A tablecloth is a festive table covering that gives it an elegant look. It is important for housewives that the product is not only beautiful, but also practical, which is why Teflon-coated tablecloths are becoming increasingly popular. This fabric does not allow moisture and dirt particles to pass through, does not fade, and retains its attractive appearance for a long time.
Teflon coating - what is it?
When people talk about a Teflon tablecloth, they do not mean a fabric of some special structure, but one coated with Teflon, a material invented in the 1930s by specialists from the American chemical company DuPont.
Teflon is applied as an aqueous solution either to the fabric during its creation or to the surface of the finished textile product. In the first case, cotton, linen or synthetic fabric is dipped into a chemical solution in a plus machine and then dried. The Teflon coating traps the fibers, but the space between them remains free, resulting in a breathable fabric. In the second case, the product is covered with a continuous layer of Teflon, due to which the breathability disappears.
What are the differences in the products?
Teflon tablecloths are essentially cuts of any fabric - linen, cotton, polyester, acrylic or polyester. Only a water-repellent chemical composition is applied to their surface.
Moreover, impregnation comes in different densities:
- with the presence of a base layer of Teflon, the fabric does not absorb oil and liquid;
- enhanced impregnation can retain moisture on the surface for a long time;
- double impregnation repels dirt.
You should also pay attention to how a transparent tablecloth looks on the kitchen table.
A wet puddle on a tablecloth can be easily removed by blotting it with a napkin or sponge.
The fat should be washed with a foam sponge and soap, then wiped with a clean damp cloth or paper napkin.
Dried food residues and stains on the tablecloth must first be soaked with water or soap suds, and then collected with a wooden or plastic spatula and wiped with a sponge.
A Teflon tablecloth needs to be washed if a sponge and soap do not work . Repeated washing will lead to wear and loss of quality of the coating.
It should be washed completely only if absolutely necessary. Machine washable, water temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees (often 30 is enough).
It is better to use the delicate mode.
You can wash it by hand, do not rub or twist too much. Any washing powder can be used, at the discretion of the housewife.
But you can see what a tablecloth looks like on an oval kitchen table and what colors are available here.
On video, a tablecloth with Teflon coating:
Do not squeeze or twist the product. After all, creases form in the places of folds when squeezing and twisting, and the coating will be damaged there.
It is also worth learning more about what chiffon is and what kind of fabric it is.
Care depends on the composition of the fabric. Study the manufacturer's care recommendations and follow them!
You can see what round kitchen tablecloths look like and what sizes exist here.
After washing, shake off the tablecloth, straighten it, and allow the water to drain.
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
Dry flat, in natural conditions, preferably in the air, but keep away from direct sunlight. Do not dry near heating devices.
Iron from the wrong side, without pressing, with a not very hot iron.
Tablecloths with a base made of natural materials may shrink. Take this point into account when choosing, buy with a margin of length. For every day, it is better to buy a tablecloth made of synthetic fabrics.
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Advantages of Teflon coating
The popularity of Teflon fabric is due to many advantages. Product:
- Repels moisture. Does not absorb water, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
- Not afraid of fat and coloring products: sauces, ketchup, oil, spices.
- Temperature resistant. Does not deform when in contact with hot dishes (but not red-hot ones).
- Does not react to contact with a smoldering cigarette or burning ashes.
- Does not fade, even if direct sunlight falls on the surface every day.
- Doesn't wrinkle. Maintains an attractive appearance for a long time.
Description
Most housewives associate Teflon with the special coating of frying pans. Not long ago, fabric impregnated with it appeared.
It is used for sewing workwear and upholstery. Home textiles are not left out either, because a tablecloth that will repel water, dirt and dust is the dream of any housewife.
Liquid spilled on such matter is not absorbed into it, but remains on the surface as a puddle that can be easily blotted with a sponge.
Thanks to the Teflon coating, the attractive appearance of the tablecloth is preserved; the design, colors and shades do not wear out or fade.
Teflon improves the quality characteristics of the fabric from which the tablecloth is made.
But what types of tablecloths there are for restaurants and which ones are chosen most often are indicated in this article.
Advantages of Teflon coating:
- does not absorb fat;
- does not get wet;
- easy to care for.
Flaws:
- Low heat resistance. The integrity of the coating is destroyed at high temperatures. Do not place very hot dishes on the tablecloth.
- It does not tolerate the effects of abrasive particles well; it should not be scratched with sharp objects or a metal brush.
"Indications" for use
A Teflon-coated tablecloth can be selected for all occasions:
- on every day. There is a large selection of offers with calm, practical colors and dense Teflon impregnation. They are durable, wear-resistant, and can withstand repeated use.
- on holiday. Fabric with a festive design, such as white with decorative perforations, looks especially festive. And random stains on it will not ruin your mood, because they are very easy to remove.
- textiles for public catering places : canteens, cafes, restaurants. Serving them will always be neat.
- In summer, at the dacha , open terraces, balconies, practical canvases will be very appropriate. There will be no traces of wine, juice or fruit left on them.
You may also be interested in information about what a tablecloth looks like on a kitchen table.
Disadvantages of Teflon tablecloth
Like all types of fabric covering, Teflon tablecloth has disadvantages. Although there are more advantages, and they are more significant. Of the minuses it should be noted:
- Chemical origin of the coating. This confuses lovers of natural and environmentally friendly materials.
- The need to follow care instructions.
- Limit the service life of the Teflon coating to 5 years if the tablecloth is used regularly.
- Destruction of Teflon film after 6-7 machine washes or chemical treatments.
Features of caring for kitchen textiles with Teflon impregnation
One of the advantages of Teflon tablecloths is ease of care and preservation of appearance with frequent use. All this does not negate compliance with several rules for using such textiles.
1 Rule one. It is better to eliminate the consequences of liquid spills immediately. As soon as you notice a stain on the tablecloth, use a soft napkin, paper or fabric, to gently blot up all the liquid. There will be no traces of liquid left, you will not get dried stains that will have to be soaked.
2 Rule two. If you notice too late a spilled liquid or food residues that have dried out, do not use abrasives or aggressive detergents that can damage the integrity of the Teflon layer.
It is enough to moisten the stain with warm water, wipe off any remaining food or liquid with a cloth or microfiber cloth, wipe the tablecloth with a clean damp cloth, then with a dry cloth.
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
3 Rule three. Try not to wash the tablecloth too often. After about six washes, the Teflon coating will begin to thin out, lose its integrity, the tablecloth will become more dirty, and it will be more difficult to wash it.
If you decide to wash a Teflon-coated tablecloth:
- It's better to do it manually. Using warm water no higher than 40 degrees C. Choose laundry soap, from powders - better for children's laundry, or a little dishwashing liquid. Rub the tablecloth carefully, try not to make creases on it, do not twist it. If you choose machine washing, set the gentle wash mode and turn off the spin cycle. The tablecloth should be dried flat and ironed with a lukewarm iron without steaming.
If your tablecloth has lost its attractive appearance or has become so dirty that it has to be washed after each use, it is better to replace it with a new one. At the same time, a product that was used to serve a holiday or dinner table can be tried to be used at the dacha or for picnics, where the presence of small, unnoticeable stains is not critical.
After all, even if the protective coating itself has partially lost its properties, the base fabric can remain of just as high quality.
Users who bought a Teflon-impregnated tablecloth give only positive reviews about their purchase. Here, for example, is what they write about this product on the Otzovik website.
The Seven Teflon tablecloth cost me only 60 rubles. I bought it by pure chance; the store advertised it as a high-quality, affordable product for the kitchen.
I decided to try it, because my oilcloth was already worn out, and a new one was more expensive than this tablecloth. I was surprised how wonderful this item is for the kitchen.
My kids eat breakfast on the go and always spill or knock something over. I had to quickly wipe the table, but there were still a few stains on the tabletop.
The new tablecloth does not let water and tea through, does not get dirty after spilled soup, and looks wonderful.
- Advantages: Large selection of colors, spilled food can be easily removed, fabric does not get dirty, you can place a hot dish. Disadvantages: I don’t find any, they simply don’t exist.
The tablecloth was chosen to match the color of the wallpaper. They look very stylish to me.
But that was the problem. Ordinary oilcloth looked too cheap next to it, and textile tablecloths got dirty too quickly and lost their attractive appearance.
I decided to try a tablecloth with a Teflon coating. I read a lot of reviews from satisfied owners of the miracle tablecloth, and decided to go for it.
Moreover, 65 rubles is not too much money. But it turned out that this tablecloth is even better than what was written about in the reviews.
I managed to choose a color that was very close to the wallpaper pattern, fortunately there is a very large selection.
It is true that the tablecloth is very easy to care for and practically does not get dirty. I’m used to removing all the stains and crumbs from the table at once, without allowing them to dry out.
Expert opinion
Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna
7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect
Therefore, in six months I have never had to seriously clean the tablecloth; I just wipe it with a slightly damp cloth. This tablecloth makes my kitchen look festive and I really enjoy staying here longer.
I noticed that I even began to cook with great pleasure. You can also place a hot plate on this tablecloth without using stands, it’s so convenient, especially with three children.
- Advantages: This tablecloth is one continuous advantage. Beautiful, festive, easy to care for, durable, and, on top of that, ridiculously cheap. Disadvantages: None and cannot be.
How to properly clean a tablecloth?
There are no difficulties in cleaning; you need to take a sponge, laundry soap, a small spatula, and a non-aggressive cleaning agent.
Algorithm of actions:
- To remove moisture, just use a sponge;
- if you need to remove dirt, then take soap or a cleaning product, foam it, and apply it to the stain;
- wait until the stain gets wet and remove it with a sponge;
- if the stain is old and ingrained, then scrape it off with a spatula.
If these measures do not help, you will have to wash it by hand or machine. In the first case, the basin is filled with warm water, the detergent is dissolved in it, and the product is immersed. When washing, do not rub or crumple, as this can damage the Teflon, but use a sponge. After washing, they do not wring it out, but take it out of the basin, allow the water to drain, and then carefully hang it on the balcony.
When washing in the machine, set the delicate cycle, do not spin.
Features of washing and ironing
Many housewives prefer to wash Teflon-coated tablecloths rather than clean them by hand. Many people believe that over time, any fabric becomes untidy and needs to be refreshed.
It is better to wash soaked textiles by hand; the recommended water temperature is no higher than 40°C. It is more practical to use laundry soap as a detergent.
For those housewives who prefer to use powders, it is better to choose compositions for washing children's clothes. A good option is a non-aggressive dishwashing detergent.
It is advisable to scrub off stains carefully, without excessive effort. If you don’t make creases on the tablecloth, don’t twist the fabric, and let the water drain, it will be straight. Teflon tablecloths are dried flat. If necessary, the fabric can be ironed with a slightly warm iron, on the silk mode, steaming is not used.
Natural fabrics shrink; the area of the fabric will decrease after washing, drying, and ironing. This must be taken into account when choosing serving textiles for a round table. It is better to choose a model that will hang from the edges by more than 25 cm. It is believed that folds less than 20 cm look ridiculous along the edges of a round tabletop.
When buying tablecloths, carefully study the parameters of width, length or circumference. There are no regulated sizes; each manufacturer develops its own models.
