Tea towel recommendations

[WhyAreWeLikeThis]

Really boring but I’m looking for new tea towels

• must be absorbent
• not towelling or waffle
• I like patterns
• not too expensive

I bought some really nice looking ones from sainsburys but even after a few washes they’re not very absorbent, and the pattern’s very faded already

Any recommendations?

Go to TK Maxx - they have some lovely quality ones and are good value.

The ones with linen in are always my favourites, though I don’t have many because we have far too many tea towels anyway, and I can rarely justify more. Plus I like ones that aren’t basically white, as I’m bad at housekeeping and they always end up looking grubby, colours are best for concealing my slovenliness.

Also remember not to use fabric softener as that stops absorbency.

@Talipesmum - I DO use fabric softener, so maybee red that’s the problem. Do other people do separate washes for tea towels? I just bung them in the washing machine and they go in with the next load

No, I’m with you about grubby. My family use tea towels where others use kitchen roll - there’s no way they’d stay white. The best tea towel I ever had was a white glass cloth. I still have it, but it’s greige. My Nan bought it for me ‘for my bottom drawer’ when I was about 16. I’m 54 now, but it’s an heirloom I expect my kids to fight over when I die*

*they absolutely won’t be doing this…

@Screamingabdabz Ooh good shout, I think they sell Ulster Weavers ones in there. Thank you

I put all my towels in together, but not with anything else, and use white vinegar instead of fabric softener. It keeps the washing machine cleaner too.

I use oxygen bleach to whiten up white towels that have gone a but grubby.

Excuse typos, I was going to blame my glitchy phone but I’m also responsible

I also dont like textured, towel-like teatowels....the batch Ive got now i have had a while but they were 3-packs of cotton ones from IKEA. Good size, absorbent, cotton. Striped but I dont know if they have patterned ones. The material has lasted well and I just wash them at 60, usually with sheets or towels, no fabric conditioner.

If you don't like towelling try Ulster Weavers online. Lovely designs and usually have sales 3 or 4 times a year.

Ah - much better not to, I save them up and wash tea towels and cleaning cloths together, no softener. Same for bath towels etc but we should not get into a bath towel discussion on this thread or it will descend…