What is a Swedish dishcloth? (and why everyone's switching)

Every few months a "boring" household item has a viral moment, and right now it's the dishcloth's turn. Specifically, the Swedish kind: thin, stiff little sheets that look like cardboard, or art work that you would frame, turn into something into a soft, super-absorbent cloth the second they hit water.

They've been a kitchen staple in Sweden since the 1940s. The rest of the world is only just catching on and once you understand what's actually going on with the material, it's easy to see why. We have been selling these printed with amazing local art since 2015.

So what is it, really?

A Swedish dishcloth is a reusable cleaning cloth made from a blend of just 2 ingredients: cellulose (wood pulp) and cotton. That mix is the whole trick: cellulose gives it sponge-like absorbency, while the cotton adds enough structure that it doesn't fall apart in your hand like a wet paper towel does.

Dry, it's stiff and flat enough to store in a drawer without taking up any space. Wet, it softens completely and can hold many times its own weight in liquid. Wipe down a bench, wring it out, hang it to dry, and it's ready to go again tomorrow.

Why people are switching

Two key reasons we hear from our customers.

1.     Reducing toxins from your home. When you use a plastic sponge or microfibre cloth on plates and cups, small microfibres remain on the surface. To avoid consuming them we recommend you look for a 100% natural cloth for your kitchen. If you love your other cloth’s, move them into the bathroom and general home cleaning jobs. Use them for jobs where you don’t lick.

2.     And then one annoying, ongoing cost: paper towels. They're a single-use product you buy again and again, and they generate a steady stream of landfill waste for something that gets used once and binned.

A Swedish dishcloth replaces that entire cycle. One cloth, properly cared for, can be reused for 200+ washes, which works out to roughly the same job as 17 rolls of paper towel over its lifetime. It also dries fast, which matters more than people expect. Quick drying means it doesn't sit around damp, developing a stinky smelly slimy odour that heavy cloths and thicker sponges get. The cloth is naturally antibacterial and the shape accelerates the quick dry properties.

The other reason: they're actually nice to look at

Early eco-swaps had a reputation for being beige and a bit sad looking. Functional, sure, but nothing you'd want sitting on your counter. That's changed. Dishcloths now come in joyful, bold designs, which sounds like a small thing until you realise it's the difference between hiding a cleaning cloth in a drawer and actually wanting it out where you can see it.

"Basically the best - I only ever buy these clothes. i come back time after time. that's all there is to say." Miranda

How to actually use one

• ✓ Wet it under the tap first - it'll go from stiff to soft in seconds.
• ✓ Use it for spills, benches, dishes, glass. All kitchen surfaces are safe.
• ✓ Rinse and wring after use, then hang or lay flat to dry.
• ✓ Pop it in the washing machine or dishwasher weekly to refresh it.
• ✓ Skip the bleach and fabric softener; both can break down the fibres faster.
• ✓ When it finally wears out, it can go straight in the compost (or line pot plants).

Is it actually worth switching?

If you're the kind of household going through paper towels at any real rate, the maths works out fast. A couple of dishcloths in rotation will comfortably outlast a season's worth of paper towel rolls, and you're not restocking, and trying to store a bunch of disposable product every few weeks.

It's a genuinely easy swap. Just one drawer item replaced with a better version of itself.
Secondly, reducing the toxic load of your home is a great step for you and your family.

Common questions