1. A problem we encountered in the Seattle area, which probably doesn't occur in many other places:

A "dishcloth" left hanging on the sink spout to dry inevitably was covered with mildew/greenstuff/slime within 24 hours. Often washing would not remove the stains, so we discarded a lot of dishrags early on.

Solution: the "blue shop towels" (paper on a roll) are absolutely fungus-proof and have sufficient "wet strength" to serve for a week or so for wiping up dribbles and spills, and can be used for light pot scrubbing. While the current $6 (US)(?) per roll pricetag makes them a bit expensive for ordinary paper towel use, a roll should last at least a year for "dishrag" use.

2. For cleaning up cast iron pots and pans, just put them in the oven and bring up to maximum. Most ovens will go to about 550 F (290 C) which is high enough to "pyrolize" all the black stuff and leave you a fresh cast iron surface. Turn the oven off and let things cool before removing. Re-Season the cast iron immediately (or at least apply a layer of cooking oil). If you're stove has an "oven self-cleaning" cycle, that's even better. Just put the cast iron in when you run it. If your oven doesn't get hot enough to remove it all, it will at least get rid of "anything loose."

DO NOT try this method with aluminum pots and pans. Many, if not most, can be melted in a "pizza temp" oven.

3. NEVER wash cast iron in the dishwasher. Little bits of free iron that get into the wash can be deposited on any "stainless steel" stuff, in the same or succeeding loads, and the "stainless steel" won't be "stainless" any more. Note that this applies to some not-obvious things like carbon steel cutlery that isn't really "rust resistant."

4. For a really durable "sink scrubber," a fistfull of used paper coffee filters is almost indestructible in the scrubbing process and absorbs enough of whatever cleaner-of-choice you use, even if it's a fairly abrasive one. A few "grounds" left on the filter just adds some soft abrasive.

Recommendation: even if you have a "garbage disposal" these filters really should not be flushed down the drain. Since they're made to have high "wet strength" they don't get chopped up much going through the grinder, and they biodegrade very slowly, so they are a prime cause of sewer clogs (at least in my sewer).

5. See 4 above: If you have to have your sewer "reamed" try to observe (and/or ask) what the (Roto-Rooter?) snake drags out so you'll know what to quit dumping down the drain. It can make a big difference.

John