One of the central rooms in household lifestyle and layout is the kitchen. This is where people eat and socialize. Yet it is also where they spend a substantial amount of time doing housework. The usual humorous remarks or arguments about doing the dishes are commonplace, as is sharp rebuke the day after about no-one doing them. Kitchen dish towels form part of this tradition.
Doing the dishes is about more than just keeping up appearances. Decaying food stuck to plates and crockery is a threat to hygiene in the home. Pathogens easily take root in the food. Cooking implements like knives and forks, which may have been used to prepare raw meat, are most at risk. People should assist their immune systems by keeping the cooking area and its equipment sanitized.
The dish towel is an integral item in this process. The towel should be effective in drying the dishes, so it mustn\'t leave water on them. It should also have the capacity to dry a large load. Its design must be appealing too, since it is on display all the time.
Cotton makes the best towels, in terms of their material. A dense, soft towel made of pure cotton is very absorbent and goes through lots of dishes. Artificial material like polyester or polycotton is not as suitable because it absorbs far less water and leaves a film of moisture behind. Thinner cloths such as those that have been in use for too long become saturated before the load is done.
The design also needs to be chosen carefully. It affects the home\'s interior appearance so it should fit in with the cooking area\'s general layout. Some people have cloths which are souvenirs of past events or holidays. Others use attractively patterned cloths. The towel should be large enough for the volume of dishes that are used in the home.
Dish towels have an essential place in the home. They may be merely functional, or serve as a source of amusement and discussion. And, at a relatively low price, they are easily accessible enhancements to the household environment.
