The cool part is that instead of rags, you make a tube out of the cloth. By folding, you get a pretty sturdy cleaning surface, and when it gets a bit dirty, you can refold and turn it inside out for fresher cleaning surfaces. When you’re done, toss in the wash, no biggie.<\/p>\n
Since I use towels for this, I’ll show you how I do it.<\/p>\n
And there’s no reason in the world not to go ahea I like the tubes, so I go a little further and sew up these babies. These cloths also make great potholders. The double layer of thick cotton cloth is pretty good at protecting from heat.<\/p>\n As long as it’s not damp.<\/p>\n Here’s the set I made today. Did it because most of the old ones I made ten years ago have frayed apart from heavy use and I’m on a spring cleaning spree.<\/p>\n I don’t use paper towels to clean up anything but mess from a pet. While yes, you could call it an environmental thing, I use cloth for cleaning the same as I use cloth napkins for everyday. I find buying stuff specifically to throw away a waste of money. If you can safely wash it … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/noelfigart.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rags2-300x169.jpg\")
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\nSo by folding a towel in half widthwise, cutting then doing the same again to the two halves you’ve generated, then cutting those four pieces in half again, you can get eight pieces of cloth out of your old towel.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/noelfigart.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/rags3-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a>d and use them as cleanin![\"\"](\"http:\/\/noelfigart.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rags1-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a> g rags right then, of course. If that’s your thing, go for it.<\/p>\n
\nI do use a zig-zag stitch along the long edge, or use a serger to finish what will be the open edges of the tubes. It makes them last longer instead of falling apart from fraying and leaving fluff everywhere. Notice I used black thread on the old pink towels I used. I confess this was not done for contrast and an example, but out of sheer laziness because I didn’t feel like bothering to match the thread for cleaning supplies. You want yours to look pretty, go ahead and show me up. J<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/noelfigart.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/041214_1708_NotQuiteRag3.jpg\")
After I’ve finished the long edges, I go ahead and sew them into tubes using a zig-zag stitch. I do this for strong seam with a bit of self-finishing on one go. They’re meant or cleaning, so I don’t feel like it’s necessary to spend an extraordinary amount of time on them. Eight in a half hour is plenty enough time to spend.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/noelfigart.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/041214_1708_NotQuiteRag4.jpg\")
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