Hello!

Are tea towels really that clean? My husband always gets our kids to dry the dishes after dinner using tea towels.  I know it’s good that they’re helping out but can’t help feeling it’s probably more hygienic to let them air dry.  What do other mums think/do?

Posted by anon,6/11/13

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  • Air drying is definitely more hygienic than towel drying.


  • It depends how often you change your tea towels. If you change them every two days, you should be fine.


  • I let them air dry in summer but use clean tea towels in winter.


  • At least they’ll have great immune systems! As long as they’re dry when they’re put away you’re pretty safe.


  • If the tea towels are clean it should be fine.


  • Air dry. I’ve seen what my kids do with the tea towels! I think it’s great they’re helping out with the chores. Maybe give them a new tea towel each time they dry up. It will add up to more washing for you but as you say, more hygienic and they don’t take up that much space in the wash.


  • Not at all. I think they are similar to bathtowels and get dirty very easily , hence I wash them at least once a week. I have a handtowel on the left of my oven for wiping hands and the teatowel on the right . Technically I think it is good to leave the dishes at least half to an hour to airdry and when it comes to wiping them it is already half dry so the towels are not as wet. Not everyone agrees with that so don’t know why .


  • Cool! What interesting comments read on this! Thanks


  • we wash ours everynight – I don’t think there is an issue, but like anything damp that hangs around they are prone to bacteria


  • We use clean tea towels to dry everything then throw them in the wash!


  • I wondered the same thing, I guess it depends if they are used to dry hands, spills etc. I’d change them regularly if you’re using them for dishes. My husband uses them for mopping spills on the floor…


  • If the tea towels are clean then it should be fine. Saying that I normaly leave them to air dry.


  • Oh the things that I have caught the family doing with the tea towel….yukky!


  • I prefer to air dry, but if your tea towel is clean it should be fine


  • Clean tea towels should be hygienic.


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