Care For Your Table Linens

Our collection of cotton and linen napkins, runners and tablecloths are to be enjoyed for everyday use, but they do require some care. Here are a few tips from thespruce.com to keep your table linens looking fresh and new.

Washing

Cool or cold water wash on the gentle cycle, with a mild detergent such as Le Blanc Linen Wash
Rinse thoroughly. Never use a fabric softener which can cause discolouration during storage
Most of our products have been prewashed prior to manufacturing, however there may be some additional natural shrinking over time
To remove stains, follow a stain removal chart to help with specific food stains

Drying

For best results, lay your napkins flat to dry. Laying them on top of the dryer while it is running works the best as the heat will help the drying process. You can stack them on top of each other to ensure that they all remain the same size.
If using your dryer, use the lowest setting and remove before they are completely dry. Lay flat and smooth out all four corners
For tablecloths and runners, use the lowest setting for the dryer and remove just before they are completely dry. Tablecloths should be folded into thirds, inside out, and then hung on a wide sturdy padded hanger to completely dry. Runners can be folded over on a padded hanger to finishing drying.

Pressing

Before you begin, make sure that the soleplate of your iron is clean. If you’re using a steam iron, test it on an old cloth to be sure that there are no mineral deposits being left by the iron. Those droplets will cause brown staining.

Use a well-padded ironing board with a smooth heat-reflective cover. The linens should be slightly damp for easier ironing. Press them until they are smooth but not completely dry and allow them to finish drying in the air.
Start with the wrong side of the cloth first, pushing the cloth section by section over the board as you iron. Turn the cloth over and finish by pressing on the right side of the cloth.
Starch or Sizing? If you like to fold napkins into fancy shapes, you’ll need to use starch and a hot setting on your iron to get the crispness you need. For a softer look, use spray-on sizing and iron on a medium setting.
For light-coloured linens, iron on the wrong side first, then on the right side to bring out the sheen. On dark-coloured articles, iron on the wrong side only.
Many napkins or placemats have monograms. To keep the stitched monograms looking crisp and smooth, iron with the design face down against a thick, terry towel. The soft texture will prevent the monogram from being flattened. The towel should be white or colourfast. After ironing the monogram face down on the towel, finish by pressing the right side of the napkin but iron around the monogram.
Do not fold or store just ironed linens. They should be kept spread out flat and smooth for some time to dry completely. When the linens are dry, hang over a padded hanger to prevent wrinkles or store flat.

Place your ironing board near a table when ironing large items such as tablecloths. Roll finished sections of the cloth over the table rather than letting it pile up under the ironing board.
If you are concerned about the cloth getting soiled if it puddles on the floor, place a clean white sheet under the ironing board.

Storage

Always wash or dry clean linens before storing and check each piece for stains. Some stains may not be visible but can provide food for mildew or insects like silverfish. And, be sure the linens are completely dry before you store them. Moisture means mildew.
Store linens in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Wrap them in acid-free tissue paper, not regular tissue paper. The acids in regular tissue paper can yellow white linens. Use the tissue between folds to soften edges; any crisp creases can weaken fibers. Smaller hard plastic wrap rolls work very well to wrap napkins around the roll. Line the roll with acid free tissue paper and roll each napkin separately with a new sheet of acid free tissue in-between, then store the napkins horizontally
Tablecloths and runners can be stored hanging or folded. If the latter, take an empty wrapping paper roll and line it with acid free tissue paper. Fold the tablecloth in half and then wrap it around the roll. Line the top again with the tissue paper and then store the tablecloth horizontally.
Never store linens in plastic bags, cardboard boxes or in direct contact with cedar chests or any wood drawer. Fumes from petroleum-based polyurethane plastic boxes and wood acids can yellow or weaken the fabrics.
Place heavier pieces like place mats on the bottom, then fabric tablecloths and napkins and place lace pieces on top of the stack. It is better to store linens that have not been starched because starch can attract insects.

Napkin Rings

Our range of napkin rings are made of varied materials; beads, feathers, Lucite, wood, natural gemstones, and should be cleaned with care.

Wipe clean with damp cloth.
Use a soft toothbrush with mild soapy water for plastic and glass beaded napkin rings if necessary.
Do not soak napkin rings in water.
Do not use citrus-based cleaners on metal napkin rings.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or scrubbers.

Banana Wood Placemats

Do not place hot dishes, cookware, or utensils on Banana Wood placemats to avoid scorching
Wipe clean with a damp cloth, spot clean with a mild soap solution, air dry in shade
Avoid using abrasive cloths
Do not immerse in water or place in dishwashers

Shagreen Placemats

Do not place hot dishes, cookware, or utensils on Shagreen placemats to avoid scorching
Wipe clean with a damp cloth, spot clean with a mild soap solution, air dry
Avoid using abrasive cloths
Do not leave mats on wood surfaces for extended periods as vinyl mats are not recommended for extended use on certain wood finishes
Do not immerse in water or place in dishwashers
100% Phthalate-free Vinyl