Strangely, finding a thick and thirsty tea towel is not that simple nowadays. I personally tried MANY with limited results and the same frustration of not drying my dishes properly when I don't have time for gravity to do the job...
How come? What are the tricks? Why did my mum have proper tea towels while I can't find any??? There must be an explanation... and therefore a need for investigation.
]]>Tea towel define "a cloth for drying dishes.", definitely a Kitchen essential.
Often made of linen, cotton, or a combination of the two, tea towels date back to England in the 18th century, when they were used to insulate tea pots at tea ceremonies (hence the name), dry fine china, and cover baked goods.
Strangely, finding a thick and thirsty tea towel is not that simple nowadays. I personally tried MANY with limited results and the same frustration of not drying my dishes properly when I don't have time for gravity to do the job... Plus, at times, your glasses can be covered with lint... making me wonder...
How come? What are the tricks? Why did my mum have proper tea towels while I can't find any??? There must be an explanation... and therefore a need for investigation.
I thought I had to go for waffle weave structure and thick fabrics to improve absorbency. I have a little collection and yet, not very satisfied... It should improve the drying properties but other parameters are obviously involved...
I wondered whether the fabric itself played a very important role there too and researched for the best fabric to use for tea towels. Tea towels need to be made from absorbent materials. Skip the man-made fibers like polyester and use natural fibers like linen and cotton for soft and absorbent tea towels.
The drying properties of pure linen are renowned to be far superior to cotton and improve with use. Linen is also a stronger fabric than cotton and therefore can withstand the abrasive action of rubbing.
Looking at what professionals use, I found chefs use tightly-woven towels for heavy kitchen use. This not only allows them to be more durable, but also enables them to be lint-free. Loosely-woven towels tend to shed after just a few uses, but tight weave designs prevent lint... Worth knowing!
So, I went for Linen tea towels... and wanted to do the right thing with this right product...
Another rule to keep in mind is that before using any textile for the first time, you should wash them. Tea Towels are no exception. You sometimes give it a go anyway and you end up giving up because it is just so not working!!!!
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST WASH
Yes, as pretty as they may look, new tea towels are not very absorbent because of the excess dye and oils left over from the manufacturing process. Indeed, brand new towels have a coating applied by the manufacturer that can reduce how well they absorb.
To combat this, you can wash your lovely new tea towels with warm water before you first use them. Use diluted white vinegar in that first wash as this helps improve the absorbency of your tea towel even more and will prevent its colors from running during the wash.
Luckily, being pre-washed my tea towels were ready to do the job and I could skip this 1st wash step. However, I started to love them so much that I wanted to keep them forever this way! I wondered about the proper care tea towels should get to maintain their drying properties...
PROPERLY CARING FOR TEA TOWELS
For towels you've had a while, the laundry products you're using can make your dish towels not absorbent. A buildup of detergent or unfortunately fabric conditioner can make your tea towels less absorbent by coating them in a layer of water-resistant oil so it’s best to only use a bit detergent when washing them.
With added effects from enzymes, biological detergents can break down protein, fats, and starches in food stains at lower temperatures (no hotter than 50 degrees centigrade is the recommendation). Otherwise, simply use Ox Gall Soap on food stains prior to washing your tea towels.
DEALING WITH SMELLS
If you sometimes find your tea towels still smells even after washing, try adding white vinegar or baking soda (Bicarbonate) to your wash as well as detergent. For the best results, pause your wash half way through, let it soak for as long as possible (preferably overnight), then restart the cycle.
KEEPING THE COLOR
You can also maximise your tea towel’s colour longevity by adding some baking soda to your washes and white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Just make sure you don’t put vinegar in the same cycle as the washing powder or baking soda as they will neutralise each other and not work.
DRYING AND IRONING
Drying your tea towels on a line is much better for them than a tumble dryer. Just make sure you face the printed side away from the sun, as the light will cause fading. And, ideally you should steam iron your towels while they are still damp and ensure you iron them on the reverse.
Ta da! Now, I know what to choose and what to do... Is this taught in schools??? No more frustration but happiness of having something that does the job extremely well, which is making my life easier at the same time.
I am convinced I have finally (!!!!) picked the right tea towels! Top Quality, very resistant, timeless and natural. With proper maintenance, they finally do the job and will last a lifetime, making the price a really good investment with long term in mind. Hope you will enjoy them too!
Washes and gives a shine to mane, coat and tail.
Instructions for use: Wet your horse. Rub the coat with a 5cl per litre liquid Black Soap warm water. Rinse thoroughly.
Our tip: Even white and grey horses get a wonderfully revived coat with our black soap.
Instructions for use: Dilute 5cl of liquid black soap in 1l of water. Clean your equipment with a sponge or a microfiber cloth.
Suitable for use in organic farming.
Use it as a natural shampoo for a gentle clean and a shiny coat.
Instructions for use: Wet the animal with warm water and add 5cl per litre onto the coat. Rub well and then rinse thoroughly.
Olive oil and Linseed oil black soap makes sure your pets have a clean, healthy sleeping place without having to use nasty chemicals. Plus, the lavender fragrance smells good.
Instructions for use: Dilute 5cl of olive oil black soap in 1l of water. Clean with a sponge. No need to rinse.
Marseille soap is known all over the world, recognised by its unique shape and colour. It’s a must-have in everyday life and it brings a great number of benefits.
In France, Savon de Marseille soaps have been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces. Let's take a closer look at the merits of Marseille soap…
]]>Marseille soap is known all over the world, recognised by its unique shape and colour. It’s a must-have in everyday life and it brings a great number of benefits.
In France, Savon de Marseille soaps have been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces. Let's take a closer look at the merits of Marseille soap…
Marseille soap is vegetable soap and is soft on dry and sensitive skin. You can use it regularly and just rinse with water. It is natural, gentle and hypoallergenic. It is recommended by dermatologists throughout the world for people with skin allergies, eczema and psoriasis. It contains no colouring, no allergens and no synthetic additives. That’s why it’s recommended for babies and people with allergies. It’s more economical than ordinary soap, sometimes lasting up to twice as long.
Thanks to its “extra pure” vegetable composition, Marseille soap is highly recommended for greasy or acne-prone skins. It can be used for deep-down cleansing and controls sebum.
What’s more, it makes enough lather to be used even as a shaving foam. It cleanses the skin and prevents ingrown hairs.
Marseille soap can be used on any part of the body, including the hair. Remember, it contains nothing but natural ingredients, olive oil and soda. That’s why it’s recommended for people who no longer want to use aggressive shampoos that weaken the hair or pollute the environment.
Apart from being exquisite, ultra-moisturizing skin care, it’s also found in many French laundries.
If you prefer using a natural, biodegradable product to wash your clothes, Marseille soap is highly recommended. You can use it to pre-wash stubborn stains or just use a few flakes as a laundry wash.
It is the perfect environmentally friendly stain remover. Just rub a little on the stain with some water, leave to sit for a few minutes and put the item in the wash.
The soap is also perfect for washing silk and other delicate fabrics (DIY laundry Soap). If you have a baby, you can use Marseille soap in the bath and for changes.
But not only! It can make a great dishwashing liquid. Simply mix well ½ cup of grated Marseille soap with warm water and for a fresh scent, add one or two drops of mint or lemon essential oils.
It can also be a mite repellent in your closet!
Simply attach a slice of soap on a rope in your closet to avoid the tiny creatures that swallow your favorite tees or cashmere sweaters. It works, really!
Biodegradable, Marseille Soap can be used, when diluted with water, as an insecticide on plants and soils. The beauty of Marseille soap is that you can also treat edible plants, such as fruit trees, grape vines or edible gardens plants. Once rinsed, the fruit is edible even after treatment with Marseille soap. In a spray bottle, pour hot water over 2 tablespoons of grated Marseille Soap or Marseille Soap flakes. Mix well. Spray on the affected plants. Repeat for 3 days.
Savon de Marseille, French Marseille Soap is totally biodegradable and requires very little packaging. The purity and simplicity of this iconic soap means it is both ecological and economical.
French-up your home and adopt this must-have soap, efficient, authentic and beautiful.
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Thanks to its rich olive oil and linseed oil content, Le Serail Liquid black soap cleans, disinfects and thoroughly nourishes all types of flooring (tiles, terracotta, ceramics, laminate, marble, wood, etc.), leaving it sparkling clean and protected.
Instructions for use: Dilute 2 tablespoons of black soap in 5l of hot water. Wash. No need to rinse.
Our tip: A floor cleaned with black soap means a healthy floor and no chemicals, so no worries at all about babies and toddlers crawling all over the house!
Black soap cuts through grease. It cleans and removes burnt-on greasy and hardened food deposits on cookers, hobs, extractors, ovens, worktops, sinks, etc.
Instructions for use: A little black soap on a sponge. Wash, then rinse with hot water.
Our tip: Apply black soap to cooked on stains in your oven while it is still lukewarm. Leave overnight, then clean and rinse.
Olive oil black soap cleans and degreases frying pans and deep fryers... Stainless steel saucepans stay as shiny as new.
Instructions for use: A little black soap on a sponge. Wash, then rinse with hot water.
Did you know?
Scouts do their washing up with black soap.
In Limoges, black soap is used to revive the gold trims on old porcelain dishes.
On dark-coloured linen, Liquid black soap can be used as a traditional laundry detergent as well as on difficult stains before washing as a stain remover.
Instructions for use: 3-4 tablespoons of liquid black soap in the washing machine detergent compartment.
Before washing: Dab some soft or liquid black soap onto the stain. Leave for 15 minutes then machine wash (for stubborn stains, leave black soap on the stains for several days until the next wash).
Caution: The dark colour of olive oil black soap can leave a slight mark on whites and pale colours. Test on a small area of the fabric before using.
Olive oil black soap cleans and puts a shine on copper and silverware.
Instructions for use: Dilute 3-4 tablespoons of black soap in a bowl of hot water. Leave the objects in soak for 5 to 10 minutes. No need to rinse. Drain and then dry.
For impeccable windows, clean them with olive oil black soap.
Instructions for use: Dilute 1 teaspoon of black soap in 2l of hot water. Sponge the mixture onto the windows then remove the excess liquid with a rubber window scraper. Finish with a microfiber cloth. Do not rinse.
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Whether you're visiting your local bath and beauty store or browsing your favourite online retailer, the selection of soap is unlimited. There are new combinations of essential oils and the development of complex formulas every day. However, some methods have been around for centuries. One such process is that of the manufacturing of 'Savon de Marseille', the French Marseille Soap.
French Marseille Soap is unique, and there are many reasons to consider this soap for your bath and beauty needs.
]]>French Marseille Soap is unique, and there are many reasons to consider this soap for your bath and beauty needs.
Did you know that Champagne can only be made using grapes grown in the Champagne region of France? If genuine 'Savon de Marseille' used to be fabricated in the Marseille region, it is not geographically limited to Marseille as there is no protected designation of origin for this product. 'Savon de Marseille' (Marseille Soap) refers to the fabrication process: it must also be made using the ancient and natural processing methods developed in the 1600s. Our Le Serail Marseille Soaps come from Marseille, just the way it used to be centuries ago.
Lots of products have improved many times since the 17th Century, including soap. However, the utterly pure formula of authentic Savon de Marseille continues to stand the test of time.
Only a master soap-maker can make a soap which can display this Savon de Marseille mark. He will be trained over many years in the precise process of making this unique blend.
The beauty benefits associated with olive oil and palm are renowned, but both can be rather messy to apply. By using a Savon de Marseille soap daily, you will enjoy hydrating and anti-aging beauty benefits as well as:
While many of us relate the word "detergent" to cleanliness, the detergents found in most soaps are with chemically produced ingredients.
Savon de Marseille is a truly pure soap, made without detergents or human-made ingredients. If you currently use a "gentle" cleansing product, it may be harming your skin. You should know that most over the counter products contain chemicals.
Savon de Marseille soap contains no dyes, no perfume and no lye. It is often recommended by dermatologists for patients with irritated or sensitive skin, dry skin, psoriasis, or eczema.
It is great for hand washing and even gentle enough for babies. Some also use the soap to wash their infant's clothing or other delicate lingerie and laundry items. (see DIY Laundry Liquid)
but also the dishes.
In France, Savon de Marseille soaps have been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces.
Another reason to contemplate this luxurious handmade French Soap is that it is an economical beauty product. A bar of Savon de Marseille lasts twice as long as an ordinary bar and can be stored for very long periods at room temperature.
Using bar soap is also more environmentally friendly than using shower gels and shampoos in plastic bottles. Since all of the ingredients come from nature, there is never any need to test on animals and it is 100% biodegradable within 28 days.
Plus, we send you 'naked' soaps, which means we don't use any plastic or too much packaging.
Our Savon de Marseille is genuinely in a class of its own. It is one of the many handmade French products available at French Bliss, manufactured at Savonnerie Le Sérail - the only remaining authentic Soap Factory in Marseille that sticks to the Traditional Know-How.
French Bliss is proud to offer you this authentic French product online. Bliss You!
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