Whenever we hear the word “towel” a thick, fuzzy, terry fabric usually comes to mind.
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A tea towel, however, is something quite different. It’s thinner, softer, and smaller than a bath towel, typically woven from pure cotton or linen fibers.
A tea towel isn’t something new. In fact, they’ve been around since the 18th century.
From drying dishes to polishing silverware to making colorful clothing, there’s no limit to the versatility of these towels.
Scroll down to learn more about this do-it-all kitchen cloth and its countless uses.
A tea towel is an absorbent, quick-drying dishcloth made from 100% woven cotton or linen.
Available in a wide array of shapes, sizes, patterns, and designs, this is a must-have utility cloth to have around the house. Here’s why:
Back in Victorian English society, a tea towel was more of a status symbol used in wealthy households to insulate teapots, cover baked goodies or wipe down any leaks or spills during teatime.
Over the years, people have discovered new and creative uses that extend beyond cleaning and insulating. We’ll be telling you about ten of them today.
Yes and No. Sure, they’re used interchangeably now to describe a flat-woven piece of soft, absorbent, lint-free cloth, but that wasn’t the case in the earlier days.
In the s, flour sack towels were thicker, coarser dishcloths repurposed from plain cotton sacks that carried essential supplies such as flour and sugar.
“Tea towel,” on the other hand, was a term used to describe the small dainty cloth that accompanied the tea serving tray.
To learn more about flour sack towels check out our guide on what are flour sack towels.
Tea towels are available in a vast range of designs, styles, and patterns. They’re highly functional and easy on the eyes. The size of an average tea towel varies from 16” x 28” to 18” x 30” - more or less the size of a standard hand towel.
Tea towels made from certified organic cotton are non-toxic and planet-friendly. This variety of cotton is sown, grown, and woven without any chemicals. Plus, the amount of water and energy required to cultivate organic cotton is substantially lower than the conventional water-guzzling cotton crop.
For something that’s often used around food and kitchen items, you’d want it to be ultra-safe - an unbleached organic cotton tea towel is all that and more.
Related Article: Tea Towel vs Dish Towel? Find Out How They’re Different
A tea towel is still used to dry fine china and clean cutlery, but it doesn’t stop there. There are so many more ways this workhorse will add convenience to your day-to-day life.
Spills, leaks, or cookie crumbs - this absorbent and hardy cloth will clean up any mess within seconds. Not only that - Its thin and densely woven texture makes it perfect for cleaning and polishing precious tableware.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about any traces of fuzz or lint on your fine china. When you’re done with the chores, simply throw the towels in the washer. You’ll be amazed by how well they hold up, wash after wash.
If you’re one of those who love repurposing and upcycling items instead of discarding them, here’s a tip: use your tea towels to make dust bags for handbags, cotton produce bags or cloth gift bags.
You’ll find plenty of online tutorials to help you with that. Get creative - embellish, add pops of color and patterns to make it one of a kind.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Multicolor striped tea towels. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
You’d be surprised to know that the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh often relied on tea towels as a canvas for several of his iconic works.
These flat woven pieces of cotton can act as a base to showcase your embroidery skills by turning them into decorative pieces for your home.
For our curly-haired readers who struggle with drying their hair the right way, know that tea towels are your friend. Regular bath towels soak up too much moisture, leaving the hair drab and frizzy.
Instead, use soft cotton tea towels to scrunch dry your hair to add definition and bounce to the curls. Tea towels are gentler and less abrasive to the hair in comparison to their terry cloth counterpart.
Drying aromatic herbs is incredibly easy with tea towels. After washing and trimming the herbs, pat them dry and spread them out on this breathable, flat-woven cloth.
Depending on the room conditions, they’ll take anywhere from a few days to over a week to dry. For leafy greens, use tea towels to pat dry to keep them crispy and fresh.
Related Article: How to Store Fresh Herbs - The Right Way.
Don’t have cheesecloth around and have some straining to do? Look no further than a tea towel. Tea towels are one of the best cheesecloth alternatives that you will be able to find.
These towels are made from tight-knit cotton that lets the liquid pass through while holding on to the solid bits. However, the thicker texture and finer weave than cheesecloth mean you’ll need to press hard to make sure the juice is properly squeezed out.
An absorbent cotton cloth such as a tea towel can double up as a pain-relieving compress for sore muscles and swelling.
Here’s how - dampen the cloth in water and wring out the excess moisture.
Apply it to the affected area directly for instant relief. You can also use tea towels to make a stress-busting herbal compress by soaking them in herb infusions (chamomile, lavender, and peppermint) for a soothing dose of aromatherapy whenever you crave some.
The world saw many examples of the proverb “Necessity is the mother of invention” during the Great Depression. Those trying times pushed people to come up with multiple uses for every item to make sure nothing went to waste.
Homemakers and sewists began using tea towels and flour sacks to make children’s clothing, table napkins, embroidered artwork, pillow covers, and much more.
Besides drying expensive crockery and covering teapots, one of their original uses was keeping warm loaves fresh. It was done by wrapping bread, scones, or dinner rolls in this cloth right after baking to keep the items soft with their crust intact.
For a charming and practical addition to your kitchen, explore our plaid cloth napkins made from organic cotton. Perfect for wrapping your freshly baked goods, they add a touch of style to your culinary creations. Shop now and bring warmth to your table!
Line your kitchen shelves with these cotton towels to absorb water drips and moisture from washed utensils. Not only will they protect your cabinet from wearing off too soon, but they’ll also make your kitchen more presentable.
Don’t forget to wash your tea towels frequently to keep them hygienic and smelling fresh.
Step 1: Upload a photo or scan of your recipe. (You can also place your order and upload later!)
Step 2: Our designers prepare a proof (preview) of your recipe file for printing.
Step 3: We you a proof to approve (you can request further edits).
Step 4: After you approve your proof, your order is printed and shipped!
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We Typically Remove: Paper Background, Lines, Stains, Smudges, Artwork from Paper
We Typically Keep:The Recipe text
We Can Add: A title above the recipe. ex. "Aunt May’s Favorite Cookies”
*If you would like us to keep anything from the “remove” category (ex. Lines, Stains, etc) or have any other instructions for the preparation of your printing file please add these comments in the "Special Instructions" when placing your order.
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