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Kurt asked: How do I clean soapy rags? I work in a store/café. We sell bulk soaps and detergents and do a lot of dishes each day. As a result, we regularly wash a pile of dirty, smelly and surprisingly sudsy rags. What’s the best way to clean these and minimize the amount of water wasted? Thanks!
When suds take over your washing machine, the extra soap can cause more than one problem. Soap residue causes the material to wear more quickly and remain stiff, even when clean. Fortunately, removing these extra suds can be done with a quick, easy step.
You Will Need:
- Vinegar
- Washing machine
Steps to Clean the Soapy Rags:
- Wash the cloths as normal in the washing machine. Washing with hot water will provide the strongest cleaning power.
- If the rags are very soapy, it may not be necessary to add additional detergent to the water.
- Add ¼ to ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
- This can be placed right in the fabric softener dispenser to be released later in the cycle. The vinegar will help to remove the remaining soap and eliminate extra suds.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If soap remains, it may be necessary to run an extra rinse cycle. Add vinegar to this extra rinse as well.
- Rinsing with cold water will also help to eliminate suds. However, if soapy residue is a problem, it will come out better if the cloths are rinsed with warm water.
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