I don't know if this reduces the absorbancy, but they look nice. I had saved up a small load in the 1986, 140, extended, sensitive Cottons cycle with Persil, STPP, and oxywhatever. I had to tumble then with heat for a few minutes to get them ready to iron, especially the heavier linen ones. I was looking at some of the ones with tiny holes developing and realized they were bought in the early 70s; how time flies but you don't notice these things except when you are ironing and the cloth is spread out and you watch it go from wet and wrinkled to dry and smooth and hot.
Ironed the dish towels with the Ironrite
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danemodsandy
Well-known member
Actually:
Stanley Ager, a well-known British butler who wrote a book on housekeeping, once told me that ironing dishtowels made them more absorbent, not less.
I have found it to be true.
Stanley Ager, a well-known British butler who wrote a book on housekeeping, once told me that ironing dishtowels made them more absorbent, not less.
I have found it to be true.
Tea towels
I was brought up that tea towels should always be ironed as the heat of the iron sterilises them making them safe for food environment. Tea towels are always washed in a hot wash (min 60'C) first. It is the use of fabric conditioner that reduces absorbency if you are over zealous!! I have never had smelly tea towels by following this routine.
Good for you, there is something virtuous having all the kitchen linens beautifully pressed and envied when seen by others!
Euan
I was brought up that tea towels should always be ironed as the heat of the iron sterilises them making them safe for food environment. Tea towels are always washed in a hot wash (min 60'C) first. It is the use of fabric conditioner that reduces absorbency if you are over zealous!! I have never had smelly tea towels by following this routine.
Good for you, there is something virtuous having all the kitchen linens beautifully pressed and envied when seen by others!
Euan
Dish towels
Just realised I had used "tea towel" which in uk means the same as "dish towel". I would assume that a dish cloth is the same in both parts of the world being a cloth used wet to wipe down, wash dishes etc.
On washing kitchen linens I always select the anti allergy cycle on the AEG Protex as this maintains the temperature for the full duration of the wash, where as an ordinary 60'C Cotton cycle the heater shuts off once 60'c is reached. Doing this I get that amazing hot water and detergent smell reminiscent of my childhood when my mum washed with real hoover washing machines, which had a reputation of using a lot of water but gave excellent results (pre any water meters). I just don't get that smell on other cycles. The washing results are amazing doing this, but this can also be because I add the extra rinses on programming the machine. It does as standard 3 rinses but you can add extra rinses, depending on the cycle this can be as many as an extra 5 giving a total of 8 rinses!! On the anti allergy for some reason you can only add 4 extra rinses, which I do so giving a total of 7 rinses!! In this part of Scotland no water meter!!!
Euan
Just realised I had used "tea towel" which in uk means the same as "dish towel". I would assume that a dish cloth is the same in both parts of the world being a cloth used wet to wipe down, wash dishes etc.
On washing kitchen linens I always select the anti allergy cycle on the AEG Protex as this maintains the temperature for the full duration of the wash, where as an ordinary 60'C Cotton cycle the heater shuts off once 60'c is reached. Doing this I get that amazing hot water and detergent smell reminiscent of my childhood when my mum washed with real hoover washing machines, which had a reputation of using a lot of water but gave excellent results (pre any water meters). I just don't get that smell on other cycles. The washing results are amazing doing this, but this can also be because I add the extra rinses on programming the machine. It does as standard 3 rinses but you can add extra rinses, depending on the cycle this can be as many as an extra 5 giving a total of 8 rinses!! On the anti allergy for some reason you can only add 4 extra rinses, which I do so giving a total of 7 rinses!! In this part of Scotland no water meter!!!
Euan
Thanks to you both for affirming that what looks best actually is best in practice.
westingman123
Well-known member
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Tea towels versus dish towels
In this part of the world, the terms are used interchangeably. I've notice, however, that it is mostly my generation and older who use the "tea towel" distinction. Young folks don't even know how to dry dishes, it appears.
In this part of the world, the terms are used interchangeably. I've notice, however, that it is mostly my generation and older who use the "tea towel" distinction. Young folks don't even know how to dry dishes, it appears.
