Kitchen towels come in wide range of sizes, weights, and fiber contents these days. Towels have long been made of 100% cotton but the last several years 100% synthetic fiber towels such as microfiber are available to the market. In addition to a spectrum of sizes there are also different weights. Add it all up and it is easy to understand why something that is less than $1 each can be so confusing.When selecting a towel the weave and fiber content are the most important factors to consider. A front of the house towel must not only absorb liquid very well but also be a good enough quality that it doesn’t lint and shed all on your table or patron’s food. Herringbone towels, due to their low lint nature, are a top choice for front of the house towels. Bar mops, made of 100% cotton and either ribbed or full terry, can be a good selection as well. Make sure that if you are using bar mops for the front of the house that you are buying a tightly woven towel that doesn’t lint cotton everywhere. As a side benefit to the tight weave, a longer product life can be expected. Microfiber towels have begun to make their way into the foodservice wiping arena in the past 10 years. Many users like the longevity and low lint performance that microfiber provides.

For back of the house and grill areas, bar mops are typically the overwhelming choice for a towel. The bar mops are thicker and heavier than herringbone towels. Not only are these towels used for wiping but also sometimes used for handling an assortment of pots, pans, and cooking utensils. A quick word of caution, using microfiber towels in these back of the kitchen areas is never recommended as they will melt the towel and more importantly can burn the user severely.

Finally there are two quick points when caring and laundering your kitchen towels. Hot water does more to release food stuff and stains than any other technique. Also, never use fabric softener as it causes towels not to absorb which is never a good thing when operating a restaurant or food service area.

Interested in learning more about our kitchen towels or like to see samples? Please inquire, we are happy to assist as always.