Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Keep dishcloths odour-free by killing bacteria
Smelly dishcloths
A few weeks ago, someone asked you how to keep their dishcloths smelling fresh. I don’t have advice on making them smell fresh, but I can offer advice on how to easily keep them odour-free and definitely not smelly.
I’m not a chemist or biologist, but I believe that the bad odour that occurs in dishcloths is mainly a result of bacteria growing on the cloth. Bacteria need at least two things to grow: water and nutrients. We can easily control these two and prevent the bacteria odour.
The nutrients come from wiping up our foods: bread crumbs, spilled liquids (milk, soft drinks, juice), flour and other kitchen-counter and/or table debris. Plus, the dishwater usually has plenty of food particles floating in it by the time the dishes have all been washed. These become embedded in the cloth and are perfect food for bacteria growth.
The water is obviously from the spilled liquids, the dishwater and also from attempts to rinse out the cloth.
If we can remove the food and water — and then give the cloth the opportunity to dry quickly — no more odour.
Drying dishcloths quickly is important because the longer they are damp, the more opportunity there is for bacteria to grow. A damp cloth plus time equals odour.
This time of year is the worst time for the odour because the humidity in the air is high and the cloth takes a long time to dry.
Plus, it is usually warmer at this time of year, and I believe that the bacterial growth is increased with higher temperatures.
In our house, we thoroughly rinse out cloths whenever we wipe up something or do the dishes. I hold the cloths vertically by two corners (like a sheet on a clothesline) and let lots of clean water run over both sides, wring them out and do it again. This gets rid of as much food as possible.
I then get rid of the water by wringing out the cloth extremely well. I think this is the key part.
Then, I spread the cloth out so there is maximum surface area for the water to evaporate so it dries as quickly as possible. I usually just lay it out flat on the counter. Draping it over the divider in a dual-sink, or hanging it on the faucet also works.
It is definitely a very bad idea to leave a damp cloth folded up or crumpled in a ball, because then the inside of it never dries and the bacteria thrive. Since adopting these practices a few years ago, we never have any odour problems with the dishcloths.
— Jeff
Black cooktop maintenance
For the lady who was complaining about her black cooktop, I live in the country and experienced the same problem with visible dust since the road in front of our home is gravel.
I made a giant "placemat" out of an attractive fabric that I place on the cooktop throughout the day when the stove is not in use and it is a huge help in keeping the kitchen look tidy.
I made mine out of polyester satin on one side and quilted polyester on the other, so it is easy to launder and also maintains the all-black look of the appliances in my kitchen.
— Val
Cleaning baseball hats
I read your answer about washing baseball hats. Authentic fitted baseball caps (New Era brand) have wool in their weave; you really don’t want to use much water in cleaning because they will shrink.
— Tom
Burnt-on residue on frying pan
Jack was asking in Saturday’s column about cleaning the outside of a frying pan. My friend gave me this solution and it works like a charm.
All those years of struggling to remove baked-on residue from pans, oven racks, etc. and this is so easy.
Set the pan on a black garbage bag outside, spray with Easy-Off, cover with the bag and leave in the sun for a couple of hours.
Then, just spray off.
When my friend told me of this method, I tried it on my 45-year-old stainless steel lasagna pan (it was very clean inside, but the other side was black). I had to do this twice, but my pan turned out looking new. My racks and other pans always turn out looking new, whereas just using the Easy-Off without the sun, I still had to scrub. Hope this helps.
— Vera
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Need a presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
Renovation & Design
Too much junk? Try to remove the usual suspects
The transition from summer to fall is an ideal time to get your home organized. As you put away all of that summer gear and prepare for cooler weather, why not also commit to clearing out some of the things you no longer need or use?
Although it’s totally legitimate to try to expand the storage options in your home, sometimes a better option is to just reduce the amount of stuff you need to store. Here are five quick ways to clean out items right now and donate them to an organization that will actually use them.
Luggage
Each person in your family needs one or two suitcases. If you have more than that, it’s time to purge. People seem to accumulate a luggage collection that far exceeds their needs, mostly because they don’t know what to do with the suitcases they no longer use and they feel uncomfortable throwing away something that is still useful.
However, there’s no point in storing bulky suitcases that you’re not using, especially when there are organizations that will gladly accept them for kids and families in need.
Toiletries from hotels
Many of us have a drawer or bin full of hotel shampoos, conditioners, soaps and lotions. We bring them home thinking we’ll definitely use them in our guest room or on a future trip, but somehow never remember to do so. If you’re not using them — and, let’s face it, you’re probably not going to — why not donate them to a local homeless or women’s shelter?
New and unopened bottles can also be sent to troops stationed abroad through an organization called Operation: Care and Comfort.
Reusable bags
Reusable tote bags are such a good idea — until you’ve accumulated so many you can’t actually use or store them all.
As it turns out, reusable bags aren’t as environmentally friendly as many of us think, particularly because we don’t use them enough to make their production worth it. In fact, they’ve become so popular and so mass-produced that a recent article in The Atlantic pointed out, "Their abundance encourages consumers to see them as disposable, defeating their very purpose."
But instead of throwing away those totes you’re no longer using, donate them to local food pantries, farmers markets and homeless shelters, where they will be used and reused. Or, if you’re donating clothes or toys to a local organization, put your items in reusable bags so that they can be repurposed.Empty picture frames
We all seem to be framing fewer pictures, and yet picture frames seem to magically multiply. Sometimes they’re given to us as gifts, and other times we buy them because we intend to use them but then somehow never get around to it. Instead of keeping a collection of empty frames in a box in the basement, donate them to an organization that will give them to people who will use and enjoy them. Organizations that help people transition into homes, in particular, make good recipients of picture frames that are in like-new condition. Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores and Goodwill will accept donations of picture frames.
Glassware
I’ve noticed in my recent organizing jobs that many people own hundreds of glasses. Really. Tall water glasses, short water glasses, juice glasses, champagne flutes, red wine glasses, white wine glasses, bar glasses, martini glasses, margarita glasses. I could go on, but you get the idea. Most of us use the same six to eight glasses every day.
Sure, you need to have enough for entertaining, but is it necessary to take up valuable kitchen cabinet storage with glassware you seldom use? Spend 30 minutes taking an honest accounting of all that glassware and see if you have at least a dozen items you could donate. I bet you do, and I bet you won’t miss them when they’re gone.
— The Washington Post
