A few years ago, a good friend of mine had a sister-in-law who made these gorgeous dish washing pads that sudsed up amazingly well. It didn't require much liquid dish soap and did the job efficiently.
It was crocheted with some kind of synthetic yarn that was ordered from Korea.
On top of that it was so very pretty!
I ordered several to give as gifts and used them myself.
Eventually, the yarn became more accessible here in Hawaii and lots of people started making these dish washing pads.
I received a number of them as gifts.
We have very gifted crochet artists here in Hawaii.
Uuum... I'm not one of them.
Unfortunately, the Korean yarn doesn't last very long and too quickly wears out. It also doesn't dry easily and does collect food particles.
Some friends even made dish washing pads using regular yarn.
Eventually, I found that in Hawaii's humid climate, these pads especially don't dry quickly.
I also saw online that sponges are breeding grounds for bacteria because they can't dry quickly and the little pores are nooks where food can get lodged.
I've read that some people put wet sponges in the microwave for a couple of minutes to disinfect it. You can also stick it in a vinegar solution.
My daughter then showed me another Korean idea that she picked up at H-Mart (Korean store in Chicago). These are more like nets, but they also soap up well (not quite as quickly as the other type), but they can dry a lot faster. I also throw it in the regular laundry and hang them to dry in the sun.
What do you use to wash dishes?
Hi Kay, I am Asha from India and I love all your blog posts! I do not like to miss a single one, though I do not comment much.
ReplyDeleteLike today’s post…I just couldn’t hold myself from commenting. We have similar net balls we get in India. They clean well, and can be washed and dried quickly. And they are quite cheap so they can be replaced often too. I wanted to put in a picture of the net balls, but unfortunately it does not allow.
Hello Asha,
DeleteThank you very much for your kind words. You've totally made my day. I hope you will comment even more since I love to hear from people around the world. I've never been to India though my son and daughter-in-law spent time there and... of course, were awed by the Taj Mahal. They told us that it was one part of the world that definitely lived up to its grand reputation.
I am curious now about your net balls. They sound like a lot of fun.
I just bought some synthetic yarn pads. The packaging said they can be tossed into the dishwasher.
ReplyDeletemy hubby does all the dishes...hurrah, and uses regular dish rage but a scrub brush on the dishes when they go in the dishwasher they are clean and then get sanitized by the DW!
ReplyDeleteI use these they are great https://www.amazon.ca/Vileda-Scrunge-Multi-Use-Non-Scratch-Sponge/dp/B07P1DGY1H/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=Dish+Sponge&qid=1624455096&sr=8-9
ReplyDeleteI actually have one of those, but I'm now staying away from sponges in Hawaii. It's so humid over here that it would never dry.
DeleteWe use synthetic mesh scrubbers that look more like your daughter's version but woven a bit tighter. They dry out really quickly which cuts down on smells.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI use a dish wand that has a sponge on the end for most things and got some tightly crocheted nylon scrubbies from Etsy for non stick pans.
ReplyDeleteAloha Kay, the first pretty scrubbers in your photos are also fairly good as dedicated facial scrubbers! My patient has flaky skin that appears once a week. I usually use one of those oval shaped facial scrubbing buffer pads. The wife provided one of those pretty pads for a facial scrubber, but I'll use it if I wear out the original scrubber pad.
ReplyDeleteFor my dishes, I use a stainless steel dish scrubber bud. It dries pretty quickly. Linda in Kansas
No kidding? Facial scrubber? Who would have thunk it? You have got to be the best nurse around!!!
DeleteI use sponges and now realize they are breeding grounds for bacteria! Maybe I'll just pop them into the microwave now and then. :-)
ReplyDeleteI use a regularly replaced yellow sponge. I understand you can run them through the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteA dear friend who passed away three years ago made the scrubbing pads using netting fabric, you know, like what they use for fancy petticoats, cutting it into strips and crocheting with it. We are using the last scrubber that she made for me and it will make me so sad when it must be tossed. I have not heard of anyone else crocheting with netting.
ReplyDeleteThis is getting entirely too personal, Kay! Just kidding ;^) i buy these 'terry on one side, sponge and netting on the other' Ritz scour pads on Amazon. They run roughly $1 a pad and last a couple weeks. They come in nice kitchen colors too :)
ReplyDelete(Meanwhile I have a brand new dishwasher and have never used it) :)
No no... Not you too? Art didn't want to use the dishwasher either until I showed him "tons" of articles about how it actually saves water and energy to use the dishwasher. Granted, I don't use it every night. I run it about every 2-3 days after accumulating sufficient dishes from meals.
DeleteKay I did see that recently (how dishwashers save water compared to hand washing). If you can convince Art, I guess I'll give it a go, thank you! :)
DeleteI use a cloth similar to the last one you showed. Mine is a little larger with a slightly finer weave. I also have those crochet Korean yarn pads that I use for my pots and pans since they don't scratch but clean well.
ReplyDeleteBut the workhorse is my dishwasher that I load up until full and then run overnight. It is my favorite button to push.
I don't have a preference
ReplyDeleteTom is our dish washer and he uses a sponge or a dish brush. We also have some of those scrubbies that a friend crocheted. I use them occasionally. The sponge and the dish brush go into the dishwasher periodically.
ReplyDeleteI use a brush with soap in the head, then put the dish in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteI use the net looking cloth. They soap well, rinse clean, and get thrown in the washer every week. Marukai sells them for about $2.99.
ReplyDeleteI throw that net like cloth in the wash also and hang them in the sun which works well.
DeleteI just use standard cloths.
ReplyDeleteWe have H Mart in Kaka'ako
ReplyDelete(808) 219-0924
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wB3p4H9deNz8do2y6
I forgot all about that! We still haven't gone there. One of these days we shall venture out that way. I've heard it's really wonderful. My daughter goes to H Mart all the time in Chicago.
DeleteI like sponges but need to be more careful about disinfecting them. I do sometimes put them in the dishwasher. My daughter uses a loofah type thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd those decorative ones are SO cute. I wish they worked better and lasted longer!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI fill my sink with very hot water and put the dishes in it and let the water cool. None of the food sticks and you just rinse them. Yhat's called Hellowezing them. A housekeeping tipster called Helloweze from the past suggested it
ReplyDeleteHi Kay: I use small palm brushes. Oxo Good Grips and Libman make them. They do have a space for soap, but I don't use it, just leave it empty. A little soapy water in the small dishpan to clean off most of the gunk with some quick swipes of the brush, then all that is dishwasher safe goes in the dishwasher. Then I use it for scrubbing any items that do not go in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeletehttps://libman.com/products/palm-brush-1/
https://www.oxo.com/soap-dispensing-palm-brush.html
Every so often I unscrew the lid and put the 'brushy part' in the dishwasher(top rack) when there is space. The bristles are a stiff synthetic. As long as it gets a good rinse or the ride through the dishwasher, it last quite a while. I also have dish rags and a Libby sponge scrubby. Dishrags get washed after using and the sponge is for cleanup in the sink. It also gets a ride in the dishwasher now and then.
I do understand the humidity problems and the mildew/mold that it encourages.. NC isn't tropical-humid today, but it will be back by Saturday or Sunday.
M in NC
I don't do dishes, but I'll pas this along to the dishwasher, my better half!!!!
ReplyDelete