ReUse: It All Comes Out in the Wash?

No one told me that when I bought cloth napkins (to replace paper towels at the table) that they would be in desperate, desperate need of an ironing! I mean, it would be inappropriate - even for me - to put these napkins on the table in this condition. I hate ironing! I’d rather clean toilets!
Had I realized this, I would have bought some linens with a little polyester in them. A little sproing. Hmm. Do you suppose balled up table napkins (imagine, if you will, a large dollop of mashed potatoes) might ever come into fashion?

Comments

5 Responses to “ReUse: It All Comes Out in the Wash?”

jacqueline on December 7th, 2007 2:51 pm

My answer to this is to fluff them up in the drinking glass. I figure that once the family pulls them out of the glass they end up on the lap and they aren’t looking at them too closely. Granted, this isn’t for formal occasions, but for everyday they can get over a few wrinkles.
Ms. Theologian on December 7th, 2007 2:52 pm

Periodically I pick up some cotton napkins cheap at somewhere like World Market and they do indeed turn into small crumpled balls in the dryer.
will shetterly on December 7th, 2007 8:11 pm

Psst. Napkin rings.
PeaceBang on December 8th, 2007 9:51 am

Oh honey, I feel you. I’ve been using cloth for ten years and the trick is to dry them on low and get them out while they’re still the tiniest bit damp, if possible. Smooth them out as you fold them (which you have to do right away) and you’re fine. Also, they get softer over the years and less balled up.

I don’t even think about this anymore, so it does become a mindless, painless bit of home maintenance.
Jessica K. on December 18th, 2007 10:33 am

Yeah, definitely just take them out of the dryer while still warm and (just a little bit) damp!