Tips on how to wash and care for your table linens

Whether your household uses table linens such as tablecloths and cloth napkins on a regular basis or only during the holidays, it’s essential that you appropriately clean and store them to ensure their good condition.

Keep your linens looking their best by correctly washing, drying, ironing, and storing them with these helpful tips. 

Washing – Always wash your table linens on the delicate cycle. If you notice a stain, pre-treat the fabric with a stain remover. Make sure to test the product on the inside seam of your table linens to ensure they won’t become bleached, faded, or begin to bleed. (Read more on how to keep colors from bleeding and ruining your fabrics.) 

If there are no grease stains on your linens, wash them in cold water on the delicate cycle. If grease stains are present, treat them with blue Dawn dish detergent before washing them with warm water.

Drying – Using the delicate or low-heat cycle, dry the fabrics until they’re almost dry. By leaving them a little damp, you’ll have an easier time ironing them. 

Ironing – Iron your linens on the hottest setting the fabric can withstand without becoming burned. Linens made of heavier material can handle more heat. However, if the fabric is delicate or includes intricate detail, opt for using a low setting. If you’re unsure of how the material will react to the iron, then test a spot on the inside seam or the reverse side of the linen first. 

Storing – There are many ways you can store your linens, but you want to do it in a way that won’t erase the hard work you did washing, drying, and ironing them. Immediately after you iron your tablecloth, allow it to lay flat to dry completely. Then you can lightly fold it into thirds or quarters and gently drape it across a hanger. 

For your cloth napkins, wrap them in acid-free tissue paper, making sure to place the tissue between the folds of the fabric to soften the edges. Never store your linens in plastic bags, cardboard boxes, or against the wood of a drawer or cedar chest. For linens that do not get frequently used, refold the lines of the fabric at least twice a year to avoid prolonged stress happening to any particular area. Another good tip to prevent wrinkles is to store the linens around an acid-free cardboard tube. 

Following these tips on how to properly care for your table linens will allow you to use them for many years to come! If you’re looking to lease or rent quality washers and dryers that’ll help keep your linens looking new, contact Appliance Warehouse to see what we can do for you!