Kitchen Hack: The Dishcloth Dupe You Didn’t Know You Needed.

Happy Monday my lovelies! Can anybody else smell spring in the air, or is it just my premature excitement getting the best of me? As Canadians, sometimes even a hint of a day above 0 degrees, or the fact that the sun is going down a few minutes later everyday, could be enough to get us excited for winter to end. We’re still a ways away, but luckily our winter hasn’t been too bad this year in Montreal. Here’s to hoping it remains this mild! 

Although we love spring, along comes spring cleaning with it - something some of us dread. It means spending a few weekends deep cleaning your home, doing all the tasks you’ve avoided all year long. But don’t worry! I have a few blog posts coming up on how to keep organized and spread your tasks out so that you can get all your spring cleaning done without the stress that comes along with it. For now, let’s focus on this kitchen must-have to help keep your space clean all year round, all while being eco-friendly! 

Anywhere I can, I try to be environmentally friendly as much as possible. There’s been a few things in my home that I’ve switched to which have helped me be more mindful and less wasteful, starting with my kitchen. I spend most of my time here, cooking, baking, and meal-prepping, so you can imagine it gets pretty messy. For a long time, wiping my countertops meant washing dishcloths so often, they needed their own laundry cycle. I started by using 100% cotton dishcloths, and even after wringing it out, laying it flat to dry, and trying just about anything… There was still a smell in it that lingered every time I used it. The only way to avoid that foul smell was by using paper towels, which was extremely wasteful, bad for the environment, and ultimately very expensive. I needed a solution that could benefit the earth and myself. So I got to researching. 

Of course, once I started researching alternative options, Instagram wasted no time in showing me advertisements for dishcloths, and I stumbled upon Papaya Reusables. SPOILER ALERT - this post is not about Papaya Reusables, but about an inexpensive dupe that I think everyone needs in their kitchen. After a few searches online, I found that these advertised dishcloths were basically Swedish Dishcloths, something that has been around for a while. Originating from Sweden, they were developed by an engineer and are an excellent substitute for paper towels. They are way more absorbent and more environmentally friendly to produce. My full-time job is in sales, and I have to give it to Papaya Reusables - their marketing strategies are clever and attention-grabbing. Not only that, but the colours and patterns of their dishcloths are super cute. I fully support them as a Canadian company - I really do love that! But before spending upwards of $75 for 6 dishcloths, I needed to be sure I liked the concept first. 

Fast forward to weeks later (and reading hundreds of reviews), I found these Superscandi Swedish Dishcloths. At less than half the price of their competitor, I had to give them a try, and I have to say… I’m impressed. Here’s all the reasons why I love my new dishcloths.

Environmentally friendly - they are 100% natural, made in Sweden from sustainable forests, out of wood (70%) and cotton (30%). The dishcloths are compostable after 100 uses (just make sure to wash them well before composting!). If you like to garden, rather than composting the cloth at the end of its life, you can cut it up and use it as a water retainer in your soil for plants and seeds. Drop them at the bottom of your pot before planting, and the water absorbed by the cloth will help your plants grow before it degrades. How cool is that?! Not only is the cloth itself compostable, but so is Superscandi’s packaging - how resourceful they are to create a packaging that is plastic-free (made from corn starch) and also compostable, just like their dishcloths. Love that for the earth. 

Practicality - it does what it claims. First off, they are super absorbent. I put this to the test when my husband (of course) splashed a massive puddle of water on the countertop while washing dishes. To my surprise, one wipe and it was all cleaned up. You do need to wring it out and wipe again for best results, but for a tiny little cloth it’s way more absorbent than a regular cotton dishcloth or paper towel. 

Secondly, NO SMELL. This shocked me the most. To put it to the test, I consistently wiped one part of my counter with one of the swedish dishcloths for 1 full month before washing it. Never a lingering smell left behind, or on the cloth itself. Before purchasing these, I was washing 2-3 dishcloths per week in the washing machine, and even after stripping them I could still catch a whiff of something in the cloth… No thanks. Superscandi’s dishcloths have been a life-changer on that front!

Last but not least, cleaning them is a non-issue. Pop these babies in the top rack of your dishwasher on the next cycle and BAM - fresh, new cloth ready to be used. Contrary to regular cotton cloths, I found picking up crumbs and rinsing them off in the sink came off of the Swedish dishcloths way easier! My old regular dishcloths required some scrubbing under running water to get crumbs/dirt/debris off of it, which was super annoying. Superscandi’s cloths are excellent at picking up everything, and easy to clean off just by rinsing under some water. 

Multi-use - Although the kitchen has been my go-to testing area, it’s not only to clean countertops and wipe up spills. Research online shows that these cloths can be used all over your home, inside and out, and even on people/pets. Can be used to wipe your pet paws after going outside, as a washcloth in the bathtub for a toddler, to wipe down the inside/outside of your car, streak-free windows and mirrors, wipe down fingerprints on stainless steel, and I can go on and on… But I think we get the point.

Cost-efficient - in more ways than one… Not only are these dishcloths super affordable compared to their competitor, but they can also save you money on paper towels in the long run. Since there are 6 dishcloths in a pack, at 100 uses each, it’ll be a long while before you’ll need to buy another pack. We love saving money here!

Look and feel - particularly for myself, I’ve recently become obsessed with changing everything in my house to a matte-black accent look, so these black dishcloths match perfectly with my kitchen. But fear not! Superscandi offers these dishcloths in more than 26 different colours and adorable patterns to match anyone’s preferences. They’re also pretty strong compared to paper towels, but if you pull too hard you can definitely tear it. The feel of the cloth is stiff when it’s dry and also looks wavy, but the minute you wet it, it’ll become super soft, flexible, and gentle enough to clean any surface. 

Have I convinced you yet? These Superscandi Swedish Dishcloths have been Tried & True for you. Don’t miss out on this eco-friendly way to save money and save our planet, all while keeping your home clean in so many ways. Until next time…

Love, Annamaria

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