topic Re: Tea Towels in Community Spirit

Tea Towels

grapes_collector — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:23:32 GMT

I desperately need some new tew towels, but the last few I bought were terrible. No absorbency at all, and tiny.....some of my handkerchieves are bigger.

I used to buy the jumbo 3pack from Coles (sort of a cotton weave), but they dont seem to make them any more.

Can anyone suggest the most absorbent type of tea towel on the market ATM? Ta

Re: Tea Towels

2106greencat — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:25:56 GMT

If you have a Trade Secret near you, they have the cotton weave tea towels (like Coles) and they are great.

I got a pack of 6 for $9.50

Re: Tea Towels

grapes_collector — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:31:29 GMT

Yes, I have 2 stores within a short distance. They sound great. Thanks

Re: Tea Towels

cherry*135 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:38:54 GMT

OP shops often have new linen tea towels people have donated to them. The type people buy as souvenirs or with pretty pictures on them and they haven't used them. They are very absorbent. Usually low priced as well.

Re: Tea Towels

horizon1907 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:47:07 GMT

I bought a Rolled Up Set of 10 of em at Kmart recently and they are fabulous. Wash them a couple of times though before using them. 🙂

Re: Tea Towels

grapes_collector — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:50:15 GMT

Another great suggestion. Thanks. I'll check them out too.

Re: Tea Towels

imastawka — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:33:51 GMT

Thanks for this thread. I also need tea towels.

Recent purchases seem to dry as well as a sheet of plastic!

Re: Tea Towels

fourandsixpants — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:42:30 GMT

Hi Grapes....I had exactly this same dilemma a few months back. am3 is onto it.....I wanted vintage-NEW.....as all my old t-towels were the best for absorbing water etc. Tried new from several shops and was disgusted with them so I bought quite a few here on ebay! I LOVE them all! Beautiful Czech linen, Irish linen etc etc.....I love Australiana so went a bit beserk. Lots of beautiful birds and flowers etc They look FANTASTIC hanging of my cupboard doors in the kitchen. I like LOTS of tea towels and like to change them every 2nd day. Okay, so I paid more than for Coles or KMart ones but so worth it. I wash them in cold water and dry inside to delay colour fade.

Re: Tea Towels

azureline** — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 02:47:04 GMT

I now use only Norwex tea towels, they are not cheap but wow!!! amazing tea towels.

Re: Tea Towels

lyndal1838 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 04:08:43 GMT

Irish linen is the best for teatowels. More expensive than the cotton ones but they dry so well and last forever.

When I married in 1966 my Mother gave me a couple of hand embroidered teatowels that she had in her Glory Box in 1939....they are still in use today but getting very thin now.

There are 2 sellers on ebay that have Irish Linen teatowels....vintage new......I have bought quite a few over the years and love 'em. Would not have anything else.

Re: Tea Towels

i-need-a-martini — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 04:40:07 GMT

I buy either the teatowels from Freedom. I think they are $2.95 each and always at the front counter. You need to wash them first but then they behave like linen.

Or I buy real linen vintage ones off ebay. Anything souvenir from the 60's/70's is good (although the designs are often kitsch) and they are always in surprisingly good condition.

Re: Tea Towels

imastawka — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 04:50:04 GMT

Vintage sounds like me, lol.

Think I may actually have some Irish Linen tea towels

hidden away somewhere.

We thought they were quite horrible to look at, back in the 60's

Bet I've got some buried in the back of a cupboard

Re: Tea Towels

sineaterdoodah — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 07:08:58 GMT

yank who's curious(WHAT A SURPRISE FROM ME!) , can y'all buy at all from restaurant supply depots? obviously,it's a bit higher price than the service people pay,but here we can,at about 12% above cost,with a food handler's card.

saves me a ton on tea towels,since my BFF detroys them regularly ,cleaning his bikes.

just curious! 🙂

Re: Tea Towels

lloydslights — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 07:37:23 GMT

Barri, cleaning bikes with linen? Let him use his old t-shirts.

DEB

Re: Tea Towels

katymatey* — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 07:52:44 GMT

I like to look at op shops now and then. Have bought some great Irish linen tea towels for little money at times. Mostly they are new or near new.

Re: Tea Towels

lyndal1838 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:51:38 GMT

@sineaterdoodah wrote:
yank who's curious(WHAT A SURPRISE FROM ME!) , can y'all buy at all from restaurant supply depots? obviously,it's a bit higher price than the service people pay,but here we can,at about 12% above cost,with a food handler's card.
saves me a ton on tea towels,since my BFF detroys them regularly ,cleaning his bikes.
just curious! 🙂

Years ago I had access to fabric warehouses. One of them specialised in importing bolts of linen teatowel material. I was able to buy a bolt of about 25-30 yards for a pittance. Just cut off the amount needed and hem it. I had some giant sized teatowels and kept the whole family in green and white striped linen teatowels for many years.

Re: Tea Towels

sineaterdoodah — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 17:44:54 GMT

lol,deb! i make him pay for them,most of the time. but i was just given a huge box of old cotton polo shirts,so that'll keep him away from my towels for awhile!

lyn,that's very cool,i'd LOVE to have some big ones for my hair. i have waist length hair,and the weight of wet hair combined with wet terry cloth makes my neck hurt.

Re: Tea Towels

imastawka — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 03:09:52 GMT

Turned the house upside-down.

I know I've got irish linen somewhere.

Bought these instead. Made for glass, so should be absorbent

$10 for 3

Re: Tea Towels

cherry*135 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 04:15:24 GMT

I have quite a few Irish linen tea towels with nice designs on them from the 1980's on. I don't use them though. Mainly use the dishwasher and a few ordinary tea towels. I sold a few 'touristy' ones on ebay a few years ago.

I do buy the vintage linen ones firm OP shops occasionally and give them to one of my daughters who uses them. I think the supply of old good quality linen ones donated, - the touristy & special ones that were kept and not used - will start decreasing.

Re: Tea Towels

sineaterdoodah — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 05:00:19 GMT

good choice,stawka,you'll like them . after about 3 washes,completely lint free! uumm....as long as you keep the cats away....uuummm...and don't allow bicycle cleaning .....uumm....or carwashing either.

😄

am,i don't know if tourist towels are the same there,of course,but here,they seem to always be"polished" to keep them pretty,and NOT USABLE! i boil them ,then wash them normally 3 times,and that...patina? ,i don't know what it is,but it FINALLY gives you a good towel,!