Cleaning & Maintaining your Flour Sack Towels

Flour sack towels or tea towels have been used for many households globally and for decades. A flour sack towel is far more functional, cost-effective and reliable compared to decorative cloths or paper towels. They are a multipurpose household asset as they can be used from everything from cooking, mopping and general cleaning. As our organic flour sack towels are made from 100% cotton and are designed to be very absorbent, and are highly durable when properly maintained and cleaned.

When you purchase a flour sack towel, you are essentially making a long-term investment and is a far more ecological and economical option. To get the most out of your flour sack towels, the key is regular cleaning and maintenance which will ensure their durability and overall effectiveness.  If you have already purchased, or are thinking about investing in a flour sack towel, we have included some helpful basic care tips to ensure you can continue using your flour sack towel for quite a long time.

Before using your Flour Sack Towel Unlike the generic dishcloths, flour sack towels actually need to be washed before you start using them, to guarantee the best result. As we ship our organic flour sack towels, we recommend airing them out, the natural materials in our tea cloths ensure that they will not lose their absorbency after cleaning or use. In fact, they will become softer and more absorbent each time you use them whether it’s for cooking, cleaning or any household chores. For example, if you have purchased our 12 pack of Natural (29 x 29) flour sack towels, tart by unpacking your flour sack towels and unfold each one. Take care to remove any tags, and place them into your washing machine. We recommend machine drying them if it is possible.

How to properly wash & maintain your Flour Sack Towels We want all of our customers to get the most out of their flour sack towels, and to make sure they stand the test of time. So, we have created a guide of helpful tips and tricks to help you keep them germ-free and fresh. We thought it would be best to start what you shouldn’t use to clean your organic flour towel.

Avoid Fabric Softeners & Bleach If you’re scratching your head wondering why we have told you to avoid the use of bleach on your flour sack towel, it is because you will actually be doing this invaluable cleaning asset a disservice. Many of us turn to the use of bleach to remove any stains and enhance the whiteness to make them look like new. However, a lot of bleaches and fabric softeners in the most store contain chlorine bleach and will damage the natural fibers in your flour sack towels. It won’t ruin them instantly, but it will restrict the longevity of use. It is important to note, even using diluted bleach solutions on your flour sack cloths will eventually cause tears and holes as the cotton fibers weaken.

Solution: If you have a stain that you would like to remove from your flour sack towel, or to make them look like new we recommend that you select non-chlorine based bleaches (they usually contain sodium per-carbonate or hydrogen peroxide). Not only is this option better for your flour tea towels, but they are a more eco-friendly option.

Tip: Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent option to disinfect your kitchen worktops and your flour sack towels.

 

How to carefully remove stains We are all guilty of staining our tea towels when using them in the kitchen, so how do we keep the magic of the flour sack towels? The best way to remove any stains, as well as improving the absorbency is to use baking soda and vinegar. The combination of baking soda and vinegar isn’t just for a school project on volcanos, in fact, it is an age-old trick to remove any dirt, chemicals and unwanted stains most materials, including flour sack towels. If you would like to use a chemical-free stain removing the option to clean your flour tea towels, or even on clothes, try this:

1. Fill your washing machine with water, and then add your towels to the water.
2. When your machine is full, add one cup of white vinegar, and set your machine to “rinse cycle.”
3. Once the cycle has finished, drain and spin, but keep your towels in the machine, then you need to add ½ a cup of baking soda.
4. Then, fill your washing machine and rerun the rinse cycle.
5. After the cycle has finished, you need to make sure your towels are completely dry.
   
   

Our handy solution and method should make your towels feel fresher, softer but they will also be more absorbent and ready to work their magic on any household chore. Note: As we mentioned this solution is also used at many science fairs for a project on volcanoes. So it is essential that you do not add the baking soda and vinegar at the same time, as you will be greeted with a foamy chemical reaction and it could cause your washing machine to overflow. How to Wash your Flour Towels Properly As durable and useful flour sack towels, it is inevitable that they will start to shrink and wear over time. But, if you clean and care for your organic towels correctly, you can minimize any damage or shrinking to keep them looking as fresh as possible for the years to come. If you follow these six helpful tips, you will be able to keep your flour towels strong for as long as possible.

1. Only use delicate cycle settings
2. Use cold water
3. Hand wash your towel
4. Remove stains using baking soda and vinegar
5. If you prefer to tumble dry, only use a low heat setting
6. Air dry your towels completely (when possible)

Yes, eventually your towels will shrink over time, but it can be prevented depending on how you launder. Which is why we recommend using cold water settings – even if you hand wash – as the shrinkage will happen naturally over time, rather than straight away. Once you have cleaned your flour towel, store them in a dry, safe place where they will not encounter any moisture. Enjoy the functionality of your flour sack towel for years We hope that we have helped you understand the best way to clean and maintain your flour sack towels. Practicing the tips and tricks above should help you to enjoy the magic of your organic flour sack towels for many years. When should you replace your flour sack towels? It is very possible to have the same flour tea towel working its magic in your home. It is the reason that they have been used generation globally after generation for household cooking and cleaning shores. Our organic flour sack towels are 100% cotton, and are the ecological and economic investment, and are reasonably low maintenance. However, there will come a time when you will have to say goodbye to your flour sack towel, thank it for its years of service and buy a new set. Common wear and tear signs:

• Shrinkage
• Tears
• Thinness
• Stains (that will no longer remove)

When your flour sack tea towel start to experience the above symptoms, it’s time to replace them. It is unhygienic, risks cross-contamination and germs if your towel seems to be, well falling apart. The primary function of a flour sack tea towel is to keep your home germ-free and fresh, so maybe it is time to invest in a nice new set like our 12 pack of Natural Organic (29 x 29 ).  

 

What is a Tea Towel? The current material used to make tea towels is typically linen, cotton or weave. As you may know, there are many variations and options for the invaluable household cloth. More commonly known as a kitchen towel, or a tea towel. But, with all the options available such as paper towels, or disposal cloth many people use these. Why? If you want clean, dust and dirt free glasses, plates and even surface you will not get this from the cheaper options. You need to invest in a tea towel, and one that best suits your needs – enter the flour sack towel.

 

Flour Sack Towels vs. Tea Towels Yes, a flour sack towel is a tea towel, but they differ in material, function, durability and overall quality. It is easy to find tea towels in stores and online, but organic flour sack towels are without a doubt the best option. Although it has always been a favorite option for many households, finding an excellent, 100% natural cotton flour sack towel could be tricky. However, you can find an abundance of benefits with our towels right here at Flour Sack Towels. To name a few benefits:

• 100% natural cotton
• High-quality, premium unbleached cotton
• Custom printed flour sack towels
• Professionally crafted
• Easy to clean
• Durability
• Multi-purpose (cooking, cleaning, polishing and more)
• Absorbent
• Lint-Free
• Completely natural and environmentally friendly
• Economical (value for money)