Where To Hang Kitchen Towels

As a nifty accessory in a busy kitchen, a kitchen towel must be easily accessible. Some towels also serve a decorative purpose, so their placement should complement your overall kitchen aesthetic.

Regardless of the size of your kitchen, there are several places in the kitchen where you can tuck these little towels away for quick use.

We’ve compiled a list of super-friendly kitchen towel placement alternatives that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.

Dishwasher Pulls

This is one of the more obvious solutions that doesn’t necessitate any additional setup or installation. A dishwasher handle is an excellent place to hang your light kitchen towels. It’s also very handy, especially if you’re using a towel to dry the dishes after a dishwasher cycle. 

This designated towel space also indicates the purpose it serves, preventing towels from being mixed up with towels used for other purposes. Even if you rarely use the dishwasher, the towel is within grasp for drying hand-washed dishes because the dishwasher is typically located near the sink.

Kitchen Island Handle

This is a unique and creative place to hang your kitchen towels. The island is typically centered in a kitchen space, and attaching a towel bar to the island’s side makes it an easy-to-grab option during emergency spills or when cleaning the countertops. 

Because of the central location of the kitchen island, towel access is somewhat equidistant regardless of where you are in the kitchen. This option also leaves the walls free of hooks and handles and instead leverages existing kitchen design for a practical purpose. 

Edge of the Sink

You’ve probably seen a kitchen towel neatly draped over the cool ceramic edge of a sink. This ensures that not only is the towel within your easy reach, but it also makes a statement. If done correctly, a kitchen towel can spruce up and add color to your kitchen space in subtle ways.

To achieve this effect, fold a brightly colored, patterned kitchen towel in thirds before draping it over the edge of the sink. This option is best suited for dual sinks with a faucet that can be turned to one side of the sink. When using a single sink, you risk wetting the towel every time you turn on the faucet.

Some may argue that this may attract germs and bacteria, or that there is a risk of cross-contamination. To avoid this, make sure there is no food residue in the towel’s folds and that it is wrung dry before wrapping it around the edge.

Over the Sink

This is one of the most sensible ways to hang a dishcloth. The area above the sink, typically on the backsplash, is ideal for towel drying. You can install a towel bar, hook, or ring on the higher end of the backsplash tile. Or, you could mount a towel bar on the side cabinet near the sink.

This allows you to easily access the dishcloth while drying your dishes over the sink or while clearing the countertop. Furthermore, if the cloth is wet, you can simply let it hang over the sink. This way, if any residual water drips down, it falls into the sink rather than ending up on your cabinets or damaging your furniture, as in the case of a cabinet towel holder.

Rack Under the Sink

If you’re worried about your dishcloth or wet towel being an eyesore in a clean kitchen, this is a great solution to counter that. Many kitchens have a convenient cabinet or storage area under the sink for paper towels, dish soap, sink brushes, and other sundries. You can store your kitchen towel in this area. 

If you prefer to drape them over a bar, you can mount a hook or a bar to the side in the storage area underneath, and then drape the towel over that. You can also use a side-mounted pull-out rack for convenient access.

While this is a great way to hide your towel, you should keep in mind that the closed confines may cause the towel to attract mold or moisture.

Wall-mounted Bar or Ladder

If you prefer to keep your counters and sink area clutter-free, a standalone towel rack or wall-mounted bar may be the ideal solution. You could also use a multi-towel rack or hook setup to hang more than one dishcloth. But be careful not to mix them up!

If you have a larger kitchen, you could also try using a ladder rack. This not only provides neat, designated spots for your various dishcloths and towels, but it also adds a rustic touch to your kitchen design.

Oven Range Handle

Keep it simple! Drape your towels over the handle on your oven range for easy access and handling. When using the oven, you will almost always need a dishcloth to remove hot items or trays from the oven. You might also need it to clean up oven spills or the like. 

To avoid cross-contamination or germ accumulation on the towel, wipe down the oven handle often, as it is used with the same hands that have handled raw meat or food.  

Over-the-door Towel Holder

This over-the-door holder is a lifesaver if you want to avoid the hassle of unnecessary hardware or installation! This towel holder easily fits over cabinet doors beneath the sink. You can select from several options and styles that best complement your cabinet and kitchen design. 

These handy holders are not only attractive, but they also serve a practical purpose. Furthermore, you can always relocate them if you change your mind about their placement.

Final Thoughts

In most cases, hanging a kitchen towel does not require any additional installation. Using existing appliance handles or drawer handles and pulls to drape kitchen towels is a simple and creative solution. If you prefer a standalone towel holder or hook, the installation is quick, easy, and takes up little space.

While the primary purpose of a kitchen towel is to keep the kitchen clean, it can also help to improve the overall appearance of your kitchen by adding color and character. Whatever placement you choose, ensure that it properly balances both functions for the best results!