Daily Challenge- Using Rags

[jacquelynrose]

Would these be old t-shirts or rags that you buy from the store? What about germs? Would you reuse them or throw them out?

Thanks,
Jacquelyn

[jeffrey]

You can use whatever you feel most comfortable with. While I said rags, they really don't need to be rags. You can use anything that will clean up a mess then can be rinsed and reused.

We actually use small hand towels as our "clean up rags." Whatever you have can work or if you want them to look nice, head to garage sales. We picked up 20 nearly new hand towels for $2 that we still use 3 years later.

Since T-shirts don't soak as well as towel and wash cloth type material, they probably wouldn't work as well.

We simply throw the towel into the weekly wash with jeans and other heavy material items to keep them clean and resuse them. They are small enough that there is never a need to do an extra laod for them.

The one thing we don't use them on is grease. Grease spills get soaked up with something that we're willing to through away.

[DivaJen]

If you're able to crochet or knit, it's easy to buy kitchen-grade cotton yarn at places like Michael's or Joann's and make up some cleaning cloths. I have a bunch of those that I use in the kitchen and bathrooms. I toss them in the wash with the rest of the laundry.

[PrincessPerky]

I know a lot of people who are anti rag on the germ theory, but I figure mostly if it spilled on your clthes you would wash them right?

And if it is a potty accident, you prolly wash the clothes they wore so why not wash the rag to clean the floor? Though I do not know just how much money it saves cause in my experience I do not get the odor out with cold water, I have to use warm.

[2moretrees]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Though I do not know just how much money it saves cause in my experience I do not get the odor out with cold water, I have to use warm.

Would you otherwise use paper towels to clean it up? And if you did, would you use no water afterward? My guess is you would still use warm water after soakin up the mess so in the end you would be saving money since warm water would be used either way

[skipper]

We also use old towels to keep them clean I wash them with the white clothes and use bleach who cares if they get bleached out they're just rags. The bleach also solves the germ problem.

[Jenlee]

My dh used to work for a company that made their own towels, including hand, bath and beach. I use the hand towels in the kitchen for everything and when I'm cooking, there is always one on my shoulder on the ready.

When they are dirty, they go in the wash (warm water and bleach) and come out fine. I have been using the set of 12 that I have is in my kitchen right now for almost 3 years. It's time to break out another set. Btw, when his company had a "tent" sale, I picked them up for 10¢ each!! I still have three or four sets left and I figure that will last until our children are in high school.

[momma4]

I use old dish towel and just rewash them in warm water and i have not had any problems I found the help better than paper towels with streaks.

[amomof4]

Unfortunately, my girls use the dish towels. One day when they grow up & move on, I'll have nice dish towels.

[amomof4]

The one thing I found that doesn't work well with rags/towels is absorbing the grease when I fry taco shells. Seems I can't get out the rancid oil smell. For that, I just use a paper bag, although it isn't as absorbent. My mom used paper towels, but since I don't buy them, I don't have any. But mostly, I now just use flour tortillas for tacos--less fat in the diet.

[mom-from-missouri]

At dollar general, I got 3 packages of 12 washcloths for $2. I got these several years ago. I use them for everything from dusting to cleaningup messes. I wash them in bleach water with the socks and underwear. No paper towels for me.

[BillsGirl]

I usually use the socks that come out of the dryer without his friend for rags!! or our own old t-shirts! I have so many I don't know what to do with all of them!!

[momma4]

oh shoot did not think of that either LOL I have so many odd socks it is not funny LOL we have a basket marked the sock basket I am so tried of matching socks.

[PrincessPerky]

I don't match socks I have a drawer for DH and I with all of our socks, (one brand style for him, one for me) I just pile and dump. DCs have the same, one drawer and dump, any two socks will do!

[mehmeh]

I think rags are better because when you use paper towels they often leave behind little specks of dust and u cant reuse them as much as an old rag. Besides, u can use nicer rags when u have company. My mom, for example, will use anything for a rag, like an old frayed t shirt. I'm pro-rag lol. In the long run, I would think that rags are more efficient and economic.

[CheaplyClever]

I use rags too. They live in a big box in the linen closet. I wash them in a load of whites, with bleach and cold water. They smell great and come out bright and clean everytime.

Hey, where does that missing sock go? I don't have that problem, but hear about it all the time.

[acezz4e_tish]

you can get a bag of sponges for one dollar. they have many uses and dont believe all you hear about germs. nothing a good wash wont fix. or even tossing a sponge in the microwave for 30 seconds should do the trick.