Tablecloth fabrics: fibres, finishes and sizing
Tablecloths are washed often and stained often. Choosing the fabric means weighing appearance against wash durability, how stains behave and how much ironing it needs.
Fibre options
| Fabric | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 100% cotton | Natural feel, absorbs spills | Creases; stains can soak in |
| 100% polyester | Low crease, holds colour, dries fast | Does not absorb; more synthetic feel |
| Duck (cotton-polyester) | Heavy, strong, good drape | Heavy to handle and wash |
| Linen and linen blends | Textured, matte look | Creases a lot, needs ironing |
Restaurants and hotels mostly use polyester and cotton-polyester because they stand up to industrial laundering. Home textile retail leans towards cotton, duck and linen-look fabrics.
Stain and water-repellent finishes
A finish is a chemical treatment applied during fabric finishing. With a water-repellent finish a spill beads on the surface for a while and can be wiped off. A stain-release finish helps oily and water-based stains wash out. The effect can fade with washing, so ask the mill how many washes it lasts and which test was used.
Width and sizing
Cloth size is the table size plus a drop on each side. Restaurants usually allow 20–30 cm; banquet cloths can reach the floor.
- Rectangular table: table width + 2 drops by table length + 2 drops.
- Round table: diameter + 2 drops.
- Example: 80 x 120 cm table with a 25 cm drop needs a 130 x 170 cm cloth.
- If the fabric is narrower than the short side of the cloth, you need a seam. Wide-width fabric lets you make large cloths without one.
When ordering
Ask for composition, width, weight and finish type in writing. For printed fabric, check the pattern repeat; a centred design needs a repeat that allows it. Specifications for the duck series in the catalog are on their series pages.