Do You Really Need to Wash Your Table Linens After Every Meal? A Laundry Expert Explains

Have you ever eyed a stained napkin or slightly dusty table runner and wondered, "Do I really need to wash this already?" If so, you’re not alone. When it comes to table linens, many people try to stretch the time between washes by relying on a quick spot clean. According to Mary Gagliardi, AKA Clorox's Dr. Laundry, that might be a mistake.

“Stains like coffee, red wine, pizza grease, spaghetti sauce, and candle wax are all typical stains you might have on table linens,” Gagliardi says. “Each benefits from different specific stain removal techniques that are more involved than spot treating.”

While spot cleaning has its place, it’s not a substitute for a full wash. So, how often should you actually be laundering your tablecloths, cloth napkins, placemats, and runners? Gagliardi breaks it all down and offers her top tips for washing, drying, and ironing them correctly.

How Often Should You Wash Your Table Linens?

Many factors come into play when deciding how often to wash your table linens. “A house with small children could have messier mealtimes that necessitate more frequent laundering of table linens, while older kids may be a little neater,” Gagliardi says. “And some people are just naturally more spill-prone. You really have to assess after each meal to decide if you can continue to use an item for another meal, especially cloth napkins.”

Keep reading to learn how often Gagliardi recommends laundering five types of table linens, from everyday tablecloths to holiday-only cloth napkins.

1. Tablecloths

According to Gagliardi, the longest you should go between laundering your tablecloth is one week, even if there are no spills, because of dust accumulation. If you prefer not to wash tablecloths that frequently, add a few tablecloths to your rotation. Then, you can swap in a fresh one and do laundry at your convenience (as long as there are no stains you need to treat right away).

2. Placemats

The same approach goes for placemats. “Similar to a tablecloth, fabric placemats can be used up to a week before machine washing on the delicate cycle, unless they pick up a stain or a spill, in which case they should be washed sooner,” Gagliardi says.

Gagliardi says she prefers tablecloths to placemats in terms of washability. “I find tablecloths easier to care for than fabric placemats,” she says. “For people who strongly prefer a placemat aesthetic, go with placemats designed to be wiped or rinsed clean.”

3. Cloth Napkins

If fabric napkins are messy, stained, or used by guests, Gagliardi puts them straight in the laundry basket. If the same person uses the same napkin, Gagliardi says it’s perfectly fine to reuse a fabric napkin for more than one meal.

To manage washing napkins, Gagliardi recommends a strategy she learned from her mother-in-law. “With her large family, washing every cloth napkin after every meal wasn’t practical, and neither was keeping track of who used one of eight napkins,” Gagliardi says. “Her smart solution was to assign each family member a napkin ring so everyone would use the same napkin for several meals (as long as a napkin didn’t pick up a stain).”

4. Table Runners

There’s a good chance you’re not washing your table runner as frequently as you should be. Gagliardi recommends washing runners weekly to prevent dust accumulation or more often, if they get dirty. 

“Fortunately, most table runners can be machine washed on the delicate cycle,” she says. “And if dust is the only issue, consider vacuuming a heavier-weight table runner with the upholstery attachment.”

5. Special Occasion Table Linens

Even if they only make an appearance a few times a year, special occasion and holiday table linens still need a proper clean. “At a minimum, special occasion and holiday table linens should be washed before storage,” Gagliardi says. “This way they will be ready to set the table when the next holiday rolls around.”

If you use themed linens repeatedly throughout a season—like Christmas napkins from Thanksgiving to New Year’s—treat them like your everyday linens and wash them regularly based on use and soil level. 

How to Wash and Iron Tablecloths

Tablecloths are tricky to spot treat, says Gagliardi, because they’re typically just one layer of fabric. To avoid any liquid soaking through and discoloring surfaces, remove the tablecloth, pretreat stains with stain remover, and toss it in the washing machine.

Air-drying is ideal, especially for tablecloths with printed colors. “Hang them to air dry as you would a pair of pants, but using multiple pants hangers to distribute the weight of the wet fabric,” Gagliardi suggests. 

Ironing goes a long way in giving your linens a polished look, especially your cloth napkins. “Cloth napkins can be gently stretched back into their square shape if you iron them while they are still damp,” Gagliardi says.

How To Spot Treat Fabric Placemats and Table Runners

Unlike tablecloths, fabric placemats and runners often have three layers—fabric, interfacing, and lining—making them better suited for spot treatment. For food stains, Gagliardi recommends mixing a cleaning solution of one capful of liquid Clorox2® For Colors to one quart of water and dabbing it onto the stain. Gently scrub the stain with an old, clean toothbrush if needed. Rinse the fabric with water and let it air-dry before placing it in storage or back on the table.