Swedish dishcloths are a smart and eco-friendly alternative to paper towels or kitchen sponges. Due to the fact that they are made of mainly cellulose and have a smaller percentage cotton, you can see that they will soak up over 15 times it's own weight. You can throw them in the top rack of dishwasher for a good clean. You can also microwave them for 1 minute to disinfect. With proper care, they will last up to 6 months.