The Best Fabrics to Use for Setting Hot Kettles On

Trivets and hot pads are the easiest way to protect your counter- and tabletops from hot kettles and pots. With a large variety of fabrics and styles available, it's easy to find trivets and hot pads that serve their purpose while suiting your individual kitchen needs. Does this Spark an idea?

Cotton

Cotton is a machine washable, heat resistant cloth that is flexible and versatile. It is a common natural fiber that dyes well and comes in a variety of colors. Because it is a material that easily conforms to the hand, cotton hot pads can also double as oven mitts, making them a popular choice for any kitchen.

Silicone

Silicone is a synthetic rubber that is durable and heat resistant. Silicone hot pads can be molded to any shape or form and are designed to catch splashing hot liquid. Because it is a durable rubber, trivets and hot pads made with silicone are stain resistant and dishwasher safe.

Neoprene

Neoprene is a polychloroprene rubber used to reinforce cotton hot pads and oven mitts. It's insulating and heat resistant. Neoprene has a cloth-like flexibility made to grip surfaces, which makes it a good material for an oven mitt as well as a hot pad.

Nylon

Trivets made with nylon cords or ropes are both decorative and functional. Nylon chord is durable, elastic, easy to find, and comes in a variety of thickness and lengths, making it a good choice for hot pads and trivets that are made from scratch. The thicker the chord, the greater the protection from your kettle to your countertop.

Hemp

A natural, recyclable alternative to nylon is hemp. Like cotton, hemp is a plant fiber that can be rolled into twine, yarn, cord and rope. It's easy to weave and great for handmade gifts. Hemp's glossy finish makes it mold-resistant as well as beautiful.

Jute Rope

Jute rope is another natural plant fiber good for weaving and twining. It is a soft, strong fiber that holds shape as well as hemp, and is also inexpensive, like cotton. Jute, like hemp and cotton, can be dyed to any hue, or left its natural taupe color. Using trivets made from natural materials like jute, cotton and hemp would be an environmentally friendly way to protect your countertops from heat, while adding a creative and decorative touch to your kitchen.