Tea-towels and hand towels

Well, I shall commit heresy and say we are all far too concerned about cleanliness and germs these days.

Do you remember when you were a child in England? I was born just after the War (WW2). Our toilet was at the bottom of the garden, we used cut up newspaper because toilet paper did not exist, and we had a pot under the bed. Hands were washed (before meals) in cold water because we didn’t have hot water on tap. Our bathtub hung at the top of the cellar steps and was used only on Fridays, first me, then Mum and finally Dad using the same water which all had to be boiled over the fire. Washing clothes and especially bedding was done on a good drying day. We had no vacuum cleaner so floors got swept. And we had none of those “kills 99% of all known germs” products. We played outside all day (in my case on bombed buildings in Sheffield) without washing our hands.

How on Earth did we survive? Very well. We seemed to have fewer allergies, fewer coughs and colds and things like asthma weren’t a particular problem, certainly not to the extent that they are now. OK so I wouldn’t choose to go back to those times – I like my creature comforts – but I do think we have gone overboard on the cleanliness thing. How are children supposed to build up immunity if they are never exposed to germs etc?

Let’s be honest and say that we have been conditioned to believe germs are bad, and should be avoided at all costs, by the marketing of big businesses seeking to make a profit from our fears and our wish to do the best we can for our kids. Despite our good intentions, I don’t think we have done our children any favours.

Are we not all becoming a little, "precious" about kitchen hand hygiene?
Most of us live in reasonably clean homes, aided by modern dish-washing and disinfectant products.
Most of us have clothes washing machines, and wash our tea towels and hand towels on a regular basis.

OK, it is possible that an occasional microbe might escape our vigilance;
but come on girls! Keep Calm and Carry On!

We have, (each and every one of us) descended from thousands of generations of real survivors.

Within living memory, kitchen roll, J cloths, washing-up liquid
and antiseptic hand wipes just didn't exist; then, dad's old vest or shirt was co-opted into use for kitchen clean-up duties.
Things are so much better now.
By being moderately careful, I can be pretty confident that I will not poison
anyone who risks dropping in for coffee. I certainly would not make any guest feel bad because they inadvertently used the wrong cloth or towel.

We are, on the whole, amongst the cleanest folk to inhabit our planet.
Surely, the accidental use of a tea-towel instead of a hand towel is highly unlikely to bring about the end life as we know it?

joannewton46 We are now better educated and keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid spreading germs to others and getting ill ourselves. We now know that many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing your hands properly with soap and clean water and drying them on a clean towel.

Improved sanitation and clean water is right at the top of the list when it comes to public health measures that have improved our health.

No one actually knows why asthma is more common today and some have suggested clean homes could be the culprit, yet there is no actual evidence to prove that theory. Pollution has also been cited and this can be from outside or inside the home. We seal ourselves in these days, to keep warm, and pollutants from cleaning products, candles and air fresheners can all pollute our homes.

The types of germs we are trying to avoid include those that gives us really nasty, serious illnesses.

Pardon me for saying this, but I think you might be looking back through rose tinted specs. Infant mortality rates today are a fraction of what they used to be, if you look back through history.

joannewton I recognise all you have said. Takes me right back. And I agree with you.

Me too - that's what I was trying to say earlier. Have some people been brainwashed by adverts on TV for cleaning products, ever-changing health warnings etc?

I have a smooth linen tea towel for drying glasses/dishes and a rough tea towel for hands. When, a few years ago, my friend said she was very pernickety about having separate hand/dish towels in the kitchen, I thought it was over-fussy but somehow I've arrived at the same point myself.

I put tea towels in the wash every 3 days.

I think it is unwise and unnecessary to use anti-bacterial spray cleaners and disinfectants/bleaches.

I suppose we all have our own ideas about hygiene. I'll stroke my dog and not bother to wash my hands but most of my friends always wash their hands after stroking him. Some people are especially wary of public toilets and are worried about touching door handles. That doesn't particularly bother me.

I think it is only a real problem when people get fixated on this sort of thing but I think it's probably true that the body can withstand quite a few germs.

Am I the only Gransnet slut in the kitchen? Can't be bothered with discrimination - life's too short for that. One tea towel for glasses, one for dishes and another to get things out of the oven. And as for wiping my hands, what's wrong with the apron or my jeans? Haven't killed anyone yet with my sluttish habits.

Collgirl My thoughts exactly! You are not the only one.

I've always had a hand towel and a tea towel in the kitchen, as my mum did. When my son married he asked his wife which towel to put in kitchen and she said use the tea towel that's what my mum does. I Notice there is a hand towel and a tea towel now.

1Collgirl and Nelliemoser please can I join your lifestooshort club, maybe there are some other closet minimalists out there

Four pages of discussion on teatowels! Has no-one anything better to do!
Go and read a good book or something!

I'm just impressed that there are so many aprons in use having never owned one myself!

carolmary, it's not the first time! Tea towels seem to be a source of infinite fascination here. As for aprons: being a messy cook, after at least forty years, I came to the conclusion that I needed an apron, so ordered a bright red cheap one from Ebay. It is rarely off its hook on the cellar door.

carolmary here's a book we could enjoy
www.amazon.co.uk/Take-Tea-Towel-Jemima-Schlee/dp/186108790X

I do use an apron (a butcher's style apron in various patterns of thick cotton) because I am such a messy cook.
It makes me look more efficient and chef-like as well

I so wish you could still buy the aprons like wot I used to wear. They had a back contraption of straps which meant they stayed comfortably in place and the bit round the back of your neck stayed down. I hate feeling that bit of cloth next to my skin. Just can't buy them now.

I hope I haven't already said that on this thread. I think I did say it on a previous thread.

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Oh FFS
Reported

They manage to creep in don't they Alea?

GNHQ being a bit slow off the mark though ...... Probably having a

Oops sorry GNHQ!!!