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A smarter kind of lappie.
From one clever cloth to a household brand.
los lappies was created by Gail Geraghty in Cape Town after discovering the everyday genius of Swedish dishcloths – and realising they deserved a South African life of their own.
In South Africa, a “lappie” is a familiar household word. It’s the cloth in the kitchen, the rag under the sink, the thing you grab for spills, wipe-downs and everyday mess. The name felt instantly local, practical and nostalgic – but the product itself was something much smarter.
Gail set out to turn this clever cellulose cloth into a premium household essential: genuinely useful, easy to gift, and made for people who want to reduce waste without compromising on performance.
The impact is bigger than the product looks. One OG los lappie can replace up to 15 rolls of kitchen paper towel, while lasting for months with proper care. Multiply that across a kitchen, a family, a guesthouse, a restaurant or a retail shelf – and a small everyday swap starts to make a very real difference.
The goal is simple: to make los lappies a household brand in South Africa, and to help more people replace single-use habits with something better.
How los lappies are made.
Made from 70% sustainably sourced wood cellulose and 30% cotton waste, los lappies are crafted for performance and the planet.
Sustainably sourced wood cellulose
Cotton waste from textile production
Mixed and pressed into a sponge-like cloth
Printed, quality-checked and packed in Cape Town
Compost at end of life
Why they feel different.
They feel like paper when dry, then soften into a spongy, highly absorbent cloth when damp. They soak up spills quickly, rinse clean, dry fast and don’t sit around damp like ordinary cloths.
Because they dry quickly between uses, there is less trapped moisture for odour-causing bacteria to grow. That’s why los lappies stay odourless between uses, without needing harsh treatment.
Feels like paper when dry
Soft + spongy when damp
Super absorbant
Quick-drying
No damp-cloth smell
Machine washable
Compostable once worn thin
The idea began in Sweden.
The Swedish dishcloth was invented in 1949 by Swedish engineer Curt Lindquist, who was tired of cloths that stayed damp and didn’t work well enough. By combining cellulose and cotton, he created an absorbent, quick-drying, reusable material that changed the way everyday cloths could perform. los lappies builds on that same clever idea, with a distinctly South African brand, locally inspired designs, and products printed and packed in Cape Town.
Zero waste, without the lecture.
los lappies products are made to be used, washed, reused and eventually composted. They start as natural plant fibres, replace single-use items in your home and bathroom, and can return to the soil once worn thin.
Reusable for months. Compostable at the end.
