Stinky crocheted cotton dish cloths, ugh!

[Arianwen1174]

I crocheted about a half dozen dish cloths with cotton yarn. We love using them but even when I make sure they're wrung out well they don't dry quickly enough and end up being stinky. I rack dry everything (inside) after washing and I'm sure that's not helping, since this is rainy Oregon. Is there some way I can 1) get the smell out in the first place (they smell even after being washed), and 2) keep them from being so stinky after that? I tried soaking them in a bucket with a fairly strong vinegar solution and it seemed to help at first but not for long. Maybe an OxiClean soak? Soak in a solution with laundry detergent and tea tree oil? Help! (The towels and such can get this way too but putting them in the dryer for even just 15 minutes each load helps a lot. This isn't helping with the dish cloths.)

[ASusan]

I would suggest Oxyclean soak for at least 24 hours, and a cold rinse at the end of whatever wash cycle you do. (maybe HOT for the wash and then a cold rinse.)

When you used them at the kitchen sink, make sure your last rinse is COLD, and, of course, wring it out well and hang to dry.

[Magelet]

for getting the smell out of stuff, I found washing it with simple green really really worked well. (soaking with bio-clean bac-out worked pretty well but not AS well).

I don't know. My knit dishcloths dry up pretty well (stiff as a board, but they dry over the sink even). However, they fall to peices too fast. I'm thinking the crochet'd ones are thicker and sturdier.

[Arianwen1174]

Thanks for the great ideas, ladies! I'm definitely trying all of that.

If anyone else has any other ideas, do tell.

[sweetcheeks]

I've never tried it but I've read boiling the rags will help get rid of the smell. I was going to do this the last time my rags started smelling funky but then DH went and threw them all out and got new ones.

[Arianwen1174]

Boiling, what an interesting idea. Well, that would be along the same line of putting a sponge in the dishwasher or microwave. Another piece of ammo to add to my stinky dishcloth arsenal, lol.

[ASusan]

You could just put the wet dishcloth in the microwave, rather than boil, right?

(I know if I tried boiling, I would drip the boiling water and burn myself.)

[Arianwen1174]

Makes sense to me but then I'd probably grab the dishcloth when it was scalding hot from the microwave, lol. Think I'll Google the boiling idea to see how much boiling time is recommended.

[earthnut]

My mom swears by a strong, hot borax soak for mildewy items.

[Arianwen1174]

Another great idea, thanks! And I just bought Borax to make ant bait with, so I'm good to go. (Exponentially less expensive than buying Terro or anything like it in any form!)

I diluted a scoop of OxyClean about half a gallon of hot water and soaked the dishcloths in it overnight before throwing them in the wash with the other towels and such. And that day it was nice enough to dry the laundry outside, so between those two things at least this batch is smelling much better. Seems like I'm going to have to keep up with these ideas on a regular basis though, from what I can tell. I'm willing to do it though, because we really like the dishcloths.

Thanks again for the ideas!