What Is A Dish Towel?

A dish towel, sometimes called a tea towel, is an essential item found in most kitchens.

But what exactly is a dish towel and how is it different from other types of towels?

What is a Dish Towel Made Of?

Dish towels are almost always made from terry cloth, which is made of cotton. Terry cloth consists of loops of cotton threads that create a very absorbent and relatively thick fabric perfect for soaking up water and drying dishes.

Other materials dish towels may be made from include:

Cotton – Plain woven cotton that is very absorbent but thinner than terry cloth
Linen – Very absorbent and fast drying but more delicate and expensive
Microfiber – Extremely absorbent synthetic microfibers
Bamboo – Soft, sustainable antibacterial bamboo fabric

Most standard and inexpensive dish towels found in grocery and big box stores will be made of 100% cotton terry cloth or a cotton/polyester blend. Higher end dish towels from specialty stores may contain linen, microfiber blends, or bamboo.

Key Takeaway: Dish towels are almost always made from very absorbent terry cloth cotton, though they may also contain linen, microfiber, bamboo, or other highly absorbent materials.

Absorbency and Durability

Two of the most important characteristics of a high quality dish towel are absorbency and durability. The whole point of a dish towel is to quickly soak up water and liquid to dry dishes, hands, counters and more.

Terry cloth cotton is ideal for this purpose as the piled loops can hold a large volume of water. However, cheaper cotton that is too thin may soak through easily and not be as useful for drying. Make sure to select a towel made from tightly woven quality cotton.

In terms of durability, a dish towel needs to stand up to frequent machine washing and drying without falling apart. That’s why details like double stitched hemmed edges are important when shopping for dish towels. Well made 100% cotton terry cloth or flour sack towels will last through years of regular use.

Key Takeaway: High quality dish towels should be made from very absorbent, tightly woven cotton that is durable enough to withstand constant washing.

Differences Between Dish Towels and Tea Towels

While the terms dish towel and tea towel are sometimes used interchangeably, traditionally a tea towel is different than a standard dish towel:

Materials – Tea towels are typically made of a flat woven cotton or linen, while dish towels use a thick terry cloth cotton.
Absorbency – Dish towels are thicker and more absorbent than the thin fabric of a tea towel.
Uses – Tea towels are more for delicate tasks like drying glassware or silverware that would be scratched by terry cloth loops. Dish towels soak up bigger spills.
Appearance – Tea towels often have decorative embroidery, prints and designs while dish towels are plain white.

So in summary, a tea towel is a thinner woven cotton fabric used decoratively and for delicate drying tasks. A dish towel is a workhorse terry cloth very absorbent for soaking up spills and drying dishes.

How to Use a Dish Towel

Dish towels are a flexible kitchen staple that can be used for dozens of different tasks:

Wiping and Drying Dishes

A dish towel’s main purpose is for drying dishes, pots, pans and silverware that have been hand washed or run through the dishwasher. The terry cloth fabric quickly wicks moisture away to prevent water spots and streaks without scratching.

Be sure to have multiple clean dish towels on hand when tackling lots of dishes. A fresh dry towel works best for drying.

Cleaning and Drying Counters

After washing counters, use a dish towel to wipe up any standing liquid or debris left behind. The texture of terry cloth helps scrub surfaces clean. Then use the towel’s absorbency to dry the counters and prevent water marks.

Quick Clean Up of Spills and Messes

Dish towels are great for speedy clean up when accidents happen. Keep them handy around the kitchen and dining areas to quickly mop up spills or wipe away crumbs. The absorbent fabric helps contain liquid messes.

Drying Hands

Rather than fighting with quirky automatic paper towel dispensers or using waste-producing paper towels, grab a dish towel to dry wet, soapy hands after washing. A dish towel can also be used to wipe hands clean while cooking when they get sticky or dirty.

Hot Pan and Bowl Holder

When needing to move hot dishes that may not have convenient handles, use a dish towel to safely grip. Fold the towel to provide extra layers and insulation against heat. Just be cautious that steam doesn’t build up inside.

Temporary Pot Lid

A dish towel can be used to cover pots and bowls when an actual lid is not available. Drape or fold the fabric over to trap in heat, moisture and flavors until the proper lid can be located.

Transporting Hot Dishes

You can also use a thick dish towel as extra insulation and protection when carrying hot pots, pans or baking sheets to the table or another area. Grip the wrapped towel rather than hot metal handles.

Protecting Counters and Tabletops

Take advantage of a dish towel’s absorbency and durability to safeguard your counters and tables underneath cutting boards, piping hot pans or sharp knives that could cause damage. The towel also helps stabilize items from sliding.

Polishing and Scrubbing

The terry cloth loops give dish towels scrubbing power than can help polish stainless steel sinks or scrub difficult dirt and stains off appliances, tiles, countertops and more using just water or with the cleaning agent of your choice.

Key Takeaway: Dish towels have dozens of helpful uses for cleaning, drying, holding hot items, protecting surfaces and more – making them a versatile kitchen necessity.

Caring for Dish Towels

While dish towels are designed to stand up to frequent abuse, proper care will help them last longer. Here are some dish towel care tips:

Wash frequently – Dish towels laying around breeding bacteria won’t do much good. Wash at least weekly or whenever they get soiled. Use hot water to fully sanitize.
Disinfect occasionally – Every so often disinfect your dish towels by adding 1/2 cup white vinegar or 1 cup borax to your wash to kill germs and brighten colors.
Avoid fabric softener – Softener leaves an oil coating that reduces absorbency. Standard detergent works great.
** Shake and hang to dry** – Shake dish towels well before drying to avoid stiffness. Air drying prevents shrinkage.
Don’t use stained ones for dishes – Retire extremely stained dish towels for non-food tasks like wiping up garage spills or consider upcycling into rags.

Taking a small amount of care when washing dish towels means they’ll work like new for years to come. Rotate multiples so one load dries while the other is in use.

Alternatives to Dish Towels

While versatile cotton dish towels are tough to completely replace for all their useful qualities, there are times alternatives work well:

Paper towels – Disposable paper towels are more sanitary for some messes like grease spills or animal accidents that towel washing might not totally remove. They are also useful for presumably single-use tasks like draining fried foods.
Napkins or baby washcloths – For messy eaters wanting their own small cloth at the table, napkins and baby washcloths work for wiping hands and mouths.
Microfiber cloths – Ultra absorbent microfiber is great for more delicate tasks like drying crystal or polished services that terry cloth or cotton could scratch. The thin fabric allows for more precision wiping.
Tea towels – Decorative tea towels made from flat woven linen or cotton make excellent upgrade for delicate stemware that would require a gentler fabric. Their pretty patterns dress up the kitchen or table too.

Key Points to Remember

When selecting and using dish towels, keep these essential tips in mind:

Absorbency matters – Dish towels need to rapidly soak up liquid to do their job well. Quality terry cloth or cotton works best.
Air dry – Heat from dryers degrades fibers. Hang drying preserves dish towels.
Wash frequently – Bacteria loves damp dish towels. Aim to wash after couple uses.
Use the right towel for task – Terry cloth is too rough for some jobs. Use microfiber, linen or tea towels where a gentler fabric makes more sense.
Have a stockpile – It’s good to have enough dish towels on hand so fresh ones are always available. Rotate if needed.

Key Takeaway: Choose quality absorbent dish towels, care for them properly through frequent washing and utilize the right towel for each kitchen task.

FAQs

Should you use bleach on dish towels?

Bleach can be used occasionally to disinfect dish towels, but it should be avoided for regular wash cycles as it can degrade cotton fibers over time. A better option is adding white vinegar or borax to your dish towel wash every 4-6 weeks to naturally kill bacteria.

How many dish towels should you own?

You’ll want to own at least 6-12 good quality dish towels so you always have a fresh one handy and can run a load while still having backups. Rotate dish towels frequently – don’t use the same one for more than a couple days before washing. More is better for hygienic reasons.

What’s the best way to get stains out of a dish towel?

Tackle dish towel stains early by soaking in oxyclean mixed with warm water before washing. For set in stains, try soaking the dish towel in a mix of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and warm water. Then wash normally. Avoid using stained dish towels for dishes – use those ones for non-food tasks instead.

Should you use dish towels to dry your hands?

While paper towels might seem more sanitary, using dish towels to dry hands is quite safe if you frequently wash them and have multiples in rotation. However certain situations like handling raw meat are best followed up with a paper towel or dedicated “hand towel”. Then be sure to promptly wash your hands and towel.

How do you make a dish towel not smell?

Musty dish towel smells come from leaving them balled up wet which allows odor-causing bacteria and mildew to grow. Shake towels out before hanging up to dry fully after each use. Then regularly machine wash dish towels in hot water with added vinegar or borax to kill smells. Don’t use fabric softener.

Should you wash new dish towels before use?

It’s advisable to give brand new dish towels a hot water wash before the first use to rinse away any residual chemicals or fabric finishes from the manufacturing and transport process. Adding white vinegar helps remove any greasy residue that might inhibit absorbency.

Conclusion

Kitchen dish towels are valued for being a very versatile hygienic tool able to handle tough jobs without fear of damage.

Choosing high quality, tightly woven 100% cotton terry cloth or flour sack dish towels means they will soak up spills quickly while standing up to constant use and laundering.

Utilize them for drying dishes, containing messes, cleaning counters, handling hot items and all sorts of other helpful tasks.

What is a Dish Towel Made Of?

Absorbency and Durability

Differences Between Dish Towels and Tea Towels