In the McKenzie household, we’re big into cloth napkins, not only do they make for a much prettier table, when compared to their paper companions, they’re certainly more eco-friendly! We utilize cloth napkins daily, even at a simple meal for just the two of us. So, it goes without saying that cloth napkins were an imperative part of our linen offering when initially curating our collection for steve mckenzie’s…
Cloth Napkin Tips from Jill McKenzie:
- To increase the eco-friendliness of the cloth napkin, don’t wash after every use. Think about it – typically adults, and even older children, won’t soil their napkin after every use. Save on the water and energy used to clean the cloths by washing only when necessary. After each meal, ask family members to simply leave their cloth napkins in their seat, that way, when setting the table for the next meal, they’ll use “their” same napkin again.
- When your cloth napkins have become soiled, toss them in the wash with your other laundry, so you don’t devote an entire load (and the resources) to only cleansing cloth napkins. Use eco-friendly detergent, wash in cold water, and when the weather’s nice, line dry. Nothing’s better than linens dried in the sun on a warm day!
For most meals at home, and for our tablescapes here at steve mckenzie’s, we don’t utilize “fancy” napkin folds… Just a simple tri-fold, or rolled/stuffed napkin ring works well for our needs!
Many times, it’s the napkin rings that make the tablscape – the beaded napkin ring pictured above add sparkle to the tablesetting; something we see as an essential element.
Get creative with your cloth napkin/ring pairings, and consider making your own cloth napkins if you can’t find just the “right” ones for your need. Many of our textiles would make for lovely custom cloth napkins!
Hopefully we’ve inspired you to use cloth napkins at all of your meals, even at your most casual suppers. You’ll be doing something good for the environment and your decor. Happy Tablescape Thursday!