Easily one of the most versatile fabrics ever created, cotton is a household staple, especially in the kitchen. And why not?

As a soft, highly absorbent, quick-drying, and durable fabric, cotton works wonderfully in mopping up spills and drying pots and delicate china thoroughly yet gently.

Learn more about this wonderful fabric and what sets it apart from others regarding kitchen towels.

Types of Kitchen Towels - Fabric

Microfiber: Made of ultra-fine, tightly woven synthetic fibers, microfiber towels are very porous and absorbent. They're highly effective at cleaning kitchen countertops, dusting, and drying utensils without leaving any scratches or lint.

However, it's typically part polyester and part polyamide, making it a major source of microplastic pollution. There’s a looming concern that every time we wash these towels, we may release millions of tiny plastic fibers, too small to filter, into the waterways.

Poly-Cotton: As the name hints, poly-cotton is a polyester and cotton blend. The ratios can vary depending on the type of towel or the manufacturer. A 65% cotton and 35% polyester or a 70% cotton and 30% polyester are popular blend ratios.

Dish towels made from poly cotton are long-lasting and easy to maintain. However, blending two different fibers makes it more prone to piling than others.

Linen: Made from all-natural fibers from flax plants, linen tea towels are popular for wrapping food or polishing fine china as the fabric doesn't leave scratches, fluff, or lint behind.

This material also dries quickly and is highly absorbent and durable. While new linen towels might not arrive as soft as you would like them, they get softer with each wash.

100% Cotton: The world’s favorite fabric is also a big hit in the kitchen! Towels made from pure cotton are a true kitchen workhorse, featuring tightly woven fibers to enhance absorbency and softness. This also makes them easily withstand repeated washing - an important factor when choosing kitchen towels.

Below, we'll explain more about this amazing fabric and why it makes the perfect dish towel.

Types of Kitchen Towels - Weaves

Flat Weave: Flat weaves are lighter, flatter, and more compact than terry cloth towels. They are good for drying dishes and wiping surfaces and can also be used as a base for DIY crafting or needlework projects.

Herringbone: A popular weave, herringbone gets its name from its interesting zig-zag pattern, which might remind you of the V-shape bone structure of a herring. Herringbone towels look beautiful and absorb enough to mop up spills and messes in a jiffy, thanks to their distinctive weave.

Terry: Because of its unique construction with loops of fiber tightly woven together, terry weave towels score big in absorbency. They're great for heavy-duty cleaning and wiping wet dishes or countertops - anything where quickly moping up excess is needed. As far as drying or polishing delicate glass and stainless steel items go, terry towels may not be the best choice. Their fluffiness makes them prone to leaving behind lint.

Dual-Sided: These towels feature a flat weave on one side and terry on the other, making them versatile. You can dry dishes using the flatter side without worrying about the lint and use the terry side to soak up excess liquid.

Types of Kitchen Towels - Patterns

Our mighty practical 100% cotton kitchen towels are up for any task you throw at them. Not just that. They look great, too - available in a selection of patterns for you to choose from.

Striped: As beautiful as they're functional, the striped kitchen towels feature a minimalist striped pattern in various color combinations. They're perfect for adding a pop of color and style to your kitchen cleaning routine.

Checked: As the name says, these towels feature the timeless window pane checks - a popular square grid pattern resembling a window's divided panes. Available in blue, green, and red colors for you to choose from.

Plaid: Fans of plaid, a crisscross-lined pattern of multiple colors, will love these plaid kitchen towels. These towels will add heaps of texture and color to your kitchen while helping you perform various chores, from wiping down spills to serving dinner at the table. Available in a wide selection of dual or multiple colorways.

Solid: Want something more subdued? Then our classy, neutral-hued, solid flour sack kitchen towels are just what you need. Possibilities are endless with these nifty towels, available in plain white or natural cotton hues. Use them for cleaning, drying, polishing, wrapping, and serving, or turn them into decorative napkins through a DIY project.

7 Reasons Why You Should Pick Kitchen Towels Made from 100% Organic Cotton

Kitchen towels may be available in many fabrics, but there are several reasons why pure organic cotton trumps others. Here are seven of them.

1. Eco-Friendly

Unlike regular cotton, organic cotton is grown without harmful pesticides, using agricultural practices that use up less energy and water. In fact, every part of the journey of organic cotton, from farm to final product, should involve low-impact methods and materials and no harsh chemicals. There's an easy way to ensure that the towels you buy are organically produced. Simply look out if the product is certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Cotton Standard (OCS), or a similar third-party organization.

2. Soft

Very few fabrics match pure cotton towel’s softness. These plush towels help you eliminate spills, dry dishes, or wipe appliances effortlessly without leaving smudges, streaks, or watermarks behind.

3. Safe to Use Around Food

Flat weave towels made from 100% cotton are light and soft and do their job without leaving any residue. This and the fact that they are organic and free of harsh chemicals, dyes, or bleaches makes them safe for use around food.

4. Absorbent

With cotton towels, you get high absorbency from day one. Cotton fibers are more effective at soaking up excess water than polyester. The fluffiness of terry cloth can help you deal with messy spills in no time.

5. Resilient and Long-Lasting

Let’s face it: a kitchen is certainly not the cleanest zone in a home. All that cooking and washing takes a toll on the cleanliness. This is where reliable cleaning cloth comes into the picture. Once they’ve done their job, dish towels need to be thoroughly cleaned, too. When you buy a set of pure cotton towels, you can be sure they’ll serve you well for years. Their densely woven, hardwearing fabric holds up exceptionally well to repeated washes. A higher tensile strength also makes them less prone to wear and tear.

6. Versatile

There’s so much that cotton towels can do. And the list goes well beyond just cleaning and drying. You can use them to line trays and baskets, wrap food and baked goodies, or as food covers. If you have an artsy side to you, you can use flat woven cotton tea towels and turn them into decorative pieces by adorning them with embroidery, colorful prints, and patterns. Thanks to their fuzzy texture, Terry cloth towels also make great oven mitts or potholders.

7. Easy Care

Cotton in itself is a long-lasting fabric, and a densely woven construction further enhances its durability. You can wash them hundreds of times without worrying about shrinking, fading, or ripping. These towels are machine washable and quick drying, giving you a hassle-free maintenance experience. For tips and tricks on how to care for pure cotton tea towels, check out the section below.

How to Care for Cotton Kitchen Towels Sustainably

Caring for cotton tea towels will never be a bothersome experience. They do their job and do it well. And when it's time to clean them thoroughly, just follow the dos and don’ts below, and you'll have them back as good as new.

Wash your newly arrived towels before use for hygiene reasons.
You can wash them by hand or toss them in a washer on a gentle cycle.
Steer clear of harsh detergents, bleaches, or fabric softeners, as they may harm pure cotton fibers. Instead, opt for mild laundry detergent.
We recommend hang-drying to keep the towels in shape, but you can also use a dryer.
If tumble drying, use a low setting. Toss in wool dryer balls to reduce drying time.
The towels may get dingy after intense use. Soak them in baking soda and vinegar, and watch the stains, grime, and smell vanish.

Organic Cotton Kitchen Towels - An Eco-Friendly Choice for Your Home and the Planet

Whether you need them for your home or an industrial kitchen, Organic Cotton Mart's selection of kitchen towels is sure to become your trusty workhorse.

Our towels come in sets of 6 measuring large enough - 30"x20" - to speedily mop up spills, dry the dishes, or wipe down countertops. The inclusion of a hanging loop makes everyday use and storage super easy. Just hang them up on a towel rack, cabinet door, or door knob once you’re done using them.

Easy to care for and loaded with utility - these chic, sustainably produced towels will make household chores a breeze.

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