From Braai to Bakkie: Why South Africans Are Switching Their Lappies

In South Africa, a lappie needs no explanation. It is the cloth at the sink, on the counter, around the braai, in the bathroom and wherever everyday mess happens. But many everyday cleaning cloths are made from synthetic, plastic-based fibres, while others stay damp for too long and quickly start to smell like the very mess they are meant to clean. los lappies offers a smarter version of the household essential: a plant-fibre cloth made from 70% wood cellulose and 30% cotton by-products that feels paper-like when dry, turns soft and spongy when damp, absorbs instantly, dries quickly and does not get that damp-cloth smell. A single los lappie can last six to nine months, and although its main ingredient is the same plant-fibre used to make paper, it is durable enough to go in the dishwasher or washing machine again and again. Once worn thin, los lappies can be composted instead of sent to landfill.

Making the switch is practical

Most households have a mix of cleaning options on hand: microfibre cloths, synthetic sponge cloths, cotton dishcloths and rolls of paper towel. Microfibre cloths are usually made from synthetic, plastic-based fibres and can trap residue and moisture.

“Smart household switches only work when they make life easier, not harder,” says Gail Geraghty, founder of los lappies. “For us, that means removing plastic where we can but also offering something that works better than the alternatives. los lappies are practical, easy to care for, long-lasting and reusable, with the added benefit of being plastic-free. It is not about asking people to compromise, it is about giving them a better cloth.”

los lappies mop up spills, wipe down sticky counters, clean bathroom basins, leave glass streak-free, tackle muddy paw prints and stand in for paper towels without being limited to a single role.

Made for outdoor living, road trips and weekends away

Because los lappies are light, flat and highly absorbent, they are easy to pack into a picnic basket, camping box, beach-house kitchen or car cubby. They take up very little space, dry quickly between uses and can handle the small, constant clean-ups that happen away from home: sticky hands, cooler-box spills, picnic tables, coffee splashes, sandy counters, campsite dishes and dusty car interiors.

They are also a natural fit for road trips and 4×4 weekends. The Bakkie lappie set was created with that spirit in mind: practical, easy to rinse, quick to dry and useful to keep on hand for the mess that comes with travel, kids, pets, snacks, dust and detours. And because los lappies are compostable once worn thin, they are essential tools in places where the impact of waste feels immediate – campsites, beaches, farm stays, game lodges and holiday homes.

That usefulness also makes los lappies an easy gift. They are practical without feeling ordinary, sustainable without being preachy, and surprising enough to make people say, “How have I not used these before?” From hostess gifts and housewarmings to teachers’ gifts and stocking fillers, los lappies turn an everyday cleaning cloth into a welcome upgrade people actually use.

Two sizes for everyday cleaning

The Everyday cloth is the original OG size: ideal for sinks, counters, bathrooms, small spills, sticky hands and daily wipe-downs. The XL cloth is a larger format for bigger clean-ups, larger surfaces, glass, mirrors, windows, appliances and all the moments when a standard cloth feels too small.

Internationally, this style of cloth is often known as a Swedish dishcloth, a category that has gained attention for its absorbency, reusability and ability to reduce paper towel use. los lappies brings the concept into a South African context, where the lappie is already part of daily household language.