wool thing, double knit- two layered knit- I"m fuddled, sorry- anyway- wool with wool padding. I've read about it. No Idle Hands, the social history of American Handknitting is where I've read most of this, I think.
Also, you can knit nylon strips, cut if you are poverty-struck villager after ww2, or purchased, if you're not, to knit scrubbies.
If you are cleaning your sponges nightly- I don't see the problem. Rmember, the research is on what the researcher thinks is "common, accepted practice" - ie, not washing your sponge, or scrubber, or drying towel, yet replacing your washcloth. Does that make sense?
I mean, I've come out as completely barking, on a personality test, b/c the "common, accepted" practice was going to nightclubs, to meet anonymous people. That was the test for "social." I worked for a party planner, my brother was a party promoter- I never, ever went to something without a ticket, and without knowing at least enough of the people there. So, it would be a "new place" with " alot of people," and yet "not with strangers." If I didn't know somebody- somebody had invited them, and I could usually find out who, and get their bona fides, and all the back gossip. So, half the questions were very yes, half the questions were very no, and the psych could not read the test. And yes, he did find me an unbelievable snot.
Or for that matter, that really quite painful book, the cheryl mendelsohn book. If you are in a position to hire a maid, and have some dry cleaning, a cotton mangle isn't something you'll be doing yourself, and why doesn't your maid operate a clothes steamer? She has a whole chapter on maids. If you can afford a maid, the maid is the one running the mangle, for one. For another, you'd have a steamer, and probably a shaping ham or two. Enough of your clothes would be animal fibers, or fragile that you wouldn't press them, ever. And that's if the maid lives with you. Otherwise, you'd be sending your stuff out to the nicest cleaner in town, like just about everyone.
And, for that matter, why is she distinguishing between "glasses" and "crystal"? It grates, like fingers on a blackboard. She's trying to be hoity upty and social climbing, and she doesn't know the lay of the land. It's painful.
Enough of a rant.
Anyway, if you never washed or disinfected your nylon scrubbies, or dishcloths, or wands, they would get nasty, too. I know someone who uses nylons wads b/c they are sanitary, and doesn't wash them. They look like little dirty mice, huddled around her sink spigot.
and Sam, 8 
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