THE BEAUTY OF CLOTH NOT PAPER

THE BEAUTY OF CLOTH NOT PAPER
Over the years, we have hosted quite a lot of events, parties and meals here at FrenchGardenHouse. We’ve had birthday dinners for over 50, holiday brunches, lunches and dinners for our family, girlfriend get-togethers, cocktail affairs, wedding and baby showers, children’s parties and more. For all of these, I've worked really hard on eliminating all plastic and paper from our entertaining arsenal.

Antique French Napkins

Cloth Napkins are one of the things that truly elevate your event. Your table setting always looks exquisite if there are "real" cloth napkins. I know, paper is easy. But I think you will agree that there is nothing that compares to how linen napkins feel. Even when we have a large group of people over for a casual dinner in the garden, I choose cloth not paper. We've had sit-down dinners here for over 50 guests, family and friends, where each one had a beautiful cloth napkin.

Antique French Napkins | Antique Double Fan Napkin Ring

My trick for that? I use all white for large groups, so I can throw all of them in the washer and dryer, until next time. The beauty of using all white napkins is a great trick, because you can happily mix and match napkin sets that are antique with new.

Sterling Silver Napkin Rings

As long as they are all white, they all will look uniform and delight your guests. For smaller groups, there is such a range of luxurious, beautiful colored cloth napkins!

Blue Linen Napkins

I love cloth napkins so much, that I am an equal opportunity admirer of both antique napkins and new napkins. These navy blue linen napkins were the star of last year's Thanksgiving Dinner Setting >

Natural Linen Bee Striped Napkins

It’s just so much nicer for your guests to be able to use real dishes, forks, and napkins, they are more substantial, and say “you are special.” Which brings me to another reason I prefer cloth napkins.

Antique Fern Napkin Ring

Napkins that are cloth can be washed, and you will find that your guests, who will think nothing of using 2-5 paper napkins for a meal, will be quite satisfied with just one cloth napkin. Ultimately, a good quality cloth napkin is less expensive than paper, and of course there is our environment to consider.

Antique French Monogrammed Napkins

For your family table, you could adopt the "napkin ring system" used by my European Mom. Each one of us had our own silver napkin ring, so that we always used our "own" napkin at the table until it was time to wash them and replace them with a freshly laundered one.

Antique Lace De Venise Napkins

Some of you have emailed and asked about the how to's of using and cleaning cloth napkins, so here are a few tips. {And yes, I know, most of you are probably thinking...no...duh. } But hopefully there is some encouragement to be found in these easy "tips' for serving up your table settings in luxurious style.

Ruffled Linen Napkins

TIPS FOR USING CLOTH NAPKINS WITH STYLE AND EASE: 1. I’ll admit, for the linen napkins I use, I don’t iron them. I take them out of the dryer right away, and fold, and store. that’s it. I don’t mind if they are a little rumpled. 2. I set the table with one napkin per place setting. These days, napkins are so pretty, that it’s a shame to just fold them, I like them on top of the plate. 3. I put a few extra napkins on the table near me, because they can do more than wipe and cover. I use napkins at the table to line the breadbasket, to use as potholders for a serving dish that is a little warmer than comfortable to hold, and I also dispense napkins as needed to guest who may want/need more than one. {as is often the case when my darling little people are over.} 4. After the party is over, I gather the napkins in a pile, and check if there are any big stains that need attention. I will spray or rub a stain remover on the spot {although this is almost never necessary} and either put the napkins in the laundry room in a bucket of water to soak, or directly into the washer. That’s all there is to it! I'm giving you a little preview peek at my latest napkin obsession: these gorgeous linen napkins embroidered in red for the holidays! {Coming soon - I love these, and am very excited to be able to get them for our FrenchGardenHouse French Holiday Collection.} I hope you will consider switching from paper to cloth... and enjoy the luxurious feeling of linen at the table. DO YOU USE PAPER, OR HAVE I SWAYED YOU TO USE CLOTH? Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com

34 comments

Pinky, I’ve found that for lipstick stains, if I gather the napkins after our guests have left, and soak them overnight in a bucket of warm water with Oxo-clean, then wash in the morning, come right out! You have to make sure the napkins won’t bleed (colorfast) but this really works.

Lidy

Kathie, that’s a great trick, I use this when I know the napkins have been used after an Italian meal, for instance!

Lidy

I LOVE the look of cloth napkins. I have several colors and prints, it adds so much to the tablescape. My trick – is to collect the napkins after the dinner party is over and soak them overnight in a bucket with water and a scoop of oxyclean. Dump the napkins and water/ oxyclean into the washer in the morning and wash as usual. Napkins come out clean and stain free! Check for color fastness, I’ve had one set of napkins bleed in the soaking solution

Kathie

Lidy, I always use cloth for guests too, but what do you do for lipstick stains? I Usually put a paper napkin under the cloth napkin for my women guests for that purpose. What is your solution?

Pinky

I use both, paper for us everyday. I really have a stash of colors and patterns of cloth napkins when we all sit down to a family dinner. I have finally convinced my daughter that it is easier to use the cloth. I am sort of a recycle person too, to the cloth suits me better. Love the new read napkins you showed us. I have Corelle dishes that are white with just a red line around them so I am going to be on the lookout for some red napkins too.

Elaine Sharrard

Most always use cloth napkins. There is something so elegant about them. Thanks for the tips.

Linda Rubin

I whiten my linens after washing them by putting them out while still really wet , on my wet green grass directly in the sun. The chlorophyll and sun do the trick. My husband lived in Africa and learned this trick from the natives. You will need to launder them again as they have been on the ground. Hope you will try this Julie as it really works. You might need to do this several times but each time your lines will get whiter.

Alice

Lidy, I love your 2016 Thanksgiving table. The tablecloth, plates and napkins are gorgeous. So French, so you.

Alice

I have used cloth (linen) napkins for 40 years. They are so easy to do up & feel better to the touch. I even use them for everyday.

Pat Ernst

Cloth napkins add an air of sophistication to any occasion. It is like serving a Oreo cookies on a cake stand. They just seem to look and taste better.

Lisa DeNunzio
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