Cotton Tea Towel To Make A Mundane Chore A Little Brighter

 If you’re on the market for a nifty product to make your day-to-day chores more chipper then perhaps the multipurpose Japanese cotton tea towel is a winner for you! Don’t your dishes, and your hands deserve the best? Give yourself something to look forward to with these beautifully designed tea towels. They come in three designs on Zak Zakka - cute cats, cheerful cherries and the very traditional cherry blossom. My favourite is the cherry blossom pattern as I feel like I’m relaxing under the cherry blossom trees in Japan each time I use it (well… if I close my eyes and think hard!). Honestly speaking, it makes a mundane chore a little brighter. I love anything and everything Japanese; once I’ve finished my Japanese cooking I finish up by using my winsome Japanese cotton tea towels. It really is the cherry (blossom) on top! 

     Have you heard of Yuzen dyeing? I hadn’t either until I found this product. It’s a very traditional Japanese technique of printing beautiful patterns with rice paste onto fabric that dates back as far as the Nara era (710-794AD!!). It’s very delicate and intricate but also prevents the dye from running. I can attest to that as I wash them in the washing machine with my usual detergent/softener and they come out looking as good as new. It’s no wonder Yuzen has continued for so many years. These towels are created with that exact technique and the outcome is just magnificent. It truly is a unique item that I’ve only seen from Japan. 

     As it’s made of rayon, it’s daintily soft so it’s kind to your hands, and your dishes whilst soaking up all that wetness. Compared to my old cotton tea towels it’s done a much better job at drying, without holding onto that damp stink! 

     Another plus of rayon… it’s recycled fiber and is made of wood pulp it means it’s biodegradable! It’s a super star product for environmental protection. I’m still yet to finish using my towels (the lifespan of these seems to be rather long!) but once they’ve seen better days I’ll be able to use them as cloths to clean the table or rags for chores around the house. Wouldn’t you agree that’s rather environmentally friendly. I can happily use these cloths whilst feeling like I’m doing my bit to save the world, and you can too!

     When it comes to how to use these towels, the list is endless! If you can think of it, you can use it. Hand towels, handkerchiefs, Tupperware wraps for your picnics, napkins, tablecloths, place mats for Japanese dishes are just a few that I’ve used mine as. They’re so versatile! I turned my lackluster dining table into a sensational Japanese table, just by decorating it with a cloth under my center-piece. My friends complimented me on the cute, white kitty pattern. Imagine the perfect picnic packed but add that finishing touch by wrapping your Tupperware with these towels. It’s bound to put a smile on yours and your buddy’s faces and not only does it look aesthetically pleasing but it also doubles up as a napkin to wipe greasy fingers and dribble chins. Those sausage rolls have never looked so good! I’ve also used them as place mats when my friends come for dinner and again the chorus of compliments kept flooding in. I hate to mention it, but with COVID 19 still raging about, these cloths also make for a good face mask as they’re wonderfully soft and breathable. How will you use yours?

     You could always follow the Japanese style of keeping a hand towel on you too. In Japan, everyone keeps a hand towel on them to use after washing their hands when they’re out and about; it’s genius! You don’t have to stand waiting for your hands to dry under the (usually inept) hand dryer or worry about using paper towels which again saves the environment as you aren’t using electricity or using paper; all whilst using the cutest of Japanese designs. It’s a win win for me! 

     If you’re one for dabbling in the Japanese lifestyle, you won’t be disappointed with these tea towels! There are many styles to choose from but for now I’ve only focused on three (or you’d be reading until the cows come home). Be sure to get yours whilst stocks last; they’re selling like hot cakes.