Sorry mama pinky but I don't get it. If they come out clean, why do you need to make a distinction between those used for dishes and those used for other kitchen activities?

Because I'm crazy...actually because the washable non paper towels get used if the kids spill something on the floor also, like juice or milk and I just have this sickness that prevents me from wanting to dry dishes with something that wiped up the floor..if I used chlorine bleach it wouldn't matter. But I try not to use chlorine. ..but will in a heartbeat if I even think raw meat touched my towel.

I've seen those at Wal Mart and thought about picking some up. I have NEVER used flour sack towels thought. To me, they look like they don't absorb. I or we are so guilty of using a ton of paper towels.

Always, I use the flour sack towels for non-steak polishing like refrigerator, granite counter tops, mirrors.

They are 100% cotton and for me absorb very well, I also don't use FS on them.

I have a stack of bar mops (used for dish drying) and multi-colored microfiber towels (used for cleaning) so I understand your condition MP. And I am completely okay with it.

My bar mops are washed separately from everything else and I will use a 1/4 cup of bleach to keep them good and clean when needed.

The microfibers are also washed separately without bleach.

MRB

MRB, good to know Roc isn't the only crazy one with all her microfiber rags...LOL...just kidding.

I probably could wash them all together and just use bleach, but I try to stear clear of it. Besides I'm pretty sure the lifespan of flour sacks will be shortened if I start bleaching them regularly.

I have been running on the same 24 bar mops for close to three years and they have been fine with bleaching.

I do buy paper towels, but we use a roll a month maybe, compared to the towels.