fast facts

THE RIGHT TOWEL FOR THE RIGHT JOB

Linen: Best for drying glasses lint-free. Machine wash cold on the gentle cycle. Tumble dry low or line dry. No fabric softeners.

Polyester microfiber: Best for mopping up spills. Machine wash warm with like colors. Tumble dry low. No bleach or fabric softeners.

Cotton: Best for drying hands and dishes. Machine wash cold on the gentle cycle. Tumble dry low or line dry if vintage. No fabric softeners.

DISH TOWEL RESOURCES

Embellished: Applique, crochet and pompoms are a few of the old-fashioned details on this store’s towels (starting at $14). Anthropologie, www.anthropologie.com, (800) 309-2500.

French-made jacquard: Featuring kings, poems and cooking utensils, these woven cottons towels are colorful table decor and bread-basket liners ($22). QuelObjet, www.quelobjet.com, (877) 762-4499

Modern: For those who like graphic prints, there are 100 percent cotton towels by Tikoli ($9.50). Velocity Art and Design, www.velocityartanddesign.com, (866) 781-9494

VINTAGE DISH TOWELS

Do not use bleach (including sun bleaching) on delicate linens.

To avoid breaking fabric fibers, do not wring wet or damp linens.

If a bit of linen is too fragile or delicate to use, frame it.

Source: “The Kitchen Linens Book” by EllynAnne Geisel ($20, Andrews McMeel)