Best reusable cleaning cloths for Australian homes

The best reusable cleaning cloth is the one you'll actually reach for instead of the paper towel roll. For most kitchens and bathrooms that means a soft, absorbent plant-fibre cloth that rinses clean and dries quickly. Everything you need. And nothing you don't.

Here's how the main options compare, how to match a cloth to the job, and how to make the switch from paper towel without it falling apart after a fortnight.

What makes a good everyday cleaning cloth?

Ignore the hype on the pack and check five things:

• Material. Is the fibre named clearly? "Eco" isn't a material.
• Absorbency. It should soak up a spill in one or two passes, not push it around.
• Drying speed. A cloth that dries fast between uses stays fresher for longer.
• Easy care. You want something that rinses clean and copes with a regular wash.
• Honest claims. Look for a brand that tells you what the cloth is made from and what it does, without vague promises.

The main materials, explained

Timber viscose (wood pulp)

Viscose is a plant-based fibre made from wood pulp. It's soft, absorbent and good at holding water, which makes it a natural fit for wiping benches, mopping up spills and general cleaning. ZERO Reusable Cleaning Cloths are made from timber viscose and designed to be rinsed and reused again and again. Want the backstory on the material? Read why we use wood pulp.

Cotton

Cotton tea towels and terry cloths are familiar and absorbent. They're great for drying dishes and hands, and a lot of homes already have a drawer full.

Microfibre

Microfibre is made from synthetic fibres, usually polyester and polyamide, which are plastics. The split fibres grab dust well, which is why people like it on glass. The trade-off is that synthetic textiles shed tiny plastic fibres when they're used and washed. If you're trying to cut plastic out of your cleaning cupboard, a plant-fibre cloth is the simpler choice. (We dig into this in microfibre vs cotton cloths.)

Sponges

Most kitchen sponges are synthetic foam. They're handy for scrubbing baked-on mess, but they hold water deep inside and are slow to dry. Our dishcloth vs sponge guide covers when each one makes sense.

Match the cloth to the job

• Benchtops, spills and everyday wiping: a ZERO Reusable Cleaning Cloth. Absorbent, soft on surfaces, easy to rinse.
• Quick wipe-downs in the bathroom, car or laundry: ZERO Cleaning Wipes. They're dry timber viscose wipes you use dry or damp, then rinse and reuse.
• Glass and mirrors: wipe with a damp cloth, then buff with a dry one.
• Drying dishes: a cotton tea towel does the job.
• Genuinely grim jobs: keep a couple of old rags for the oven tray or the bin lid, so your everyday cloths stay nice.

Want the lot in one go? The Ultimate Cleaning Bundle puts cloths and wipes together.

How to ditch paper towel (and make it stick)

Reusable cloths can handle almost every job a paper towel does. The real barrier is habit: paper towel is grab-and-go, and a cloth needs a tiny system. Set it up once and it runs itself.

• Put cloths where the paper towel used to live. A small stack within arm's reach of the sink removes most of the friction.
• Give used cloths a home. A basket or bag near the washing machine stops damp cloths piling up on the bench.
• Run a two-tier system. Good cloths for everyday wiping, old rags for greasy, grubby jobs.
• Colour-code if you share the house. One set for the kitchen, another for the bathroom, so nothing crosses over.
• Don't sweat the last roll. If you keep one roll in the cupboard for draining bacon, fine. A roll that lasts months instead of weeks is still a big win.

Start with the obvious spot, usually the kitchen sink, and let the cloths take over the jobs they do well.

Keep your cloths fresh

• Rinse after every use until the water runs clear.
• Wring out and hang to dry somewhere with airflow. A cloth left balled up and damp is what gets smelly, whatever it's made from.
• Wash regularly with your laundry, following the care instructions on the pack.
• Skip the fabric softener. It coats fibres and makes most cloths less absorbent.
• Rotate two or three cloths so each one dries out properly between uses.
• Retire a cloth when it's thin, torn or smells even after a wash.

For cafes and commercial kitchens: the Commercial Cleaning Cloth

Busy kitchens go through cloths fast. The ZERO Commercial Cleaning Cloth (we call it the Blue Roll) is a plant-fibre timber viscose cloth on a roll, designed with chefs for commercial kitchens and heavy cleaning. It's certified biodegradable in soil (TÜV Austria OK biodegradable SOIL), so it breaks down in soil at everyday temperatures, no compost heap needed. You can add it to your home compost too. A roll is $29.95.

If you run a food business, cloths are only one part of the routine. Food Standards Australia New Zealand has clear guidance on cleaning and sanitising, including why you clean first and sanitise second.

FAQ

What's the best reusable cloth for kitchen benches?

An absorbent plant-fibre cloth that dries quickly, like ZERO Reusable Cleaning Cloths made from timber viscose.

Do ZERO cleaning cloths disinfect?

No. They're cleaning cloths, not disinfectants. If a job needs disinfecting, use a disinfectant product and follow its label.

Is microfibre plastic?

Yes. Microfibre is usually made from polyester and polyamide, which are synthetic polymers.

How many cloths do I need?

Two or three in rotation for the kitchen, plus one or two for the bathroom, is plenty for most homes.