Flour sack cotton is thinner, lighter and less thirsty than terry cloth or waffle weave. But the fabric is very smooth and lint-free, making it a great choice for drying glassware and cutlery without leaving streaks behind. Flour sack towels are also useful for food handling jobs where delicacy is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The downside is that flour sack towels sacrifice some absorbency due to the thinner fabric. They also wrinkle more easily than the heavier cotton weaves. However, they can be useful for gentle food prep and drying delicate dishware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nKey Takeaway: <\/strong>For an all-around kitchen towel, choose 100% cotton in either a terry cloth or waffle weave texture. Linen, microfiber and flour sack cotton also work for more specialized uses.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Factors to Consider When Selecting Dish Towel Fabric<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeyond the base fabric, some other factors impact a dish towel’s performance and durability:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Weave Tightness<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFor maximum durability, you want towel fabric with a tight, dense weave rather than a loose one. Tightly woven cotton is less likely to fray, unravel or develop holes – even after years of machine washing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loose weaves may be softer initially, but they sacrifice long-term durability. Check towels closely and stretch the fabric to see how tightly interlaced it is. Tug on any loose threads to test strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Hem and Stitching Quality<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nInspect the top and bottom hems, as well as any borders or edges. Make sure they lie flat and even, with no puckering or waves. Well-constructed hems will withstand pulls from hanging and machine washing over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check that stitches are small and spaced closely together. Watch for any loose thread ends poking out, which could unravel further. High-quality stitching is essential for durability through years of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Weight and Thickness<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nChoose dish towels with an appropriate weight and thickness for the intended use. Thick terry cloth excels at drying hands and dishes due its very absorbent piled loops. But thinner flour sack cotton works better for food handling jobs requiring more precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider if you want separate towels for drying vs. food prep tasks, or if you need one towel to do it all. Select fabric weight and texture accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Size<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nStandard cotton dish towels intended for hand and dish drying usually measure around 20″ x 30″ inches. Oversized towels can be cumbersome for delicate maneuvering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But extra size can be an asset for jobs like covering dough, lining baskets or wiping broad surfaces. If you’ll use towels for food prep too, consider larger linen, flour sack or waffle weave towels measuring up to 38″ x 33″.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Cost Per Towel<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHigher cost does not always equal higher performance or longevity. In fact, inexpensive 100% cotton terry and basic waffle weave towels often outperformed designer linen and microfiber brands costing far more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider buying towels in multi-packs to lower the per-towel cost. This allows you to rotate clean towels more frequently without breaking your budget. Replace individual towels as needed when they eventually wear out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How Other Popular Kitchen Towels Compare<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere is how other common kitchen towel fabrics and styles stack up for key criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\nTowel Type<\/th> | Absorbency<\/th> | Durability<\/th> | Lint-Free?<\/th> | Quick Drying?<\/th> | Cost<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> |
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Terry cloth cotton<\/strong><\/td>Excellent<\/td> | Excellent<\/td> | No, some lint initially<\/td> | No, takes hours if very wet<\/td> | Low<\/td><\/tr> | Waffle weave cotton<\/strong><\/td>Very good<\/td> | Excellent<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Low<\/td><\/tr> | Linen<\/td> | Good<\/td> | Excellent<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | High<\/td><\/tr> | Microfiber<\/td> | Moderate<\/td> | Poor<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Varies<\/td><\/tr> | Flour sack cotton<\/td> | Moderate<\/td> | Good<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Low<\/td><\/tr> | Cotton huck<\/td> | Very good<\/td> | Good<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | No<\/td> | Low<\/td><\/tr> | Blue stripe herringbone<\/td> | Poor<\/td> | Moderate<\/td> | Some lint<\/td> | Yes<\/td> | Very low<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As shown, 100% cotton terry and waffle weave<\/strong> excel across all categories except lint production with new towels – making them extremely versatile fabrics for dish drying, spill clean-up, and other kitchen tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nKey Takeaway:<\/strong> No towel fabric is perfect, but cotton terry and waffle weave strike the best overall balance of absorbency, durability, texture and affordability.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Top-Performing Cotton Terry Cloth Towel Brands<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBased on home testing of over 10 brands, these 100% cotton terry cloth<\/strong> towels stood out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Williams Sonoma All-Purpose Pantry Towels<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n | | |