Swedish Dishcloth Review & Giveaway!

Have you heard of Swedish Dishcloths? I’ve been paper towel free for over four years now, and this is another fantastic reusable option.

I know I’m not the only tired mombie who feels it’s a losing battle to keep the house clean while everyone is home due to the novel coronavirus. But since I have to clean, I want to use effective tools for the job.

When Swedish Wholesale contacted me and offered me a free 8-pack to do this review, I chose the multi-coloured cloths as I figured that way, I can keep track of different colours for different tasks. I have not been compensated for this review and the views expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Swedish Wholesale has agreed to provide another sample set of dishcloths to a lucky reader – so make sure you read to the bottom and enter the giveaway!

Quick Review – Thumbs Up!

These are a reliable, inexpensive option. They were satisfying to clean with as they worked well for a variety of cleaning tasks and felt nice in my hand. They are also easy to wash and store away. Read on to see how my experience compared with some of the claims on Swedish Wholesale’s website.

What are Swedish Dishcloths?

Swedish dishcloths were invented in Sweden (shocker, I know!) They are made of 70% cellulose viscose and 30% cotton – both plant based, compostable materials. They are absorbent like a sponge, but flat and cloth-like. They have a textured surface which helps to remove grime. They can replace paper towels as well as regular dishcloths or sponges.  

Click here to view a quick video on the cloths.

What can you use them for?

So far I’ve used these for:

• washing dishes
• dusting
• wiping counters and tables
• cleaning faucets and toilets
• wiping up spills from the ground
• wiping mirrors and windows
• cleaning interior and exterior of vehicles

Get more use ideas from Swedish Wholesale’s blog.

The cloths are very soft as soon as you get them wet and can be used on more delicate surfaces like vehicles too. They are very “picky uppy” – they grab dirt and crumbs off surfaces well!

Note: You won’t want to use these on rough surfaces (like tile grout) as the cloth could get a hole in it.

My favourite use for these cloths is how well they get into nooks and crannies – like my very dirty kitchen sink! (Someday, I am going to renovate my kitchen and have an under the counter style sink, but until then, Swedish Dishcloths will have to do!)

Make sure you follow directions for washing them!

Don’t make my mistake of throwing them in the dryer! Instead, lay them flat or hang them and let them air dry. Here is why:

They shrink in the dryer. Ooops! I’m glad I only did that with one of my cloths! (It still works, but it’s smaller now).

So after that mishap, I actually read the instructions on their website and learned that there are two really quick and convenient ways to wash and disinfect them:

• Top rack of your dishwasher
• Microwave them for 45 seconds

With both methods, I’ve been finding that rinsing them first with hot water helps me get out any stains and excess cleaner.

Let’s test out some of Swedish Wholesale’s claims.

Claim 1: They are the eco-friendlier option.

Well, of course, any reusable option is going to help save trees and be more environmentally friendly than paper towels. But how do they compare to other reusable options?

Given the fact that Swedish dishcloths can be compostable at the end of their lifespan (which is quite long – 50 washes according to the company), I would argue that this is a more eco-friendly option than many other reusable options made from synthetic materials. Synthetic materials like microfiber take hundreds of years to break down and twice as much energy to create.

Claim 2: They absorb 20 times their weight in water.

When bone dry, a Swedish Dishcloth weighs a quarter ounce. I soaked one, then let the excess water drip off (I didn’t wring it out). With all the water, it weighed 4 ounces. That’s 16 times its dry weight.

So it isn’t quite 20x, but still, plenty of water to do the job.

Claim 3: Swedish Dishcloths dry much more quickly than traditional sponges or dishcloths.

I lined up a sponge, dishcloth and a Swedish Wholesale cloth. The Swedish dishcloth certainly dried the quickest. It still took a few hours to dry, but this drying time will vary based on your region’s climate, humidity, etc. The benefit to the faster drying time is it is supposed to reduce the opportunity for mold and bacteria buildup, which I’m all for!

Claim 4: They are cost-effective.

The price for these cloths is fair for how much you can reuse them. Let’s say you use roughly one, sometimes two of these cloths each day. So you’re washing your 10-pack once a week. If they live up to their claim to survive 50 washes, that is almost a year’s worth of cleaning. Or maybe you aren’t cleaning that much every day. Clean all your cloths in a two-week period, a 10-pack will last you almost two years.

Based on current prices on Walmart’s website, a roll of paper towels will cost you about $2 USD. How long does it take to use a roll of paper towels up? I honestly am not sure since we don’t use paper towels anymore, but I’m going to guess one week. So at $2 every week, by the end of 50 weeks, you’ve spent about $100 on paper towels (and filled up your garbage can a whole lot more!)

So while my math may not be perfect, I would say that yes, reusable Swedish Dishcloths are a cost-effective option.  

See the Swedish Dishcloth 101 webpage for more cost comparisons and info on how they work.

Where can I purchase them?

The major downside for me with these cloths is they are not currently available in Canada. Swedish Wholesale told me that once Amazon is up to normal capacity again (post-Covid19 restrictions) that the cloths should be available in Canada too.

For my American readers, you can purchase their dishcloths here.

Enter the Giveaway!

This is open to Canadian and US residents until June 15, 2020, and you’ll win a variety pack of Swedish Wholesale Dishcloths.