You can also spot-treat a stain by dipping a toothbrush into the vinegar or lemon juice and rubbing it against the stain before you soak it. Be sure to rinse the cheesecloth very thoroughly after to wash out all the vinegar and lemon juice. They can attract fruit flies if not completely rinsed out of the cheesecloth.
It’s a good idea to boil the cheesecloth every time after you use it, whether you’ve just rinsed it or if you’ve soaked it to get rid of stubborn debris.
It’s best not to put wet cheesecloth pieces in the laundry basket because it can encourage mold growth.
Avoid using a fabric softener when cleaning your cheesecloth. The extra fragrance and softening agents will leave a coating on your cheesecloth and can leach into your food the next time you use it. [5] X Research source Cheesecloth that’s labeled single-use cannot be washed in the washing machine. You may be able to hand wash it and reuse once or twice, but it’s better to buy cheesecloth meant for reuse.
Avoid using fabric softener for your muslin, as it could cause buildup on the cloth that can leach into your food. The muslin will shrink after you wash it the first time. [6] X Research source Pick a lightweight unbleached muslin as an easy to clean cheesecloth alternative. Unbleached muslin will have a natural cream color. [7] X Research source Find muslin at your local fabric store. Tell them you are looking for muslin to use as cheesecloth for straining or squeezing.
If the stains really bother you, add bleach to your soak water the next time you wash the cheesecloth. Use 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) bleach per 1 gallon (1. 75 L) water.
