A
dishcloth or
dishrag,
also known as
tea towel,
tea cloth (
British English) or
dishtowel (
American English),
is used in the
kitchen to clean or dry
Dishware and surfaces. Dishcloths are typically made of
cotton or other fibres, such as
microfiber.
Microwave disinfection
Dishcloths are often left damp and provide a breeding ground for
bacteria. Since the kitchen sink is used to clean food, dishcloths are routinely infected with
E. coli and
salmonella. In 2007, a study from the
Journal of Environmental Health found that putting a damp dishcloth (or sponge) in the
microwave for 2 minutes killed 99% of living pathogens.
However, fire departments have subsequently warned people not to do this as it can be a fire hazard, especially if the dishcloth or
kitchen sponge is not sufficiently wet. Several small fires have been started as a result of people following the advice from the study.
