How can I keep my dishcloths from turning sour-smelling?

To get the soured smell out, add white vinegar OR baking soda to the wash. You can add one or the other to the washing machine with your detergent. I've never used vinegar and baking soda together, so I wouldn't recommend that. If you don't want to use one of these in your washer, you can hand wash the cloths in the sink, but I'd wear gloves. Dry the cloths immediately in the dryer or hang them to air dry. My choice is usually white vinegar because it works really well. Also, if you reuse a dish cloth for a few days before moving it to the laundry, always rinse it well and hang it or lay it flat to dry on the sink. This will keep it from souring between dish washes. I also recommend washing it with dish soap before you begin using it for the next sink full of dishes. I used a dish soap that has citrus in it, which kills bacteria and keeps it smelling fresh. My husband has the bad habit of wadding dish cloths up and tossing them into the sink basin, which will make them sour every time. The same applies to tossing them wet into a hamper. Wet cloths wadded up sour quickly.

Dry them in the sun, or tumble dryer.

Hi Diane,

One way is to boil them in a pot of water for 15 min, put them in a strainer, and air dry or tumble dry. I could never do this because I am too clumsy and concerned about burning myself.

Here is another method:

https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/proper-care-of-dish-cloths-and-kitch

Just drape it over your taps ( or fawcet)

Add vinegar and baking soda to the wash. A build up of detergent that never gets properly rinsed out, plus the gunky fabric softener will sour any fabrics quickly. I toss in a cup of white vinegar and at least 2 heaping tablespoons of baking soda, plus vinegar in the rinse cup, (no chemical filled fabric softener) in every load of laundry I do. And use felted wool dryer balls for the dryer. Your laundry and fabrics will thank you!