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To me sweeping crumbs on the floor is just creating more work for yourself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by elnina
To me sweeping anything from the table to the floor means no manners. Sorry.
Yeah, I was kind of shocked when my mother did this, so I'm glad to get the confirmation that it was not a normal thing to do!
She used to have one of those sweeper things (it was an all in one piece, not a little brush and dustpan style) but that was generally for big holiday dinners in between the main meal and dessert. For regular daily meals the dining room table was a glass topped table and we used placemats or she uses a vinyl cover that she wipes off with a sponge. I never saw her wipe the crumbs off onto the floor in her own house, just mine!
I use a cloth for every use because my son isn't the neatest kid in the world and this way I'm not ruining the top of my wooden table. Maybe at some point, I'll feel comfortable going to bare wood with placemats for every day use.
If I every buy another table, it will have surface that doesn't need to be babied, but that's a subject for another day.
We have an old round oak table in the kitchen, which gets a tablecloth when I'm having guests. Then I'll just leave it on until it gets a stain, remove it, and keep the table naked until next time. If hubby and I eat there we serve from the stove and use placemats.
The dining room table stays naked until we use it, which is like never, and then goes right back to naked.
My wood dining table has started to show its age, so I use table cloth all the time. On top of it, I also use pads or mats to make it easier to clean. When the table cloth gets dirty, I simply wash it with the washing machine. I do have some beautiful table cloth acquired during my travels overseas. These I only use on special occasions.
I have been thinking of getting a really nice looking live edge table but haven't saved up enough yet. I wont for sure use table cloth with it since the point is to appreciate its beauty; and I don't think its necessary to use table cloth.
i dont use one because with kids and dogs, it would look like garbage.
Kids I understand, they make a mess, although I prefer to keep the mess to a tablecloth that can be washed and eventually thrown out, rather than ruining my solid cherry table.
But I have to ask about the dogs - how do they make a tablecloth look like garbage? Do they sit at the table to eat? That would put them one up on my teenager! (that's a personal joke, I started a different thread about my newly turned teenager getting up from the table at mealtime and walking around eating his food! lol!)
My dining room table has a plastic wood grain surface, which is easily wiped clean.
For everyday meals, I generally use plastic placements, easily wiped clean.
For formal holiday meals, I use a linen table cloth, which is washed after the meal and returned to the towel closet.
For informal holiday meals, I use a paper table cloth (usually with a seasonal theme) which is tossed in the trash.
Many years ago when terry-towel table cloths were available, I had two and one would always be on the table because that one was homemade, a wood shop project, and I wanted to protect it. Unfortunately, it was also very heavy, and when I got into my 40s, I passed it on to a relative and downsized to a much smaller, lighter round table that came apart without tools and could be easily moved.
Probably too much information, but thanks for this thread. I haven't thought seriously about table cloths in a long time.
I have a felt backed vinyl table cloth on the table for messy eaters that visit, but normally a cloth one. I use a crumb sweeper or just wash it. I NEVER shake it in the yard. Ants would take over the yard!
Nope. Gave up on the idea of having one when I realized my cats would feel the need to be on top of it just because it's there. And when I stopped caring about the top of my table because it isn't that great.
I think I just like how it looks without one. I do put out my reindeer runner for Christmas though.
One great thing about liking table cloths is my family has something they can mail to me for Christmas or to bring home from a trip. I'm always happy to receive more.
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