Do you use a tablecloth on a daily basis? If so, how do you clean it off? (vinyl, floor)

[emm74]

I keep a tablecloth on our dining room table, which is the only eating area in the house so we use it multiple times a day. Recently, I got annoyed at a visiting relative (ok, my mother! lol!) who took her hand and wiped all the crumbs on the table off onto the floor.

Assuming the tablecloth is still clean, and just has crumbs on it, my preferred method is take it off and take it outside the front door to shake it off and then put it back on the table. If there was a spill on it, then I replace it with a freshly laundered one, and I switch it out for a clean one every week-ish.

Just curious how others treat their tablecloths on a daily basis?

[ocngypz]

When I do have a tablecloth on for an extended time, I shake it out the back door.

However, I seem to have messy visitors, so 99% of the time, it gets a squirt of Shout and goes right into the washer.

I do get crumbs on the kitchen table which has no tablecloth. I "sweep" them into my hand and toss them in the trash.

[Brian_M]

No tablecloths in my house.... most of our eating is done at the kitchen island/bar, the rare time we eat at the dining room table, it has individual place mats.

Growing up though, we only had a dining room and the nice wood table was always covered with a cloth. It was one of those vinyl cloth items for all but "fancy" dinners, and mom would simply wipe it off with the dish rag. I'm not sure how often it was washed, but not very....

[Piney Creek]

We use tablecloths. Like you, we shake it off outdoors, and if there's a stain we put it in the wash. I like them as a way to add a punch of color to the room, although sometimes we take them off for a few months and enjoy looking at the table top, instead.

[elnina]

I use tablecloth crumbs sweeper, it's antique silver and belongs to my family for many years - but you get the idea.

Spoiler

You can buy similar at Etsy, if you want a fancy one
https://www.etsy.com/market/table_crumb_brush?ref=l2
There are many modern versions on Amazon. I think they are called a crumber.
https://goo.gl/XmZTP2

[Piney Creek]

Love those things! So elegant.

[Beach Chic]

To me sweeping crumbs on the floor is just creating more work for yourself.

[maciesmom]

Placemats for us. I only use tablecloths for holidays. More work and a more formal look than is my preference. I wipe the table off, crumbs into my hand. Same with the kitchen counter. Placemats are washed.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Beach Chic

To me sweeping crumbs on the floor is just creating more work for yourself.

To me sweeping anything from the table to the floor means no manners. Sorry.

[CatwomanofV]

The only time we use a table cloth is for our annual Spring Fling barbecue on our outside tables.

I have thought about using a table cloth at Christmas but I don't think they make one that big. I thought about using a runner but again, I don't think they make them that big.



Cat