Dish towels are an essential item in every kitchen.
They have a wide variety of uses that make them a versatile and useful addition to your cooking arsenal.
What Are Dish Towels?
Dish towels are cotton or linen towels specially made for drying dishes, utensils, glassware and wiping kitchen surfaces. They are more durable and absorbent than regular cotton towels.
The tightly woven fabric and sturdy hems allow dish towels to withstand frequent use and machine washing without fraying or losing their shape. The lint-free nature of these towels makes them perfect for drying delicate glassware or stainless steel cookware without leaving any residue behind.
Dish towels are commonly used for:
While dish towels have a long history, their popularity soared in North America in the early 20th century when thrifty housewives repurposed cotton feed sacks into towels and other household items.
Materials Used To Make Dish Towels
Dish towels are typically made using cotton, linen or a cotton-linen blend. The most common materials are:
Cotton
Cotton dish towels are soft, absorbent, lint-free and extremely durable. The tightly woven fibers can withstand hundreds of washes without fraying or losing their integrity.
They quickly soak up water and liquids without leaving any streaks behind making them perfect for drying dishes. The soft texture also prevents them from scratching delicate glassware or stainless steel.
100% organic cotton dish towels are a sustainable option. They are free of harmful pesticides and chemicals used in conventional cotton farming.
Linen
Linen is traditionally used to make tea towels thanks to its smooth texture that gently polishes delicate china and glassware. Linen is lint-free, absorbs moisture quickly and dries fast.
It doesn’t get as fluffy as cotton when washed repeatedly. Linen has natural antibacterial properties that help it stay fresher for longer. Lightweight linen blend dish towels are excellent for drying glassware and utensils.
Terry Cloth
Terry cloth dish towels have characteristic loops that make them very absorbent and great for drying dishes or wiping up spills. However, the fluffiness causes them to leave lint behind which can be a downside. So they may not be the best choice for drying delicate glassware or stainless steel pots and pans.
Difference Between Dish Towels and Other Towels
It’s easy to confuse dish towels with other multipurpose kitchen towels. Here are the key differences:
Tea Towels
Tea towels are typically made from a lint-free, lightweight fabric like linen or cotton. They are intended to be gentle enough to polish fine china and stemware.
Traditional tea towels are thinner than dish towels and less suitable for heavy duty drying and wiping tasks.
Flour Sack Towels
Flour sack towels are sturdy, generously sized cotton dish towels. Their origins trace back to thrifty homemakers who upcycled cotton feed sacks into versatile kitchen towels in the early 1900s.
They have a similar absorbency and durability as dish towels but tend to be larger in size.
Paper Towels
Paper towels are disposable while dish towels are reusable. Though not as absorbent as terry cloth, cotton dish towels can effectively replace paper towels for many kitchen tasks. Using dish towels helps cut down on paper waste.
All The Ways To Use Dish Towels In The Kitchen
The humble dish towel punches above its weight in terms of versatility. Here are some of the top ways to put dish towels to work in your kitchen:
1. Dry Dishes, Utensils And Glassware
Dish towels are specially designed to quickly absorb water and dry dishes without leaving behind lint or streaks. Use them to dry everything from plates and bowls to cutlery, pots and pans.
The lint-free texture also makes them ideal for drying glassware and stemware to a sparkling finish. Simply pat dry with a dish towel instead of letting dishes air dry in a rack.
2. Clean And Disinfect Kitchen Surfaces
The absorbency of dish towels makes them perfect for wiping down kitchen counters, tables, stovetops and appliances to quickly remove spills, crumbs and grease.
For a deeper clean, use a dish towel dampened with white vinegar, lemon juice or other natural cleaning solutions to disinfect surfaces. The sturdy texture allows them to be reused multiple times when cleaning.
3. Hold Hot Dishes And Pots
Don’t have an oven mitt handy? Use a folded up dish towel to safely grip hot pots, pans, baking sheets and dishes fresh out of the oven. The cotton provides a protective barrier from high heat.
You can even shape dish towels into impromptu trivets or pot holders in a pinch. Just be sure to use a fresh towel each time to avoid transferring heat to your hands.
4. Dry Hands
Keep dish towels handy by the kitchen sink, oven or refrigerator for quickly drying wet hands. The absorbent fabric helps wipe away moisture, oils and grime from hands. Dish towels are perfect for kitchens that don’t have space for a separate hand towel.
5. Clean Produce
Gently pat freshly cleaned fruits and veggies dry using a dish towel to remove any residual dirt and moisture before storage. The lint-free fabric helps preserve the freshness of delicate produce.
6. Wrap Food
Use dish towels to wrap breads, rolls, cookies, cakes and other baked goods to keep them warm and soft. Cover rising dough with a dish towel to prevent it from drying out. You can even use them as makeshift basket liners to store fruits and veggies or to cover and protect prepared foods.
7. Dry Herbs And Lettuces
Gently pat fresh herbs dry using a dish towel before chopping or storage to remove any grit or moisture. Delicate lettuces and greens also benefit from a gentle wrap in a dish towel to absorb excess water.
8. Layer Bread Baskets
Lining bread baskets with a dish towel absorbs moisture and helps keep breads and pastries warm and fresh. The towel also prevents the basket texture from imprinting on soft bread.
9. Clean Appliances
Use a dish towel dampened with warm soapy water or a natural multi-surface cleaner to gently wipe down the exterior of appliances like refrigerators, ovens, microwaves and stand mixers. The lint-free fabric leaves surfaces clean and streak-free.
10. Dust Furniture And Electronics
The static charge of cotton dish towels attracts dust from furniture, shelves, TV screens and other electronics. Just be sure to shake off the towel outdoors after use.
11. Wash Cars, Windows And Floors
Dish towels are durable workhorses in the cleaning world. Dampen them to wash car exteriors, wipe down floors or clean the inside and outside of windows and mirrors. Use a fresh one each time to prevent streaking.
12. Craft Projects
Jazz up plain dish towels by embroidery, fabric painting or other crafts. You can even repurpose worn out towels as rags or kitchen string.
How To Care For Dish Towels
Follow these tips to keep dish towels fresh and extend their lifespan:
- Wash frequently – Dish towels handle dirt, grease and bacteria. Wash them at least every couple of days in hot water to sanitize and remove stains. Use bleach or oxygen boosters occasionally to whiten them.
- Disinfect with vinegar – Further disinfect by soaking in a vinegar solution before washing. The acidic vinegar kills bacteria and removes odors.
- Avoid fabric softeners – Skip the fabric softener as it leaves an oily coating that reduces absorbency over time.
- Shake off lint – Occasionally shake off the towel outdoors to remove accumulated lint and residues. This restores absorbency.
- Avoid harsh detergents – Harsh detergents can cause cotton fibers to break down faster. Use a mild laundry detergent and wash on a gentle cycle.
- Line or hang dry – Tumble drying can damage the cotton fibers causing towels to wear out faster. Line drying in the sun naturally bleaches and disinfects the towels.
- Store properly – Don’t bundle up wet towels. Instead, hang them separately to dry out fully and prevent musty odors. Roll or loosely fold dry towels.
- Use bleach sparingly – Bleach helps remove stains but can weaken fibers over time. Limit bleaching to once a month or less. Opt for oxygenated bleach alternatives.
- Watch for wear – Retire towels once they become too worn or develop holes. Worn out towels are less absorbent for kitchen tasks.
With proper care and laundering, good quality cotton dish towels can last several years or more with regular use.
Choosing The Right Dish Towels
Look for these features when selecting dish towels:
Unique Benefits Of Using Dish Towels
Beyond just drying dishes, dish towels offer these additional benefits:
FAQs
How often should you replace dish towels?
With proper care, good quality cotton dish towels can last several years. In general, retire towels once they become worn, develop holes, fraying or staining. Worn out towels are less absorbent and effective. Replace dish towels at least every 2-3 years for the best results.
How many dish towels should you own?
It’s good to have at least 6 to 12 dish towels in rotation for a single person or couple. For a family of four, aim for 12 to 20 towels. Having ample towels allows you to use a fresh one for each task and laundry them frequently to prevent bacterial growth.
How do you get stains out of dish towels?
Soak stained towels in a diluted oxygen bleach solution before washing to help lift out grease, food and other difficult stains without damaging the cotton fibers. For set in stains, try pretreating with a stain remover stick before washing. Avoid overloading the washer and use hot water for better stain removal.
Should you use bleach on dish towels?
Using bleach occasionally helps remove stains, whiten and disinfect dish towels. But too much bleaching can cause the cotton fibers to break down faster. Limit using bleach to no more than once a month. Oxygen bleach is gentler if you need to brighten towels more frequently.
What is the best way to dry dish towels?
The best way to dry cotton dish towels is to hang them or lay flat to air dry. Tumble drying can damage cotton fibers causing towels wear out faster. Hanging towels in the sun helps naturally disinfect and brighten them. Just be sure towels are fully dry before folding or bundling together.
Conclusion
Dish towels are highly useful, eco-friendly kitchen towels with a wide range of drying, cleaning, handling and prep uses. Keeping a sufficient supply of absorbent, lint-free and durable cotton dish towels on hand helps cut down on paper waste while tackling all kinds of kitchen tasks.
With the right care and washing, high-quality cotton dish towels can last for years. Their versatility and functionality make them a kitchen essential and a worthwhile investment for any home cook.
