Authentic Wettex, Made in Sweden Since 1949
"Wettex" has become such a common name for Swedish dishcloths that it's now used loosely across the market — including on products that have nothing to do with the original Swedish company. Here's how to know you're getting the real thing.
The real history
Wettex was invented in 1949 by Swedish engineer Curt Lindquist, who wanted a cloth that combined the fast drying of a towel with the absorbency of a sponge. His wife, Margareta, named it by combining "wet" and "textile." It became a staple in Swedish households through the 1950s and has been manufactured continuously since, still at the original sponge cloth factory in Norrköping, Sweden.
Why the name gets used loosely
Because Wettex was first to market and became so widely used in Scandinavia and across Europe, the name drifted into everyday use the way "Kleenex" or "Band-Aid" did in other categories — used generically for the whole product category, regardless of who actually made it. That's created real confusion for shoppers. As one example: a listing on Walmart's marketplace is currently titled "The Original Chinese Wettex Dishcloth" — a product manufactured in China, using the Wettex name, despite Wettex being a specifically Swedish product manufactured in Sweden. We're not saying every non-Swedish dishcloth is poor quality — plenty of reputable brands make their own version of this cloth. But if you're specifically trying to buy the original, Swedish-made product, the name alone won't tell you that.
How to tell if you're getting genuine Wettex
- Check the country of manufacture. Genuine Wettex is made in Sweden. If a listing doesn't say where it's manufactured, or says China or another country while still using the Wettex name, it isn't the product Curt Lindquist invented in 1949.
- Look for the material spec. Authentic Wettex is 70% cellulose and 30% cotton. Some imitations use different ratios or lower-grade cellulose that wears out faster.
- Buy from a source that states authenticity clearly. We carry authentic Wettex dishcloths, manufactured in Norrköping, Sweden — every product page on this site states this directly.
Does it actually matter which one you buy?
For basic performance, most cellulose-cotton dishcloths — genuine or not — will absorb well and biodegrade. Where the difference shows up is manufacturing consistency and longevity: Wettex has refined this specific material blend for over 75 years at the same factory. If you want the product exactly as it was originally designed, rather than a version made to approximate it, buying genuine Wettex is the way to get that.
Want to see how Wettex compares directly to other well-known brands? Read our honest Wettex vs. Skoy vs. Full Circle comparison, or learn more about what a Swedish dishcloth actually is. Ready to buy the real thing? Shop genuine Wettex, made in Sweden.