Cloth Napkin Help...

[ceceevie6]

I am thinking of making the switch from paper to cloth napkins and I need some tips. Anyone out there who uses them, please enlighten me! What material to use, what size, where to buy cheap, etc.

TIA

 

[Livi'sMom]

I use them everyday. Not only does it save money, it saves trees as well! I look for bargains at Target, Kohl's WalMart, etc.... The best time to stock up is the day after Christmas at Walmart. They put all of their seasonal table decorations on sale. Last Dec 26th I was purchasing all the colors that matched my colors for $.25 for 8 cotton and/or linen napkins. I also picked up an ivory linen tablecloth for $1.00. I was seriously happy.

 

[JuneCleaver]

We have been paper napkin free for almost 20 years. I watch for sales, clearance racks, etc. Kohls is great for them. One word of caution...the polyester ones are not that great IMHO...not very absorbent.

When I see some that work for our kitchen on sale I buy as many as they have or a minimum of twelve. They last a very long time and then are converted into cleaning rags.

June

 

[loveabargin]

I've been buying them at the Goodwill and Salvation Army. None of them match...it's cute, my kids like having different ones. I bring out the PAPER napkins when we have company instead of the other way around!

 

[Chelley00]

I have found a bunch at Dollar Tree, Dollar Store etc. I'm slowly weaning the family off paper products.

 

[mpls_mm]

We switched several years ago. The other poster was right, seasonal sales are great. After the holidays I got tons in jewel colors. If you check Targets clearance you can find 4 packs down to .49 the rest of the year. I don't like white ones as much, they seem to get stained. Some are thicker than others, but the idea is quantity so you don't run out and need to use paper. Now I have so many, I don't need to wash some every week so I don't run out. I must have 5 or 6 dozen and I have never paid more than .99 a pack, most were .49 and some
.25 on holiday clearance. My entire investment has been about $25, and I rarely but paper towels or napkins.

 

[hsmamato2]

I've been buying them at the Goodwill and Salvation Army. None of them match...it's cute, my kids like having different ones. I bring out the PAPER napkins when we have company instead of the other way around!

ME too! so weird...... used to be cloth meant it was better.....

 

[T. Lynn]

I wanted some nice ones to go with my longaberger place mats. I got mine at Linens N Things. They have a slight silky feel to them.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

For everyday use, I often use dishcloths. They are a good size, absorbant, and you can get some attractive patterns if you look. I have some very nice white ones with a metallic gold and silver thread design that I scooped up one year after Christmas that I like to use when we have company or for special occasions (I have 12 of them and they cost hardly anything).

Teresa

 

[sherry1709]

I have been using cloth napkins for 15 years. I usually buy them when I find them on clearance. I even made a few myself when I wanted to practice on my sewing machine. I really do not like paper napkins any more!!

 

[THEDISFANS]

Check out Kohl's clearance. I just bought a nice set of six white cotton ones for $4.00

 

[ceecee]

Marshalls and TJ Maxx have great prices on these.

 

[Echo queen]

I'm glad a ran across this tread, sounds like my next step in going green.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Why use any napkins when you have sleeves?

 

[Bren's Mom]

Imo, cloth napkins are a PITA for everyday use. The ones that look nice out of the wash don't wipe hands as well, and the cottony ones that wipe well look awful out of the wash. So I save the good cloth napkins for company and use dish towels for everyday use. The wipe well, I buy all white so I can bleach them, and they wash and dry nicely. And they're cheap!

 

[spalady]

I bought mine at linens 'n things. I used a 20% off coupon so I got 12 of them for $7.00. I didn't think that was to bad. I buy a package every so often so I have quite a bit now. We never use paper napkins anymore. (well just when I pack my kids lunch so what I use 10 napkins a week)

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

We're using some my grandmother made 25+ years ago, plus some I made 15 years ago and others I've picked up on seasonal sales (Boscovs, Linens n Things, etc).

I have enough cloth napkins to last our family of 5 one week. I do one load of napkins, kitchen towels and dishclothes once a week.

Growing up we NEVER used paper napkins. I converted dh to cloth right away---we received cloth napkins for a wedding gift!

For those who want to sew napkins, buy 1.25 yd of 45" wide cotton fabric. Prewash, then cut into 4 pieces. Hem as you wish. It's fun to have holiday-themed napkins!

 

[Green Tea]

I get the ones we use for every day at Pier 1, a specialty kitchen shop, or Pottery Barn. Ones I have gotten from othre places either have some sort of finish on them, or aren't all cotton, or are cotton but get all miss sized in the wash. I have many from Pier 1 I have used for YEARS.

 

[noodleknitter]

We use the little hand towels. They wash up well, and are not expensive to replace.