Made from a soft and breathable fabric such as hundred percent linen or cotton, tea towels are very convenient. Tea towels hold a perfect size to wipe hands during kitchen tasks or wipe dishes after washing. Though it is smaller than large kitchen towels, it can easily absorb liquids and spills. You can wash it easily in the sink and dry it in the rack to use multiple times. They even become softer after using and washing over and over again.
You can make tea towels more impressive and attractive with some embroidery or embellishments. They can be a wonderful housewarming gif for your loved ones. You can also get a Christmas tree or Santa clause to make an amazing Christmas tea towel. From regular household uses to family heirlooms, tea towels are believed to be a must have for every house.
Tea towels also hold many other names according to their usage such as hand towels, dish towels, or flour sack cloths. Regardless of the name, tea towels are used for multiple purposes in the kitchen. Apart from the kitchen tasks, tea towels will also help you in various household tasks as well.
But what is a Tea Towel, exactly?
It is a common question that what is a tea towel exactly? You can define tea towels as absorbent and quick-drying dishcloths made by pure linen or cotton cloth. It is available in a large range of sizes, shapes, designs and patterns. Tea towels are a must have for every household in general.
Tea towel definition can be more elaborate by mentioning its features:
- Tea towels are made with breathable, thin cloth with good absorbent quality. Tea towels are more delicate and fine quality than your regular kitchen towel because they are thicker with a looser weave.
- The soft texture of tea towels and the fact that it doesn’t transfer any lint or fuzz makes it ideal for polishing silverware and drying expensive crockery.
- As tea towels are made from pure plant-based fibers such as linen or cotton, they become more durable and lightweight to use. They come soft and become even softer after washing again and again.
- As tea towels are washable and reusable, they make a wonderful household item in place of paper kitchen towels. Tea towels made from organic cotton are very eco-friendly and can be a perfect choice for everyone.
The history of the tea towel:
What are tea towels can be more understandable if you know the history of tea towels. It is said that tea towels were initiated in the 18th century in England as the textile industry was stronger there. Made from soft cotton or linen, tea towels became a favorite addition in the upper class of English society. They were mostly used for lining tea trays to wipe any spills and to insulate the tea pots. This makes it easier to understand why is it called a tea towel. People also used them to cover baked goods to make them softer.
Women also used to embroider them and decorate them with flowers, beads or other designs to make them distinguishing and appealing. They also made matching tea towels to compliment the theme of the dinner table. It would show off their artistic skills as well.
In the 19th century, after the industrial revolution, tea towels UK were more famous and widely available across the countries. They were made from simple cotton with a simple design. The luxury household item became a regular household necessity as well.
Modern tea towels:
You can now easily find tea towels everywhere from small grocery stores to large shopping malls. Though tea towels are a useful tool for household tasks, you can also make them family heirlooms by hand-me-down recipe tea towels. You can get them printed with your favorite quote or message for your loved one making them an amazing gift. You can also get customized tea towels for your family and friends making them a great memory.
Tea towel decorating ideas:
You can decorate tea towels in many ways to create a heartwarming gift or decorative piece of art. Here are some ideas on how do you use a tea towel for decorative purposes:
- You can add tea towels to your table space by folding them in half and sewing around the edges. You can also use them as napkins if you want to add a visual appeal for your guests.
- Tea towels can be excellent for wrapping flowers, chocolates or other items to present to your loved ones as a gift. It will provide a warm and artistic feel to your loved ones.
- You can also use it by wrapping it around your dinner table candle and tie a ribbon around it. It will look really artistic.
- You can also make tea towels Christmas gifts to make a distinguishing and useful gift for your family and friends.
What to do with a tea towel?
There are a variety of suggestions about what do you use a tea towel for. You can use them to dry dishes or other spills in the kitchen. You can also use them to create a wonderful memory by embroidering them with beautiful color and design. However, there are many uses of tea towels both in and outside the kitchen.
Here are some ideas about what is the purpose of a tea towel:
- Tea towels make a wonderful accessory for serving breakfast such as a hot cup of tea or a bowl of cereal. They will efficiently save the mugs and bowls from slipping and also catch the spills or drops from them. Tea towels will also increase the beauty of a dining table.
- Tea towels are also used as heirlooms to pass down to generations. You can give them as a housewarming gift, or a wedding gift by getting customized tea towels.
- Tea towels for baking goods can be also helpful. You can wrap your bread, muffins or cakes in tea towels to give them a rest. You can also wrap your baking goods in a tea towel and gift them to your loved ones.
- A tea towel can also be used as a hot pad to cool down your baked goods.
- Using a customized tea towel in place of a usual hand towel will also increase the luxury of your guest bathroom.
- When you wash fruits and vegetables, you need to dry them in a clean place. You can place your veggies and fruits on a tea towel and pat them dry to keep them fresh and prevent rotting them.
- You can also use tea towels in place of a dish drying rack to place your wet crockery. Place tea towels on your kitchen shelf and place your expensive crockery after washing. It will save them from slipping from the rack and breaking.
- You can also use tea towels rather than cloth napkins on your dining tables. It will make your table very distinguishing and artistic. Choose vibrant colors and designs to create a more appealing look.
- Tea towels can also be used to place inside your kitchen cabinets as a liner. They will help absorb the excess water from glasses and dishware. It will also create a decorative look to your cabinets. However, it is really important to wash those tea towels after every few days to prevent any bad odor or bacteria.
Due to the versatility and premium fabric, tea towels have become a necessity to any household. You must have a lot of tea towels to use for different purposes inside and outside your kitchen.
FAQ:
Q: How to look after your tea towels?
Ans: It is very important to wash your tea towels after 2 to 3 uses. Also dry your tea towel at a ventilated place to avoid any smell or bacteria.
Q: Why are tea towels not absorbent?
Ans: Tea towel companies use oils and dye while making them. It can make them less absorbent. You can make them softer by washing and drying the new tea towels before using them.
Q: What is a tea towel made of?
Ans: Normally, a tea towel is made of breathable fabric such as pure linen or cotton. You can also get customized tea towels in silk or any other fabric according to your choice.
Q: What are tea towel dimensions?
Ans: The standard size of tea towel is measured around 18 inches wide and 28 inches long. This particular size makes them ideal for various tasks inside and outside the kitchen. These towels can be very helpful for cleaning shelves, cabinets, drying dishes and handling hot pans.
Q: What is Florida tea towels?
Ans: Florida tea towels are mostly a cloth used for drying kitchen items such as glasses and dishware.
Q: What is British tea towel?
Ans: In Britain, linen tea towels were used by the elite class to dry the expensive and delicate kitchen items. Tea towels are now used for decorative purposes on a kitchen wall or a dining table.
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