Store Clean Towels in a Drawer
If you have enough space, keeping clean towels folded in a nearby drawer is another simple option.
You can pull one out when needed and replace it when it’s dirty.
How Often Should You Wash Kitchen Towels?
This depends on how heavily they’re used.
A towel used only for drying clean hands may stay fresh longer than one used for wiping spills and handling kitchen messes.
But if a towel becomes:
Wet
Smelly
Visibly dirty
Greasy
Used around raw meat
Used to clean up food spills
…it should be changed and washed.
And if you’re using several towels throughout the day, having a small supply of clean ones makes the habit much easier.
Keep Different Towels for Different Jobs
This is one of my favorite simple kitchen organization tricks.
Instead of asking one towel to do everything, give your towels specific jobs.
Hand-Drying Towel
Use one towel primarily for clean hands.
Dish-Drying Towel
Use another for clean dishes and glassware.
Cleaning Cloth
Use a separate cloth for countertops, spills, and general cleaning.
Oven Mitts
Keep heat protection separate from all of the above.
This system doesn’t have to be complicated.
Even using different colors can make it incredibly easy to tell which towel is meant for what.
What About Decorative Tea Towels?
Oh, I love a pretty tea towel!
A patterned towel hanging in the kitchen can make the room feel warm and inviting. But decorative doesn’t necessarily mean practical.
If you have a beautiful towel you don’t actually use, consider hanging it somewhere away from the oven as decoration.
That way it stays pretty—and doesn’t become a heat hazard.
Other Places You Shouldn’t Hang Kitchen Towels
The oven handle isn’t the only questionable location.
Avoid putting loose towels:
Over the stovetop
Directly beside open flames
On hot appliances
Against toaster ovens
Near heating elements
Next to candles
Near grills
Where children or pets can easily pull them down
The basic rule is wonderfully simple:
If something gets hot, keep loose fabric away from it.
A Few Easy Kitchen Safety Habits Worth Adopting
