In the kitchen, dishtowels are true cleaning superheroes! Ready to protect our countertops and dishes from all kinds of grime. But let’s face it, dear readers, after a good day of use, they look more like a modern master’s canvas than worthy cloths… And the icing on the cake, let’s face it, many of us instinctively hang them on the oven door after use! If you think it’s a harmless gesture, come and find out the truth. But let’s not even talk about the dirt that these poor dishcloths accumulate in the kitchen, turning them into veritable nests of bacteria, full of germs and microbes of all kinds! For this reason, care must be taken to place them in an isolated place, which is certainly not the oven door. Decryption.
Where to put the dish towels in the kitchen?
When you’re in a hurry to cook, your hands are wet and you’re running out of time, it’s perfectly normal not to pay attention to where you put your kitchen towels. Result: you hang them on the door of your oven. This impulsive gesture is anything but hygienic and could have dire consequences for your health and that of your family. Once they are hung on the door of the oven or refrigerator, they eventually contaminate these surfaces, leading to serious problems of food poisoning. Who knows what humid environment they have been in? The truth is that no one can guarantee that they are free of grease stains or invisible dirt. Moreover, in the heat of the kitchen, we all tend to touch the oven door with clean hands to take out a dish, monitor the cooking process or even taste it directly with our fingers. Therefore, no reflex remembers those bacteria left on that famous bar … you have to think about it now, do not you think?
Where is the best place to store kitchen towels?
If it’s not the oven door or the refrigerator door, where to store the kitchen towels? The answer is simple: you need to hang them on a dish towel rack that is attached to a wall that is not damp and is not near the sink. First, so that they have a fixed place like all other kitchen utensils, then so that they do not contaminate the surfaces that come into contact with food and, finally, so that the flame of the oven does not graze … we will spare you details on this last point.
How to hang tea towels on homemade hooks?
Dear readers, do we all agree that kitchen towels should be hung on the wall? Well, perfect! Come and discover now how to make simple hooks at home:
- Take 3 clothespins, 3 screws, a screwdriver and a drill;
- Then align 3 holes on the wall with the drill;
- And finally, securely attach each clamp to the wall by screwing it down with the screws, and you’re done!
Here you are with three super handy hooks that will protect your dish towels from moisture. That’s a good thing, right? However, if you don’t want to drill into your wall, you can simply buy the adhesive hooks that stick directly to it without leaving any marks!
Why put a dish towel in the microwave?
Tea towels are kitchen utensils only if they are clean! And for maintenance there is nothing better than the high temperature of the microwave, which can sterilize them and disinfect them from the germs and bacteria they contain. Washing them with the rest of your clothes in the washing machine is indeed a very bad idea, simply because germs eventually spread to fabrics that come into direct contact with your body and will be happy to multiply in such a humid environment! On the other hand, for the best cleaning results, all you have to do is follow these steps:
- Rub your dirty dish towels well in a basin of hot or lukewarm water with your usual detergent or even with a common detergent before letting the product soak;
- Fold them up and place them in a microwave-safe plastic bag ;
- Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water and then pour the mixture into the bag;
- Place the latter in the microwave without sealing for 2 minutes ;
- Let your tea towels cool before picking them up with tongs. Congratulations, mission accomplished!
How to wash a new tea towel?
New dish towels usually feel rough, but you can easily soften them before using them for the first time . Here’s how:
- Soak them in cold water for a few hours to relax them.
- Then put them in the washing machine and wash them quickly in cold (30°C) without rubbing or wringing them out.
- And finally, let them air dry naturally and you’re done!
Cooking is an art, its hygiene is a discipline.
