Frequently asked questions
Everything you'd ask
about a Swedish dishcloth.
The cloth that's quietly taking over Australian kitchens raises the same handful of questions — what it actually is, how to look after it, and where it goes when it's done. Straight, honest answers below.
The basics
What a Swedish dishcloth actually is.
What is a Swedish dishcloth?
A Swedish dishcloth is a reusable cleaning cloth made from a pressed blend of cellulose (wood pulp) and cotton. It was invented in Sweden in 1949 by engineer Curt Lindquist and has been a kitchen staple across Scandinavia ever since. One cloth is designed to stand in for a sponge, a scourer and a stack of paper towel — you wet it, wipe with it, rinse it out, and use it again the next day.
Is a Swedish dishcloth the same as a Wettex or a sponge cloth?
Yes. "Swedish dishcloth," "sponge cloth" and the Australian brand name "Wettex" all describe the same category of product — a cellulose-and-cotton cloth that softens when wet and dries stiff. The materials and construction are the same; the name just depends on which country, brand or generation you grew up with.
Using & caring for them
How to use one, wash one, and make it last.
How do I use a Swedish dishcloth?
Straight out of the packet a new cloth is flat and firm. Run it under water for a few seconds and it softens and becomes pliable, almost like a thin sponge. Use it to wipe benches, dishes and spills as you would a cloth or sponge, then wring it out and either drape it over the tap or leave it flat to air-dry between uses. A dry cloth firms back up again — that's normal, and it softens the moment it's wet again.
How do I clean or wash a Swedish dishcloth?
Day to day, a good rinse and a firm wring after each use is most of the job — cellulose cloths dry fast, and a cloth that's allowed to dry out between uses stays fresher for longer. When it needs a proper clean, you've got three easy options: pop it on the top rack of the dishwasher, throw it in with a load of washing, or drop it in a pot of boiling water for around two minutes to sanitise it. Whichever you choose, let it air-dry fully afterwards rather than balling it up damp.
How long does a Swedish dishcloth last?
With a rinse after use and a wash or boil every so often, a single cloth typically lasts six to twelve months of everyday kitchen work. How long yours goes the distance depends on how hard it's used — a cloth doing heavy daily scrubbing will wear faster than one used for lighter wipe-downs. You'll know it's done when it starts to fray, thin out or lose its shape.
How is the design printed? Will it fade?
We print with water-based pigment driven into the weave of the cloth itself, not a sublimation transfer sitting on top of the surface. Because the colour is in the fibre rather than on a coating, it holds up through hundreds of washes, dishwasher cycles and boils without cracking, peeling or fading to a ghost of itself the way a printed-on design can.
Are they safe for food surfaces? Do they hold bacteria?
Cellulose cloths dry stiff and dry fast, and bacteria need moisture to multiply — a cloth that's wrung out and left to dry between uses is inherently a less hospitable environment than a permanently damp sponge sitting in a sink caddy. For extra peace of mind on food-prep surfaces, sanitise your cloth regularly by boiling it for two minutes or running it through the dishwasher or washing machine, and replace it once it's worn or starts to smell.
Sustainability
What happens to it, and how it compares.
Are Swedish dishcloths compostable?
Yes, with a bit of honesty about the detail. Ours are made from FSC cellulose and cotton with no plastic microfibres, so there's nothing synthetic left behind. Cut a worn cloth into strips and add it to a home compost bin, a worm farm, or your council's FOGO / green-waste collection if you have one. Full breakdown generally takes a few weeks to a few months depending on your compost's heat and moisture and how small you've cut the pieces — it isn't instant, and conditions vary by yard and by council, so it's worth checking your local FOGO guidance if you're unsure what's accepted.
Swedish dishcloth vs paper towel — what's the difference?
A paper towel is used once and binned. A Swedish dishcloth is rinsed, dried and used again — for months, not minutes — before it's cut up and composted rather than sent to landfill. We won't put a number on exactly how many rolls one cloth "replaces"; that stat gets thrown around a lot in this category and nobody can point to where it actually comes from. What we can say plainly is that reuse and longevity are the real win, and composting at the end is the last step, not the whole story.
Where are Swedish dishcloths made?
The Swedish dishcloth as a category was invented in Sweden in 1949, and that heritage is part of why the cloth is built the way it is — pressed cellulose and cotton, nothing else. Our designs are created here in Australia by Australian illustrators, and printed onto genuine cellulose cloth using water-based pigment. We're upfront that our story starts at the drawing board, not the mill.
Ordering
Shipping, bulk orders and custom runs.
Do you ship Australia-wide? Can I order in bulk or get a custom design?
Yes to all three. We ship to every state and territory. If you're after a personalised cloth — a monogram, a pet portrait, a wedding date — explore custom for one-off and small-batch runs on the same archival print. For retailers, gift buyers and corporate orders after volume or branded designs, wholesale & corporate has trade pricing and low minimums.
Still have a question?
We're happy to talk cloths.
If it's not answered here, get in touch directly — or skip straight to browsing the collections.