Should you wash dishcloths in the washing machine?

"I've decided that, at the very least, I'm going to dry the dishcloths immediately."
A sudden declaration from my science-minded husband.

Atsuko: "?????"
Atsuko, who had just returned from work, was full of question marks.

Science-minded husband: "On 'Asa-Ichi', you see."

That's right. My science-minded husband is a fan of NHK's "Asa-Ichi."
He watches it off and on while cleaning up after breakfast.

Today's (2023/03/06) feature was on "dishcloths."
Because he declared so decisively that he would dry the dishcloths, I watched the segment at double speed.

Our home video recorder (Toshiba Regza) has a feature called Time Shift, which records all broadcasts from the past two weeks. It's convenient to be able to easily watch things that catch my interest.

—————

By the way, I have a question here.
How do you all wash your dishcloths?

1. Hand wash
2. Washing machine
3. I don't use dishcloths

I'm number 1. Hand washing.
I wash them with water every time, but before I know it, they start to yellow.
I bleach them, but it's rough on my hands, and since I'm lazy, it was one of my least favorite chores.

A mom friend from when my daughter was in kindergarten didn't use dishcloths at all. Number 3.
What did she use, you ask? Paper towels. She would use paper towels for everything—wiping dishes, wiping the table—and I remember being inwardly surprised.

My science-minded husband. He uses the washing machine. Number 2.
When he became a househusband three years ago, I gave him a certain amount of discretion in handling the kitchen.
I didn't want to nag him and kill his motivation.
Besides, my temp job got busy, and I couldn't be bothered with the details anymore.
Before I knew it, dishcloths started ending up in the washing machine every day.
(Laundry is still my responsibility, though.)
————

And that brings us to today's Asa-Ichi.

They answered two major questions about dishcloths.

● Are dishcloths inherently dirty?

They measured the coliform bacteria count on dishcloths actually used by three women.
Announcer Suzuki's dishcloth: Used for 1 day → 0 count
Announcer Kamijo's dishcloth: Left for 9 days → 15 count
Viewer's dishcloth: Used to wipe up dirt for 4 days → 1135 count

Dirt + Moisture + Temperature
When these three conditions are met, germs multiply.

The viewer only did a simple rinse
and left it in the kitchen while still wrung out.
The house is warm due to the heater. Drying them is important.

● Is it okay to wash dishcloths in the washing machine?
They tested whether coliform bacteria were present after washing dishcloths with underwear and socks.
As a result, no coliform bacteria were found. (0 count)

It is perfectly fine to wash dishcloths with your other laundry.

However, since bleaching also results in a count of 0, it's up to your personal preference.
—————

I see. The "wash in the washing machine" method my science-minded husband was using was actually fine.
Admittedly, I'm lazy too, and I don't have the luxury of washing dishcloths separately. Easier is better.

As mentioned in the program,
everyone has their own methods and ways of doing things, so you don't have to stick to just one.

Wash dishcloths and hang them up immediately.

As long as you follow that, it seems unlikely that bacteria will multiply in large numbers.

----

Atsuko: "So, you declared you were going to hang up the dishcloths because you saw the experimental results on TV, right?"

Science-minded husband: "That's right. I used to just leave them wrung out in the kitchen sometimes. If there are experimental results, I have to put them to use."

Atsuko: "Oh wow. The power of experiments is amazing. By the way, why did you decide to wash the dishcloths?"

Science-minded husband: "Because every morning, I use the dishcloth from yesterday to wipe the bathroom mirror and sink."

Atsuko: "Huh?"

Science-minded husband: "The bathroom mirror gets splattered with toothpaste, you know. I was wiping that off with yesterday's dishcloth and then putting it in the washing machine."

Atsuko: "What!"

Science-minded husband: "I was also quickly wiping the bathroom sink while I was at it. That's why it's been clean lately."

Atsuko: "Ugh. That's a dishcloth!!!"

Science-minded husband: "It's fine. If you wash it, the coliform bacteria count goes to zero anyway. Besides, when the dishcloth gets worn out, I replace it with a new one immediately. The cheapest cotton dishcloths."

It's true that the bathroom mirror and sink have been clean lately.
I never knew there was such a secret.

And the science-minded husband does almost all of the breakfast preparation.
Well, of course he does. He's a househusband. He has his own established way of doing things.

Since there were the experimental results from Asa-Ichi, Atsuko had nothing to say.