How to wash and care for kitchen cloths daily to avoid bacteria and bad odors

In every kitchen, kitchen cloths are one of the most used accessories, and at the same time one of the most neglected. Sauce stains, oil residues and coffee splatters not only compromise the aesthetics of the fabric, but encourage the growth of bacteria and unpleasant odors. The first rule to avoid the formation of unpleasant odors, it is recommended not to leave wet clothes stacked or hung in closed places.

Moisture is bacteria’s main ally, so drying tea towels immediately or hanging them well is a fundamental step. The type of fabric also has an impact When it comes to odor resistance, cotton and linen, for example, are more breathable than synthetic microfibers, which tend to retain odors for longer.

The DIY method for washing kitchen cloths: this way, bad odors and bacteria are neutralized

Another strategy is to dedicate a specific use to each fabric. Separate tea towels intended for washing dishes than those used to dry fruit and vegetables or to clean surfaces reduces the risk of cross-contamination. Attention to these details not only extends the life of the fabrics, but also makes the daily kitchen routine more practical and organized.

However, these small precautions are not always enough, so there is one fundamental step that should never be overlooked, viz. the way you will wash the kitchen clothes. To really kill bacteria and bad odors, you’ll need:

• 3 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate
• 1 tablespoon dishwashing detergent (preferably neutral)
• Water

Fill a large pot with water and add and add tbsp sodium percarbonate and a spoonful of dish detergent. Then put all the dirty clothes to be washed in the pot. Stir with a spoon so that they absorb the cleaning mixture you just prepared in the water.

Place the pan with the clothes on the stove and heat at a temperature between 50 and 70ºC for one and a half hours. Then remove the pot from the heat and carefully pour the water into the sink. Rinse off wash clothes well under cold running water. Repeat the operation a few times.

Once all this is done, take the kitchen cloths and place them directly in the washing machine and program a wash cycle with a temperature between 60 and 90ºC and without detergent. At the end of the wash cycle, remove the clothes from the washing machine and hang them outside. They will be perfect, clean, disinfected and perfumed.