Should You Use a Dish Rag or Paper Towel to Wipe Down Kitchen Countertops?

Apr 02, 2024

You might not want to hear what can be hiding in your everyday dish rag.

There's a household debate that divides roommates, spouses, and friends alike: Should you use a dish rag or a paper towel for cleaning the kitchen? It's common knowledge that a reusable dish rag is more sustainable and cost-effective than a disposable paper towel, but what about the cleanliness of the damp rag after being used on spills, dishes, and hands? There are pros and cons to both methods, but we looked to experts to help us end this kitchen-cleaning dispute.

It's no secret that dish rags are more environmentally friendly and affordable than paper towels. According to U.S. Census data and a Simmons National Consumer Survey, around 45.3 million Americans will use eight or more paper towel rolls per month, on average. With a six-pack of paper towels costing around $8, that means that the average American is spending around $11 per month on paper towels, and $132 per year, on something that is immediately thrown in the trash.

And according to The Atlantic, the U.S. nearly spends the same amount of money on paper towels for the home ($5.7 billion) as the rest of the entire world combined (around $6.3 billion). Paper towels also contribute to deforestation and are often classified as contaminated waste, so they are unable to be recycled.

Related: How to Make Your Own Reusable Paper Towels

Mary Gagliardi, aka “Dr. Laundry”, Clorox's in-house scientist and cleaning expert, says that paper towels are the most sanitary option between the two. "Dish rags require frequent rinsing during use, which means using a lot more water during cleaning, and they also can pick up bacteria. They also need to be properly washed to get them germ-free before using them again," Gagliardi says.

The cleaning expert says paper towels can also be easily used with a wide variety of ready-to-use cleaning products like multi-surface sprays and window cleaners, making them the most convenient. However, Gagliardi notes that unless a spray disinfectant is used, it won't help in removing bacteria and viruses from the surface.

In a study from the University of Arizona, data found that each time a surface was wiped with a rag or towel, bacteria was picked up and found a home in the wet cloth. Germs love warm, absorbent, damp places—making a used cloth the ideal place to settle. The same study found that 89% of dishcloths and kitchen sponges had a form of coliform bacteria, which comes from the feces of warm-blooded animals and humans (yikes!). Additionally, 25% of the rags and sponges were home to E.coli, which can be harmful. Dish rags not only harbor dangerous germs, but if used continually, they can spread the germs all over your kitchen, hands, and anything else that comes in contact.

TRIA GIOVAN

It's clear that dish rags can be a surefire way to collect germs. However, disposable options like paper towels and disinfecting wipes contribute to the loss of nature, fill landfills, and have a high yearly cost. Ultimately, what you end up using in your kitchen depends on what you value most: the environmental and cost impacts, or the bacterial, viral, and fungal risks.

If you choose to use a dish rag, it's important to clean and replace them regularly. Make sure that you fully rinse and wring it out with each use, and lay it flat or hang it to dry to avoid as much bacterial growth as possible. To be safe, make sure to switch out your dish rag and towels daily if you're using them to wipe down messes or clean your hands. Replace ones that have been in contact with raw meat immediately. You can never be too careful or wash them too much, so the best practice is to switch them out whenever you can.

Related: The 16 Best Kitchen Towels That Are Functional and Attractive

"You can’t really prevent a cleaning rag from picking up germs while cleaning. Either have a lot of rags on hand so you can switch to a clean one as needed and disinfect all your dirty rags together when finished or if you don’t have a lot of rags, using bleach to disinfect them in between cleaning tasks will help get them germ-free," Mary says.

Mary suggests adding 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water and rinsing the cleaning solution out of dirty cleaning rags with a little water. Then completely submerge the rags in the bleach and water solution for 6 minutes and rinse thoroughly to finish the process.

You can use this same method to disinfect all your rags once you've finished cleaning. Instead of rinsing when the soak time is complete, simply transfer them to your washing machine and run a regular wash cycle.

Related: Here's How to Bleach White Towels Without Ruining Them

For more Better Homes & Gardens news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.