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How to Wash and Care for Cheesecloth: Tips from the Experts

by: Mary's Kitchen Towels Team | Updated March 2026
In This Guide

Cheesecloth is one of those kitchen tools that's easy to use once and throw away — until you realize you're buying it constantly. Grade 90 cheesecloth is designed to be washed and reused, and with the right routine it holds up through 10 or more uses. The technique is simple but order matters — particularly the cold rinse first, which prevents protein and dairy residue from setting permanently into the fibers.

This guide covers the full washing process, when boiling is necessary, how to remove stubborn odors including chlorine smell, and when cheesecloth has reached the end of its useful life. We've supplied cheesecloth to professional kitchens and home cooks since 2006 — this is what actually works.

How to clean and wash cheesecloth — care tips for reusable Grade 90 cheesecloth

Do You Need to Wash Cheesecloth Before First Use?

Yes — always wash cheesecloth before using it with food for the first time. New cheesecloth can carry dust, packaging residue, or natural cotton sizing from the manufacturing process. A quick soak in warm water with a small amount of mild detergent, followed by a thorough rinse and complete air dry, is sufficient.

This also softens the fabric slightly, making it more flexible and easier to work with. If your new cheesecloth has a chemical or chlorine smell, see the dedicated section below — this is common with bleached cheesecloth and requires a vinegar soak to resolve. Unbleached cheesecloth (like ours) has no chemical treatment and typically has no smell at all.

Why Proper Care Matters

Cheesecloth used with dairy, raw meat, or fermenting ingredients can harbor bacteria if not properly cleaned. Dr. Linda Harris, food safety researcher at the University of California, Davis, has documented how porous materials like cheesecloth can trap bacteria after contact with raw foods — particularly dairy proteins that embed in the open weave. The USDA recommends that reusable food contact tools be thoroughly sanitized between uses.

The practical implication: the cleaning routine differs depending on what you used the cheesecloth for. Straining cooked stock or cold brew coffee requires a thorough wash. Draining cheese curds or straining raw dairy requires boiling. The steps below cover both.

The single most important rule

Always rinse in cold water first — immediately after use. Hot water sets proteins and dairy residue permanently into the cotton fibers, making them nearly impossible to remove. Cold rinse first, hot water later.

How to Wash Cheesecloth — Step by Step

Cold Rinse — Immediately After Use The moment you finish with the cheesecloth, rinse it under cold running water. This removes loose food particles and, critically, prevents dairy proteins and fats from bonding with the cotton fibers. This step takes 30 seconds and makes every subsequent step significantly easier. If you can't wash immediately, at minimum rinse and leave the cloth submerged in cold water.
Soak — 20 to 30 Minutes Fill a bowl with warm water and add either a tablespoon of baking soda or a splash of white vinegar — not both at once. Baking soda is better for breaking down protein and fat residue and deodorizing after dairy use. Vinegar is better for mineral deposits and general freshening. Soak for 20–30 minutes. For heavily soiled cloth, extend to an hour. If the cloth was used with garlic, onions, or strong-smelling ingredients, add both a vinegar pre-soak and a baking soda soak in sequence.
Wash — Gentle by Hand or Machine Hand wash with mild unscented detergent in warm water — this is the gentlest method and extends the life of the fabric. If machine washing, place the cheesecloth inside a mesh laundry bag to prevent tangling and use the delicate cycle. Never use bleach — it weakens cotton fibers and can leave chemical residues that transfer to food. No fabric softener — it reduces absorbency and can coat the weave. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
Boil — For Dairy, Raw Meat, and Fermented Foods After a regular wash, bring a pot of water to a full rolling boil. Add the cheesecloth and simmer for 10–15 minutes. Boiling kills bacteria that survive standard washing — the FDA recommends this level of sanitation for reusable kitchen tools in contact with raw foods. Skip this step if the cheesecloth was used only for cooked foods or dry uses like covering dishes.
Air Dry Completely Hang in a well-ventilated spot and allow to dry fully before storing or using again. Sunlight is a natural antibacterial agent and helps keep the cloth fresh. If using a dryer, low heat only — high heat shrinks the fabric and weakens the fibers over time. Never store cheesecloth damp — moisture in a stored cloth encourages mold.
Store in a Sealed Container Once completely dry, fold neatly and store in a sealed zip-lock bag or airtight container in a cool, dry place. This keeps dust and kitchen odors from settling into the cloth between uses. If you use cheesecloth regularly, keeping a clean piece in a sealed container near your straining equipment makes it easy to access when needed.
Washing cheesecloth after use — soaking and rinsing reusable Grade 90 cheesecloth
🚿 Always Cold First Cold rinse immediately. Hot water sets proteins permanently.
🧴 Soak 20–30 Min Baking soda for dairy/fat. Vinegar for odors and minerals.
🫧 No Bleach Ever Damages fibers and leaves residues that transfer to food.
♨️ Boil After Dairy 10–15 min boil after cheese, yogurt, or raw dairy use.
☀️ Air Dry Fully Never store damp. Sunlight helps. Low dryer heat if needed.
📦 Seal When Storing Sealed bag or container keeps it clean between uses.

How to Get the Chlorine Smell Out of Cheesecloth

New cheesecloth sometimes has a chemical or chlorine smell — this comes from bleaching agents used during manufacturing on lower-grade cloth. It's one of the more common complaints about store-bought cheesecloth, and it's the reason unbleached cheesecloth is always recommended for food use.

To remove chlorine or chemical smell:

  1. Soak the cheesecloth in a solution of 1 cup white vinegar per 1 litre of warm water for 30–60 minutes. Vinegar neutralizes chlorine compounds effectively.
  2. Rinse thoroughly under running water until no vinegar smell remains.
  3. If smell persists, repeat the vinegar soak or try a baking soda soak (1 tablespoon per litre of water) for 30 minutes, then rinse again.
  4. Air dry completely in fresh air or sunlight — sunlight further breaks down residual chemicals.
Prevention is better than the fix: The chlorine smell comes entirely from bleached cheesecloth. Unbleached 100% cotton cheesecloth has no chemical treatment and no chemical smell — nothing to remove before first use. Our Grade 90 cheesecloth is unbleached, so the chemical smell issue doesn't apply.

Troubleshooting: When Washing Isn't Working

Cheesecloth stopped straining effectively

If the cloth has slowed dramatically, the weave is likely clogged with fat or protein. A standard gentle wash won't cut through this — you need dish soap specifically, which is formulated to dissolve fats where laundry detergent is not. Wash with a small amount of dish soap, then follow with a long baking soda soak. A vinegar rinse after washing helps dissolve any mineral deposits. If the cloth has been washed with bleach at any point, the fibers may be permanently weakened — replacement is the better option at that stage.

Persistent odor after washing

Strong odors from garlic, onions, aged cheese, or fermented foods can outlast a regular wash. The solution: two-step soak. First, soak 30 minutes in diluted white vinegar. Rinse well. Then soak 30 minutes in baking soda solution. Rinse again and air dry in sunlight. This two-step approach neutralizes both acidic and alkaline odor compounds. If odor persists after two rounds, the cloth has absorbed enough that replacement makes more sense than continued washing effort.

Greying or yellowing that won't wash out

A permanent grey tinge usually means the cloth has absorbed mineral deposits from hard water over multiple wash cycles. Soak in diluted white vinegar for 1–2 hours — this dissolves mineral buildup. If yellowing is from oil accumulation rather than minerals, a dish soap wash followed by a baking soda soak is more effective. If neither works after two attempts, the cloth has reached end of life.

How Many Times Can You Reuse Cheesecloth?

Grade 90 cheesecloth typically lasts 5–10 uses with proper care — sometimes more depending on the application. Straining cold brew coffee or cooked stock is gentler than pressing cheese under weight. The cloth will show wear over time: the weave gradually loosens, straining slows, and the fabric may thin at stress points where it's been held taut.

Replace cheesecloth when:

  • Straining noticeably slows and a deep clean doesn't restore flow
  • A grey or yellow tinge won't wash out after a vinegar soak
  • Odors persist after the two-step vinegar and baking soda treatment
  • Visible thinning, holes, or tears appear in the weave
  • The cloth has been accidentally bleached — bleach permanently weakens cotton fibers

Buying cheesecloth in bulk keeps cost per use very low and means you always have a fresh piece available. At our bulk pricing, even replacing after 5 uses costs less per use than single-pack grocery store cheesecloth used once.

Grade 90 Cheesecloth — Worth Washing and Reusing
100% unbleached cotton, 36 sq ft per unit, 44×36 thread count. No chemical smell. Designed for repeated use. Bulk wholesale pricing from $3.49 each. Ships in 1 business day from California.
Shop Grade 90 Cheesecloth →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you wash cheesecloth?

Rinse immediately in cold water after use — cold only, as hot water sets proteins. Soak 20–30 minutes in warm water with baking soda (for dairy/fat) or vinegar (for odors and minerals). Wash gently with mild unscented detergent — hand wash or delicate machine cycle in a mesh bag. If used with dairy or raw foods, boil for 10 minutes after washing. Hang to air dry completely before storing. Never use bleach or fabric softener.

Do you need to wash cheesecloth before using it for the first time?

Yes — always wash before first food use to remove dust, packaging residue, and cotton sizing from manufacturing. A rinse in warm water with mild detergent, followed by a thorough rinse and air dry, is enough. If the cloth has a chemical smell, do a vinegar soak first — this is common with bleached cheesecloth. Unbleached cheesecloth typically has no smell at all.

Can you reuse cheesecloth?

Yes — Grade 90 cheesecloth is designed for repeated use. With proper care, most users get 5–10 uses or more. The key is rinsing in cold water immediately after use, washing gently, and boiling after dairy contact. Grocery store Grade 40 cheesecloth degrades quickly and is generally single-use. Investing in Grade 90 and washing it properly is more economical and less wasteful.

How do you get the chlorine smell out of cheesecloth?

Soak in 1 cup white vinegar per litre of warm water for 30–60 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. If smell persists, follow with a baking soda soak. Air dry in fresh air or sunlight. The smell comes from bleaching agents used in manufacturing — unbleached cheesecloth has no chemical treatment and no smell. Buying unbleached is the permanent fix.

Should you boil cheesecloth to clean it?

Boiling is recommended after using cheesecloth with dairy, raw meat, or fermenting ingredients — any use where bacteria could be present. Boil for 10–15 minutes after washing. The FDA and USDA both recommend this level of sanitation for reusable kitchen tools in contact with raw foods. For cheesecloth used only with cooked foods or dry uses, a thorough wash is usually sufficient.

Why has my cheesecloth stopped straining properly?

The weave is likely clogged with fat or protein residue — common after making cheese or straining rich stocks. Wash with dish soap (not laundry detergent — dish soap cuts fat better), then do a long baking soda soak. A vinegar rinse afterwards dissolves mineral deposits. If the cloth has been bleached at any point, the fibers may be permanently weakened and replacement is the better option.

How do you store cheesecloth between uses?

After washing and air drying completely, fold neatly and store in a sealed zip-lock bag or airtight container in a cool, dry place. Never store damp — moisture in a closed container causes mold quickly. If you use cheesecloth regularly, keeping a clean piece ready in a sealed container near your straining equipment makes it easy to grab when needed.

Shop Grade 90 Cheesecloth Cheesecloth Collection What Is Cheesecloth? Wholesale Pricing

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