You may not have a dishwasher, prefer to wash dishes by hand or dishes that must be cleaned by hand, the importance of a having a high-performing dish towel is not lost on you. Dish towels clean dishes, dry them and even polish them to a sparkling shine.
All efficient kitchens need dish towels, even those that lean heavily on dishwashers to do most of the work. This workhorse enables you to quickly dry your hands, wipe spills and help with meal prep, which is why it makes sense you want to know the most important features to look for when shopping for a new dish towel to bring into your home.
The Features of a Good Dish Towel
Most dish towels that you’d commonly find at just about every big box store, are rarely worth the money, often being too thin, poorly woven and don’t wash very well. Avoid low-quality dish towels by purchasing towels with these features:
- High absorbency
Hands down the most crucial aspect of any dish towel, the best ones will be able to absorb high amounts of water. You will most likely be drying with these towels much more often than cleaning with them, and if you get a towel with a low absorbency rate, you will find that it takes a lot longer to dry those dishes.
When you have a dish towel that is thin and made with poor-quality materials, you may need multiple towels to get the job done, but you can avoid this by looking for towels made with thick cotton or linen and have higher thread counts.
- Natural
The best towels are going to be made of 100% natural fibers, but more than that, you may want to look for brands that have untreated finishes. Flour sack towels are a top option, usually coming in a unbleached bright white color, but this dish towel is also available in a natural old-fashioned color that is more reminiscent of 1929 depression era.
If a little too plain, these natural dish towels can be embroidered, painted or decorated for a personalized touch.
- Lint-free
Using a cheaper dish towel or the wrong kind of towel can lead to lint, a huge problem if you’re using it to dry dishes. If you notice that a dish towel is shedding with every use, get rid of it. These towels will make all the work you’ve done pointless, leaving behind unsightly tiny balls of lint on your dishes which can be hard to remove once they’ve dried and embarrassing if you happen to have company.
Dish towels that have a loose weave or have an uneven appearance generally have fibers that easily separate from each other, causing lint. If you get a towel with a weave that’s too tight, it will not be very absorbent. Depending on what you’re primarily using your dish towels for, you’ll want to find the balance that works for you.
- Durable
Constant washing and drying are just a part of the life of a dish towel and it needs to withstand the abuse of that washers and dryers and dole out, without showing signs of wear or loss of absorbency.
Dish towels that are high in quality hold up after hundreds of washes. For instance, flour sack towels get softer with each wash while retaining their ability to absorb large amounts of moisture. Look for towels with a tight weave and smooth edges.
Long-lasting towels will also be hemmed on all sides, which further helps them stay in good condition, no matter how roughly they are use.
- Size
While having dish towels in an assortment of sizes is a good idea, it may not be possible or ideal for everyone. For those who are looking for the biggest bang for their buck, bigger dish towels are the better investment.
The larger a towel, the longer you can use it before it needs to be cleaned. Bigger towels give you the option of folding them into layers, which gives them even better absorbency, or using multiple parts of the same towel for your different drying needs.
- Style and design
If your dish towels will be hanging in a visible location, you want them to look good, or at least not terrible. There are plenty of options in every color, print and style to match your kitchen’s aesthetic.
Conclusion
Washing dishes and general kitchen cleaning won’t feel like a chore when you have the right tools for the job. With a few quality dish towels at your disposal, you’ll spend less time cleaning and get better results that lower quality towels can provide.
