Why the Swedish Dish Cloth is About to Replace Your Paper Towels

For over 70 years, every Swedish kitchen has had a stack of these in a drawer: thin, printed cloths that feel stiff in the package but turn into miracle wipes the moment they hit water. The original Swedish dish cloth was invented in 1949 by engineer Curt Lindquist, and it's been a fixture in Scandinavian homes ever since.

What it's made of

70% cellulose (from sustainably-farmed Nordic pine), 30% cotton. That's it. No plastic. No microfibers shedding into your local water supply.

Why it works so well

• 15× its weight in water. One cloth picks up a spilled glass of milk.
• 9 months of daily use. Toss it in the dishwasher or washing machine to refresh.
• Replaces 17 rolls of paper towels, according to lifecycle studies in Sweden.
• 100% compostable at end of life. Bury it; it's gone in weeks.

How to use it

Wet it under the tap. Wipe. Rinse and hang to dry — it dries crisp instead of staying damp and gross. Bacteria can't grow on a dry cloth, which is why one wipe-down with a Swedish cloth is cleaner than three with a sponge.

Designs we stock

We carry the classic strawberry print, plus Dala horses, lingonberries, mushrooms, and a rotating set of seasonal designs from Sweden. Each one starts at $3.95 — a single cloth lasts most households nearly a year. See the full range on our Swedish Dish Cloth collection page.