BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

If You’re Not Using Swedish Dishcloths Yet, Here’s Your Sign To Start

This lower-waste cleaning alternative is reusable and can save you trips to the store.

Posted on Nov 6, 2026 UTC

Facebook

Pinterest

by Lourdes Avila Uribe HuffPost Senior Staff Writer

Lourdes Avila Uribe is a senior staff writer at HuffPost covering shopping trends, lifestyle and new products.

Despite being someone who enjoys a very clean, sparse, and tidy home, I don’t enjoy the actual physical act of cleaning. I’m not your typical type-A soul who finds joy in scrubbing the oven or vacuuming floors. And despite a profound love of shopping, I’ve never amassed a large collection of cleaning products or tools. I am, however, both a sucker for a great deal and a lover of lower-waste home alternatives. Knowing this, my sister recommended a paper towel proxy I had never heard of: reusable Swedish dishcloths.

Amazon

I admit to feeling skeptical at first and figured it was no different than using a regular dish towel or sponge (the latter of which grosses me out). But upon further inspection, it’s become clear that these are not your everyday dishcloths, and incorporating them into my home has been — dare I say — a delight?

My sister’s initial Swedish dishcloth pitch included some intriguing details including, but not limited to the following:

They can be cleaned in the dishwasher immediately after use.

They’re cheap and come in large packs that last a long time.

They’re convenient.

Ever since she started using them, she has used significantly fewer paper towels, making them an easy and affordable eco-friendly swap.

Upon getting a pack for myself, I had to admit that she was, in fact, correct. (Ugh.) They’re wildly absorbent — significantly more so than a paper towel or other piece of cloth. Cleanup that would usually require multiple paper towels is easily mopped up with just a single reusable Swedish dishcloth. They are made from cellulose and cotton, making them soft and gentle on hands and surfaces when wet, yet gritty enough to scrub and scour a particularly grimy spot when dry.

Amazon

I also adore that the cloths are so multifunctional. I primarily use them to wipe down counters and kitchen appliances, but they’re also great for drying dishes and are safe on a variety of surfaces, from marble and tile to stainless steel and wood. There’s no room in the house that they can’t clean, from the kitchen to the bathrooms, windows and mirrors, banisters and more.

Swedish dishcloths are washing machine-safe, but once my sister told me they also hold up great in the dishwasher, I never looked back. It just doesn’t get much more convenient than that! There’s nothing better than items that reduce waste without requiring a big lifestyle adjustment. When the cloths have run their course, simply add them to the compost bin.

I bought a 10-pack and found that I go through at most one cloth a month. (Real cleaning fanatics might go through two.) That means that I’ve used ten compostable dishcloths in the same amount of time I would have used approximately 24 paper towel rolls. 

These particular packs from Swedish Wholesale include 10 dishcloths and are available in eight different colors or an assorted-color pack if you prefer a bit of variety. I asked my sister if she had any other parting thoughts she’d like to share about Swedish dishcloths with the HuffPost audience, to which she responded with this pearl of wisdom: “The white dishcloths get gray and dingy, so I recommend the colorful ones.”

And there you have it! Keep reading to check out other people’s glowing reviews and pick up a pack for yourself.

“These Swedish dishcloths are great! I’ve never used them before, but my standard dishcloths were looking pretty bad, and I read these were a good substitution. After a few weeks of using them, they seem to work great and hold up well. They’re very absorbent, don’t seem to stain like standard cloth, and I just love the feel of the material. Don’t be fooled by how hard/firm they appear in the package. I’m planning to give some as Christmas gifts, I like them so well. Great product.” —CCG

“It wipes up spills efficiently. It beats a sponge any day. It is soft and the right thickness and dries quickly. I have used for about a week now and it appears I will be able to reuse this towel for quite some time. Love, love, love them.” —Reviewer45

It’s sturdy like a sponge and absorbs TONS of water, and it squeezes almost dry, then dries in no time, even when it’s pouring rain. It’s flexible like a cloth when wet/damp and can clean any surface or tight spot. Great for wiping shower/bathroom fixtures dry. Because it’s so easy to clean with soap and water in the sink or boil to sterilize, there’s no need for a dozen to have a clean sponge/cloth all the time, or to do dirty rag laundry regularly. Great product!!” —Gilbert Agaran

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $15.90 (available in 10 colors).