A tea towel and a dish towel may look similar, but they serve different purposes. A tea towel is used to dry dishes after washing them. They are made of absorbent fabrics such as cotton or linen, and often have decorative designs printed on them. Tea towels can also be used for general cleaning tasks around the kitchen such as wiping down counters and surfaces. A dish towel, on the other hand, is designed primarily for drying hands after washing them in the sink or bathroom basin. Dish towels tend to be thicker than tea towels, with more intricate patterns that are less likely to fade over time due to frequent use and laundering.