Tableclothes why they need washing more after you first bt them

You've really raised a good question because I have just never thought about it. I use a tablecloth all the time and I always have had but I guess I have just never thought about it. I just throw it in the wash. Take Care my friend.

Haven't you observed in big restaurants, table clothes are changed for each customer? Particularly when children are there, the TC tends to get more stains because in spite of teaching etiquettes, there is bound to be spills of particularly liquid food items like sauces. One way to avoid the spillage is to have bigger plates. Second method is to have coasters under each plate (preferably plsstic ones which are washable). Third way is to have a plastic table cloth with designs which can be cleaned easily.

They put a filler or a finish on all fabric, they call it sizing also. I find that things get more stained when I use a liquid fabric softener in my washer. I only use vinegar now. It also seems to take out the stains. You can lightly iron (I know, a pain) the tablecloth and use spray on sizing, or starch and it will keep clean longer. I think it all depends on if you get a stain resistant fabric to begin with. Some of the nicer ones are not. Good luck with this one.

They are definitely "treated" at the factory to make them look nicer and possibly prevent permanent creases (although all of mine always come out of the package badly wrinkled). Once that protective finish is washed off they get dirty easier. I'm sure you can by a similar product and treat yor table cloths yourself.

When you buy a new tablecloth they have been treated with sizing. So they do not hold liquid stains very well, but when you wash the tablecloth, you wash out the sizing and expose the fabric. After that, if you spill anything, even one single drop of gravy, it will be noticable. The best thing to do, it's what I have found to work, is to wash the tablecloth in the hottest water possible for the fabric and add a scoop of color safe bleach. Then I dry mine on tumble dry/low-med heat. Once it is dry, I iron the tablecloth with faultless spray starch and then treat it with Scotch Guard. It will usually last about 2 weeks before I have to wash it again. If I do not treat with scotch guard, I have to wash my cloths every four days or so. I have several tablecloths so I don't always treat them. I normally just change them out every four days or so and spot treat the stains until I do laundry. My holiday cloths are washed and treated before I put them away in storage so that when I get ready to use them, I just have to shake them out. FYI: To keep wrinkles to a minimum when storing, fold your cloth in half longways and then roll the cloth into a tube. This way when you take it out, you only have the one long line down the middle. You toss on a table runner and no one knows.

Another option is to invest is a piece of clear plastic that is the same shape as your table and place it over the tablecloth. You still have the beauty of the tablecloth, but the ease of cleaning. I have also seen this when I go out to eat.

They certainly do something. Because I had that problem too. Well Im just not going to ever wash them.LOL I think they are sprayed with something. Maybe like the same stuff they use on furniture.

I think perhaps they do treat some fabrics with something to finish them. Quite often a care label will say "wash before use" I hate it that some things never look as nice once you wash them. I have a lovely bright Christmas tablecloth that I've had for years. It was quite cheap and is made of seersucker so it's drip dry. It always looks great at christmas. Sometimes I use it for other occasions just for the fun of it. I have a beautiful lace tablecloth that has some stains on it that I simply cannot remove. Luckily they are not very noticeable.

I've never really thought about this until now with your discussion. But I know I have seen in the stores (walmart, grocers, etc) a spray can of stain release, Scotchguard I believe is the item I am trying to think of. I know you can have furniture treated with Scotchguard to help with keeping stains from finer fabrics, so why not for a nice tablecloth. I hope this helps, it is the only thing I can think of that might do the trick. Best of luck : )

I don't use table cloths anymore at home. Just a small table mat or whatever they called it. My dining table is glass top, I'm thinking to sell it because it's too big. Other tables are wooden and that's where we use the mat. If I remember correctly, we never use table cloths at all since I got married so I don't remember how long it takes until we have to wash it.

Could be. There might be something that you can spray on it to keep it nice longer. I would probably suggest a fabric store rather than the grocery store, but I'm not sure.