How to clean reusable cloths and sponges without cross contamination
Cleaning reusable cloths and sponges safely requires separating bathroom items from kitchen tools to avoid cross-contamination. Not knowing the right sanitation methods stops people from reusing these items comfortably, as they want to avoid washing dirty rags with clothing or microwaving contaminated sponges where food is prepared.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Throwing them in with normal laundry when there are enough accumulated to make a full load.
- 2Using paper towels to clean the bathroom and tossing them afterward
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“How do I clean my cleaning cloths and sponges?”source ↗
“Any advice would be welcome as I dont know where to start 🙈”source ↗
“I have OCD and am particularly worried about cross contamination when I use and put away cleaning tools in the bathroom.”source ↗
“I don’t want to wash any rags in the same washing machine that I wash my clothes in, nor do I want to put scrub daddies and sponges that have touched any bathroom surfaces in the kitchen microwave.”source ↗