Left: Adobe Stock | Right: IKEA
In case you missed it, IKEA’s annual sale is happening right now. And while many are using the opportunity to update their furnishings or stock up on indoor plants, others are choosing to bulk buy a rather unassuming cleaning product – the Hildegun dish cloth. Yes, the dish cloth, which normally retails for 50 cents (currently on sale for 20 cents) has over 200 rave reviews and is the cult-item you never knew you needed.
One Reddit user said they loved these cloths so much, they often buy a stack to give their friends as housewarming gifts. “IKEA Hildegun towels made from 100% cotton are good for everyday use,” they wrote. “I use them in my home for everything – cleaning, cooking – kitchen, bathroom, car. Use them for a quick sweat cloth in the summer, etc. I often buy a dozen and give them as part of the houseguest or housewarming gifts.”
What’s so good about the Hildegun dish cloth?
If you’re looking for ways to break your paper towel cleaning addiction, the Hildegun is your answer. Aside from being ridiculously affordable, the cloths are made from 100% cotton. This means they’re durable, made from natural fibres and can be disinfected, machine washed and dried pretty much endlessly. So they’re great for keeping your house spotless, great for your wallet, and great for the environment, to boot!
8 ways to use these cloths around the house
1. Washing dishes
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. These cloths are great for getting through that stack of dishes at the end of the day. They even come in handy if you use a dishwasher, as these cloths are absorbent and can be used to wipe up any items that don’t drip dry easily (we’re looking at you, plastic containers).
2. Cleaning up spills
Many reviewers mention this cloth is ideal for wiping up spills.
3. To give paper towels the flick
Paper towels, while convenient, do contribute to landfill every year. If you’ve been feeling guilty about your dependence on paper towels and want to try an eco-friendly alternative, cotton dish cloths you can reuse over and over again are the way to go.
4. Polishing
Cotton is a soft material, making it an excellent option for polishing all manner of kitchen, servingware, glassware and even furniture. One IKEA reviewer said she uses them to make her bathroom sparkle. “In the bathroom for polishing steel and removing makeup.”
5. Wiping surfaces
Forget flimsy cloths that leave behind streaks and sponges that have to be discarded after only a week. Instead, embrace the lasting durability of a cotton cloth that can be refreshed time and time again. These cloths are absorbent and leave behind very little lint, making them excellent for shining surfaces such as mirrors, glass or shower screens.
6. Burp cloths
Parents of young babies will understand: you can never have too many face washers and burp cloths on hand. At just 50 cents a pop, you can have a pile of these cloths on hand in multiple, strategic locations around the house without feeling too guilty.
7. Dusting
Everyone needs a good dusting cloth in their cleaning kit. Whether you’re wiping down window tracks or giving skirting boards a once over, this cloth does the trick.
8. Making cheese and yoghurt
Cottage cheese is having a moment right now, which is great for your protein intake – if you can find it at the supermarkets, that is. If you have this cloth, you could make your own cottage cheese – reviewers say this cloth is an excellent cheese or yogurt strainer.
How to disinfect and wash cotton cleaning cloths
The instructions on Ikea’s website warn against using chlorine bleach or boiling water to disinfect and clean Hildegun cloths.
To clean these cloths properly, soak them in oxygen bleach (aka Vanish Napisan) for 30 minutes before machine washing them on a hot setting (60 degrees celsius is the maximum temperature recommended by Ikea).
To disinfect further, consider adding a laundry disinfectant solution, such as PineOCleen’s Anti-Bacterial Laundry Sanitiser to the final rinse (just be sure to follow the product’s usage instructions). Hang the cloths out to air dry, or tumble dry on a mild setting.
To shop the 50 cent Hildegun dish towel, head to IKEA.
