From clothes to cloths
Short answer: Cut the garments into squares of about thirty centimetres, remove seams, buttons and zips, and keep them in a basket in the kitchen. That way the cloths actually get used every day.
What you remove first
Seams, elastic, buttons and zips. Anything hard can scratch a surface, and anything thick absorbs poorly. Only the flat fabric should remain. Take time to go over the garment before you start cutting, so you do not find a button in the middle of a cloth once it is already in use.
Why hard parts are a problem
A zip or a button can scratch a worktop, glass or a screen. Thick seams stand up and absorb almost nothing, so the cloth feels uneven in the hand. Remove them and you get a cloth that lies flat and works evenly. It only takes a sharp pair of scissors and a few minutes.
The size
About thirty by thirty centimetres fits the hand well. A larger cloth is hard to wring out, and a smaller one is soaked through quickly. You can cut several sizes if you like, but thirty centimetres is a good place to start. Take a look at bamboo tank tops for men.
How to cut
Lay the fabric flat on a table, measure with a ruler and cut in straight lines so the cloths come out even. Use sharp scissors. That gives edges that do not fray as fast, and it is easier to cut several layers at once. With jersey the edge curls in, so there is nothing to sew.
Where they should live
In a basket that stands out in the open. A cloth in a drawer in the cellar never gets used. Put the basket in the kitchen or under the sink, where you actually need the cloths, and make sure you can reach in with a wet hand. See bamboo towels and homewear in bamboo.
How many cloths you need
Ten to twenty cover an ordinary home. That sounds like a lot, but they get used up fast when they have to be washed separately. Start with a handful and fill the basket as you sort the wardrobe. If you have many, split them between two baskets, one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom.
Wash the cloths separately
Wash cloths apart from clothes, especially if they have been used for grease. That keeps everything clean and separate. Sort them into two piles, one for clean jobs and one for greasy ones, and wash them as needed so that you always have clean cloths ready when you need them.
How it becomes a habit
A cloth only gets used if it is within reach. Put the basket where you would otherwise reach for kitchen roll, and drop a wet cloth straight into the laundry. After a few weeks you stop thinking about it, and you reach for kitchen roll less often. It is a small change that makes the difference.
Sort by job
Divide the cloths by task. The softest are good for glass and screens, the slightly heavier ones for floors and the hob. That way you avoid using a cloth that has been on the floor for something you want clean. Write on a small tag what each cloth is for, or use two baskets instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can cloths be washed with clothes
No. Wash them separately, especially if they have been used for grease. That keeps clean clothes apart from the cloths, and you can choose a temperature that suits the fabric of the cloths.
How many cloths do you need
Ten to twenty cover an ordinary home. Start with a handful and fill the basket as you sort the wardrobe and find garments that can no longer be worn as clothes.
Can you cut with ordinary scissors
Yes. Sharp scissors give edges that do not fray as fast. It is easier to cut several layers at once with sharp scissors, and the result is more even and neater.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
