One of my guiding principles in trying to become more “green” is to look for reusable options instead of disposable ones. This applies to so many things, but its latest incarnation is in my kitchen sink. For years I happily used disposable sponges to wash my dishes without thinking about it. Then I read about how germs multiply in sponges. A few ways to avoid them were mentioned, like letting them dry out completely between uses (fat chance, as often as ours is used) and microwaving them for two minutes. The idea of using electricity—even an incremental amount—to sanitize a disposable object seemed silly. So I reverted to what my mom has always used: dishcloths.

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This wasn’t without some trepidation. I liked the way sponges felt in my hand (and I never wanted to admit my mom was right about anything). But as a solution, it’s hard to argue with. Dishcloths can be used over and over for years, and they’re always washed at least once a week, when we do laundry. If they’re used to clean up a disgusting spill, they can be switched out immediately. We bought a set of five with a textured side to scrape at stuck-on food, and now we’re hooked.