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Tableclothes why they need washing more after you first bt them  email this discussion to a friend?

myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife 5 years ago

A couple of years ago we got a nice tablecloth from my son for Christmas and it lasted two weeks before we had to wash it. However, after I washed it, it would get dirty in just a couple of days and I do not mean bread crumbs that we could shake off, I mean the stains stayed on longer. Has this happened to you?
The reason is that we bought another one for Thanksgiving. So far, it has not needed any washing, but I do not want to do it every couple of days.
So do they put a filler on tablecloths before they sell them and is that the reason?

 

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vokey9472 (1134) response was accepted on 11/4/2007.
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tags:  tablecloths, clear plastic, ease of cleaning, frequent washing, i have the same problem
 
1. myLot reputation of 99/100. ElicBxn (24693)   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

It could be Scotchguard, but am not sure.

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2. myLot reputation of 96/100. TerryZ (11452)   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

That is what I figure, but am not sure what it is. I know they spray furniture with Scotchguard to keep it nice.

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3. myLot reputation of 99/100. GardenGerty (35345)   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

I didn't know that about fabric softener. I use vinegar as I am allergic to fabric softener, but not when we got that first table cloth.


myLot reputation of 99/100. GardenGerty (35345)  5 years ago

I used to use a brand called Magic spray sizing-it was not starch, and iron my things. It probably is still around in the same row as laundry detergent. I do not think I would want to be constantly scotchgarding my tablecloth.

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4. myLot reputation of 99/100. Grandmaof2 (4590)   ranked 1 out of 110 in housewife   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

Yes but there are only two of us now, and I do not want to wash every two days if it is just the tablecloth.


myLot reputation of 99/100. Grandmaof2 (4590)   ranked 1 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

Yes I see your point totally. I have to do laundry for myself, my husband and his brother that lives with us, and I do my fair share of laundry. I guess I wasn't much help to you, sorry about that. I think the idea of spraying a protector would be OK, but the other thing I have seen people do is get the very thin clear plastic liner and lay that over top the tablecloth and you'd still see the tablecloth.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

It would be okay if we still had the boys, but they are all grown up or my granddaughter was old enough to eat at the table, but she is not. I guess we will have to keep on washing four days a week. I do my laundry twice a week, so I guess that will be okay.

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5. myLot reputation of 88/100. ssh123 (18170)   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

We used to have a plastic table cloth but this is the dining room, not the kitchen. And I do not own a restaurant.


myLot reputation of 94/100. ljegbers (5726)  5 years ago

Yes, I've noticed how restaruants do this too to keep a clean appearance.

My mother uses the plastic place matts too. It helps keep her tablecloth cleaner and she only needs to wash it once or twice every week or so. That's a good idea.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

It gets hot and humid here when it rains, and sometimes the plastic cracks. That is another reason besides that it make one think one is a little sloppy.

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6. myLot reputation of 93/100. foxyfire33 (5787)   ranked 28 out of 110 in housewife   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

I could, but I would have to buy a non-allergic non-perfume product.

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7. myLot reputation of 98/100. vokey9472 (1134)   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

I have two good tablecloths and one every day one. The trouble is with the every day one, I have crappy plastic place mats, whereas the nice ones I have really nice matching place mats. I do not iron them but fold them once they come out of the dryer, so they do look fine. I just do not like washing them every two to four days.

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8. myLot reputation of 96/100. carmelanirel (12225)   5 years ago

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.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

If it were a kitchen table, we would use a plastic one, but a dining room, it is bound to get cuts in it.

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9. myLot reputation of 94/100. ljegbers (5726)   5 years ago

It's got to be something because when I buy towels I have to wash them at least two times otherwise they just don't absorb anything.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

I think it is the sizing.


myLot reputation of 94/100. ljegbers (5726)  5 years ago

What does sizing have to do with any protective coating on the towel? This coating is what keeps the towel from absorbing water.....I don't think they put is on one size towel and not another, especailly if I buy a set and they are all that way.


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

I never had to worry about towels, but then I expected them to get dirty.

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10. myLot reputation of 98/100. applsofgld (1443)   ranked 60 out of 110 in housewife   5 years ago

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 : )


myLot reputation of 78/100. suspenseful (19615)   ranked 5 out of 110 in housewife  5 years ago

I used to use Scotchguard with my coat when I had to go out in the rain and I did not want to put on a plastic rain coat over it, but that was when I had a job in an office and I was going in the rain all the time.

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