The best way to store tablecloths is clean and fully dry, rolled or hung when you have the room, in a cool, dark space where air can move. Folded is fine for everyday stock if you change the fold lines now and then.
For long-term storage, steer clear of plastic bags, damp basements, and starch.
Key Takeaways:
- Wash every tablecloth before storage, even if it looks clean.
- Dry linens all the way through before you fold, roll, or wrap them.
- Rolling or hanging prevents wrinkles, and folding works for linen in weekly use.
- Wrap fine linen in acid-free tissue or clean cotton, never plastic.
Clean and dry before storing your table linens
Every cloth needs a wash before it goes into storage, even one that looks clean. A University of Kentucky Extension guide to caring for textile heirlooms explains that soiled fabric may attract insects and set permanent stains. The guide was written for heirlooms, but the same habits protect banquet stock.
Treat wine and gravy stains with a stain remover before washing your tablecloths, and our guide to removing wax from a tablecloth covers candle drips. The care label is your best guide to how to wash table linens. In general, use your usual laundry detergent at the warmest temperature it allows, or cold water for colors that bleed. Check each cloth in good light before a tumble dry, since high heat can lock in a mark.
Drying matters as much as washing, because a cloth left a little damp inside a fold can mildew. According to the Kentucky guide, humidity over 55% promotes mildew growth. If you air dry a cloth, check the hems and seams too, since they hold water longest.
How to store tablecloths without wrinkling
Of the three methods, rolling leaves the fewest creases. Wrap a tube a little longer than the cloth is wide in washed muslin or acid-free tissue, then roll the cloth around it. For round tablecloths, fold the circle in half once, then roll from the straight edge.
Hanging suits banquet linen you’ll use in the next few weeks. Drape pressed cloths over wide, padded hangers with a cotton cover. Thin wire hangers leave a ridge and can rust.
Folding is the everyday choice for cotton linens in steady use. Change the fold lines each time so one crease doesn’t wear into the fabric. In a drawer, line raw wood with cotton and stack each cloth napkin flat by color.
How to store tablecloths long term
Special-occasion sets sit in storage the longest, and these steps keep them in shape:
- Wash, dry, and inspect each cloth, and leave out starch. The Kentucky guide says silverfish are attracted to starch or sizing.
- Roll or fold, and pad any folds with crumpled acid-free tissue.
- Wrap each piece in acid-free tissue, a laundered cotton sheet, or unbleached muslin.
- Store it in a breathable box or a lined cabinet, since raw wood gives off acids that harm cotton and linen.
- Pick a cool, dark spot. The guide puts the ideal at 65 to 70°F and 40 to 50% humidity.
- Check the stock every few months and refold anything folded.
Skip plastic bags, which cut off air and can trap condensation. Attics swing in temperature, and basements tend to run damp.
How to iron tablecloths before an event
Press tablecloths as close to the event as you can, and check the care label for the fiber and heat setting first. Iron linen tablecloths and cotton ones while they’re slightly damp. Hang or drape each one right away so new wrinkles don’t form. If the label allows it, steam synthetic blends instead.
How OrangeBag handles banquet and table linen
OrangeBag’s event laundry programs cover tablecloths, napkins, and banquet linens pressed and finished for gala and catered service, with same-day and overnight cycles built around call times. For year-round food and beverage service, OrangeBag’s hotel linen programs press and finish table linen on the same route as guest room linens. To count and rotate stock, see our post on linen management for small businesses.
FAQ
What is the best way to store tablecloths?
Store them clean and fully dry, then roll them on a tube or hang them on a padded hanger. Folding works fine for linen that comes out every week. Keep the whole stock somewhere cool, dark, and dry, wrapped in cotton or acid-free tissue for anything that will sit for months.
Can you store tablecloths in plastic bins?
Plastic bins aren’t a good fit for long stretches. The University of Kentucky Extension guide warns that plastic bags cut off air and can trap moisture. It adds that plastic containers build static, which attracts dust. Breathable boxes or cotton wraps are the safer choice.
Should you starch tablecloths before storing them?
Leave starch out until right before an event, since the Kentucky guide says silverfish are drawn to textiles with starch or sizing. Wash any starch out before storage, and add a fresh coat when you press the cloth for its next event.
Ready to hand off the table linen?
Pressed linen on every table shouldn’t mean an all-nighter for your banquet team. Tell OrangeBag your event calendar and table count, and you’ll see the program and pricing in writing before you sign.
