Kitchen towels are among the most versatile items you can have in your home. They can be used all over your kitchen – and elsewhere in your house – for many different purposes. They are normally used for drying hands, drying dishes, wiping spills, cleaning surfaces, and sometimes even holding hot plates.
Kitchen towels have to be durable enough to stand up to tough jobs and repeated washings, and soft enough to absorb and be comfortable for use. They also need to be attractive enough to look good displayed in your kitchen. It is a good idea to have many kitchen towels so you can use a fresh one whenever you are cooking.
Let’s find out about some of the most popular kitchen towels available on the market today:
DII Terry Combo Windowpane Dishcloths and Towels
These dish cloths and towels are affordable and they get the job done. They are attractive with a classic grey-on-white windowpane design. You can also find them in blue, red, yellow, and other more fun colors like eggplant, spice (a burnt orange hue), or aqua. They will go with any kitchen décor.
These dish cloths and towels are made of 100% lint-free cotton. They are strongly constructed, and can stand up to your chores in the kitchen. These towels are ultra-absorbent, making them perfect for use as a dish drying cloth. They are also light weight.
They are made of terrycloth cotton, which is a favorite textile for the home. The material offers softness and comfort, combined with sturdiness and longevity.
The dish cloths measure 12 x 12 inches square and the dish towels measure 16 x 26 inches.
These towels are not just for your kitchen, either. Try using them in every part of your home, even outdoors in your garage when cleaning your car, or when you’re out camping.
They are easy to clean, they do not absorb odors, and they are machine washable. Simply wash in cold water on the gentle cycle and tumble dry on low heat. Customers say they are durable and last through many washes. In fact, they become even more absorbent with every wash. They are made of a thin material that dries fast. Do not bleach them, use fabric softener, or put them in a hot dryer.
Another nice feature is the brighter colors do not bleed when washing.
One package contains six cotton towels. You can combine them with other matching kitchen sets of aprons, oven mitts, potholders, and other accessories.
One drawback is some users find they are too thin and that they snag easily.
Pros
- Attractive with classic window pane design, available in many colors
- Ultra-absorbent
- Made of terrycloth cotton, which is soft, comfortable, and long lasting
- Strong enough to use in kitchen, garage, cleaning your car, camping, etc.
- Easy to clean, machine washable; tumble dry
- Bright colored versions do not bleed when washing
Cons
- Some users find them too thin
Fecido Classic Kitchen Dish Towels
These dish towels are great for cleaning up big messes. They are commercial-grade and heavy duty. These superior quality towels are thick and ultra-absorbent, with long-lasting performance and durability.
They are made of 100% cotton, and have shorter loops than terrycloth. They are very efficient at wiping liquids away. They are perfect for drying glassware, cookware – basically anything in the kitchen and beyond. And they will not leave lint on your glasses and plates.
They are made in Portugal and come in an attractive, classic checkered pattern. They are available in a variety of colors like red, purple, light green, peach, yellow, and silver gray.
They measure a sizeable 19 x 27 inches. These towels come in a set of two.
As an added bonus, these towels are so nice that you can actually display them as placemats. They look great as decorations for your table. They also have a loop on the side so you can hang them up for storage.
They are easy to clean and machine washable. The colors do not bleed in the wash. And they become softer after every wash.
The only drawback is these towels are on the expensive side. However, their high quality more than makes up for the cost. Also, some have mentioned the stitching may become loose after washing.
Pros
- Commercial-grade, heavy duty, thick and ultra-absorbent, long lasting and durable
- Large size at 19 x 27 inches
- Made of 100% cotton, with loops slightly shorter than terrycloth
- Lint-free
- Attractive checker pattern, and available in numerous colors
- Easy to clean, machine washable, and become softer after every wash
Cons
- Expensive
- Stitching may come loose after washing
Full Circle Tidy 100% Organic Cotton Dish Cloths and Towels
These dish cloths and towels are made of 100% organic cotton, which is grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals. Organic cotton is more sustainable than conventional cotton. These cloths are made with non-toxic dyes. There are no added plastics or coatings. They are not just clean, they are green.
They are absorbent, extra soft, and last a long time. They are designed with loops specialized to add scrubbing power. They feel a bit different from conventional wash cloths in that they have a harder texture. Also, they do not take on the mildew odor that other types of wash cloths and towels can acquire over time.
These cloths and towels are great for cleaning surfaces like granite counters and glass stove tops. They are a nice alternative to using sponges, and are more hygienic.
They come in a variety of colors like gray, spring green, and multicolored. People love how cute they look.
They must be hand washed and they are not washing machine safe. To avoid shrinkage, it is best to hang these up to dry. So they are not as convenient to clean as some other brands; however, this is a small price to pay to be a little nicer to the environment.
The dish cloths come in a set of three per package.
Some users have mentioned they are not as absorbent as other cloths and towels, and they are very thin, and unravel easily.
Pros
- Made with 100% organic cotton, grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals
- Made with non-toxic dyes; no added plastics or coatings
- Absorbent and extra soft, with specialized scrubbing loops
- Attractive and come in a variety of colors
Cons
- Not as absorbent as other cloths and towels
- Very thin
- Unravel easily
- Not machine washable
Gryeer Microfiber Kitchen Towels
These kitchen towels are made from microfiber, which is a material that is typically more absorbent than cotton. In fact, these microfiber towels can absorb eight times their weight in water! They are great not just for your kitchen but anywhere in your house, as well as in your garage and even when you go camping.
They dry quickly, which makes them a great choice for drying dishes or wiping spills. They will dry your glassware without leaving streaks, and they are lint-free. These towels are also very durable. They are heavy duty and able to take on tough jobs.
They are thick and very soft, and look like small plush towels. Their ultra-softness means they will not scratch your kitchen appliances. They are well hemmed so the edges will not fray or shrink after use or washing.
They are available in grey, blue, and green and coordinate well with many color schemes. Each towel has a loop so you can hang them for storage.
They are a nice size, measuring 18 x 26 inches. These towels come in a pack of six.
They are machine washable on the cold setting and able to withstand many washes without shrinking and with no color bleeding. Then simply tumble dry. Just don’t use any bleach or fabric softener.
Pros
- Made from microfiber, which is much more absorbent than cotton
- Dries quickly without leaving streaks, and lint-free
- Very durable, heavy duty, and able to take on tough jobs
- Thick and soft like small plush towels
- Nice size, measuring 18 x 26 inches
- Machine washable and able to withstand many washes without shrinking
Cons
- None mentioned by users
Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mops
These kitchen towels, or ‘bar mops,’ are inexpensive and absorbent. They are great for wiping up any spill, big or small. Use them in the kitchen, or all around your home, as well as in your office. Restaurant and bar owners find them handy as well.
They are white and bright, soft and fluffy, and look like small bathroom towels rather than kitchen towels. They also come in grey and sage green. They are made of 100% high grade rungspun terrycloth cotton, free from synthetic materials and harmful chemicals.
They measure 16 x 19 inches, which makes them the perfect size for cleaning. These come in packs of 12 towels.
They are easy to clean, and are safe to throw in the washer and dryer. They will hold up to multiple washings and dryings. Don’t use fabric softener or a dryer sheet with these towels as they will develop a film.
Some users have found them to be too thin, while others insist they are fluffy and soft, as long as you wash them first before using.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Soft and fluffy; look like bathroom towels
- Available in white, grey, and sage green
- Made of 100% high grade rungspun terrycloth cotton, free from synthetics and chemicals
- 16 x 19 inches
- Safe to throw in washer and dryer, and will hold up to multiple washes
Cons
- Some users find them to be too thin, although others say they are very fluffy
What to look for in a kitchen dish towel
Now that you’ve seen some of the more popular varieties of kitchen dish towels on the market today, let’s find out what sorts of features to look for when purchasing these for yourself.
Material
It is quite likely your towels will come in contact with food, and as a result, towels made of natural fibers are a great choice. Examples include cotton and linen. They help maintain the appropriate moisture level in food by letting steam escape and absorbing excess liquid.
Cotton is a very popular choice, and most kitchen towels are made of this material. It is versatile, soft, and very absorbent. In cotton kitchen towels, the stitching or weave may differ. Just keep in mind that a tighter weave is generally more absorbent and durable. Cotton is durable and able to stand up to multiple washings.
Although terrycloth cotton is a soft and fluffy choice, it does give off a lot of lint, so you might want to keep that in mind. If you prefer a terrycloth material, look through the reviews to find the ones that do not give off lint.
Linen is another popular natural choice, but it does come with a higher price tag usually. It is more decorative than other types of material, and often thinner. It is more of a pretty product than useful, and it is not very absorbent.
There are also microfiber towels, which are not natural. They have tiny fibers that lift off food and dirt. They are great for cleaning but they are less durable.
Size
Another thing to consider is the size of the towel. Sometimes, bigger is better, and will enable you to fold the towel into multiple layers for more versatile use. Larger towels have more surface area to absorb spills as well as to dry things.
Density
Look for a soft, thick towel as they are more absorbent and better at cleaning up messes. Thinner towels tend to just move the mess around. Thick towels are also more long lasting, especially since you will be washing and drying them a lot.
Other features
Check the hems on the towel. It should be well-hemmed for durability. You might also want to look for a wrinkle-resistant brand. In addition, make sure it does not leave lint behind. Nothing is more annoying than drying your glasses and dishes and finding lint on them afterwards. High quality, non-terrycloth cotton towels are the best at avoiding lint.
Last but not least, color and style are always important. Your towels will be hanging in your kitchen all the time so you want them to look nice, in addition to being functional. There are many different options to choose from, including stripes, patterns, different textures, or even monogrammed towels. Have fun choosing the look that works for your home décor!