Taking care of your table linens can sometimes be a hassle. Whether it’s your cloth placemat, table runner, or cloth napkins, knowing exactly how to take care of each type of table linen is crucial. At Pioneer Linens, we’ve been selling bed sheets, bath towels, and all kinds of table linens for over 100 years! Because of our years of experience, we’ve dealt with all kinds of stains and are equipped to help you deal with any type of table linen you own or have purchased with us. In this blog, we will give you a few tips for washing your tablecloths, as well as how often to wash them.
Best Practices for Cleaning Your Linen Tablecloths
1. Read the care label before anything else: While we can give you advice on table linens we sell, following the care instructions should take precedence on how you care for your tablecloths.
2. Treat your stains before washing them: Using a stain remover, even on a stubborn stain, can vastly improve how efficiently the stains are removed when washed later (Make sure to test stain remover on a small area before fully applying it).
3. Wash your table linens in cold water with light detergent: Washing your linens in high heat can be damaging, using high detergent can be too strong on the linens themselves, and eventually could cause permanent damage worse than stains.
4. DO NOT use bleach: Using bleach might seem like a surefire way to remove stains, and most of the time it technically is, but not for the linens themselves! Using bleach can cause discoloration or cause the fibers of the material to fray.
5. Dry your tablecloths on low heat: As with washing, drying your table linens in high heat could cause damage to them over time, so be sure to only use as much as necessary. Hanging them to dry is generally an effective method.
In-Depth Washing Advice for Table Linens
If your table linens are made of synthetic fibers, consider using a permanent-press cycle if your washing machine has this setting. This is because the setting helps prevent wrinkles with a cool-down feature.
In situations where food stains are present, these are the only times you may want to consider heavy-duty laundry detergent, especially if you’ve already washed or rewashed the table linens. We also advise applying fabric softener, as it helps coat the linen fibers to stop food and liquids from penetrating the fabric as quickly the next time they get stained.
Before placing your linen tablecloths in the dryer, shake them out after removing them from the washer. Unbundling it this way will help stave off wrinkles. If you’ve found that your table linens still have stains after washing them, do NOT continue with drying them, as this can make removing those stains even harder. Instead, reapply a stain remover and rewash it until the stain is gone.
Best Practices for Maintaining Your Linen Tablecloths
Cleaning your linen tablecloths the right way is important, but even if you wash them correctly, your table linens may still wear out over time. Here are some tips for maintaining your linen tablecloths and making sure they look better for a long time!
1. Keep your table linens somewhere away from direct sunlight: Sunlight is generally safe, but over time, harsh UV rays can have harsh effects on tablecloths if left out for too long. Make sure that you put them away in a dry yet cool drawer in order to extend their lifetime.
2. Fold your tablecloths when putting them away: Folding clothing, sheets, and yes, table linens, helps protect the fabrics from excessive wrinkling and makes it usable for a much longer period of time.
3. Rotate your table linens periodically: Unique conditions like sunlight, stains, and even the table you place your tablecloths on can have a visible effect after a long period. Occasionally putting your table linens on facing a different direction than previously can slightly increase their longevity.
4. Ironing your tablecloths: By ironing your table linens on a low to medium setting, you can prevent more stubborn wrinkles from forming.
How to Iron Your Table Linens
If you are planning on ironing your linens, we recommend taking them out of the dryer while they are still a little damp, as this cuts time out of drying while making your time ironing easier! Here’s some advice to follow to make sure you’re caring for your linen tablecloths as efficiently as possible.
1. Make sure your iron is cleaned: To ensure your iron is ready for use, check the soleplate of the iron. If it’s a steam iron, you can check by using a rag or old cloth to see if it leaves any marks.
2. Use a good ironing surface: The best surface to iron your table linens is a padded ironing board with a heat reflective cover, or some other smooth-silicon surface.
3. Consider using starch: Using starch spray can make your tablecloths look and feel crisp. Perfect for folding your napkins and creating a presentation for your guests.
4. How to iron monogram: Many table linens are made with monogram stitching. To make sure the stitching isn’t affected, keep the monogram stitching face-down while ironing, then when you flip it over, iron AROUND the monogram design.
Linen Tablecloth Brands We Recommend
At Pioneer Linens, we have a variety of table décor for you to choose from. We have options from Le Jacquard Francais, like the Bistrot Français Tablecloth. Their linens are world renowned and are made to enhance the beauty of your home. Whether you’re looking for tablecloths or kitchen towels, we guarantee that you’ll love their unparalleled style and quality.
Another popular brand we offer is Tessitura Toscana Telerie. Their collection contains high-quality outdoor décor tablecloths, such as the Poisson Bleu Table Linens. If you’re looking for outdoor table linens, we recommend checking out what we have to offer from their catalogue!
What to Expect From Pioneer Linens
Our team is dedicated to providing you with the best service possible. That means helping you find the brands and styles you want, for the product you are looking for. If you have any more questions or need consultation about any of our linen tablecloths, call us at 800-207-5463 or email customerservice@pioneerlinens.com.