cloth napkins - how do you handle re-use? - Page 2

[Ruthla]

We keep "gently used" napkins on the table if they're clean enough to re-use but too dirty to put back in the drawer with the clean ones.

[nathansmum]

I'll usually get a communal one out if required and that gets used and then washed. DH and I don't usually use one, but for the kids I just use the same one.

[Blue Tulip]

I'd keep them at each person's table place. That way, you know they are still usable, but not yet dirty.

[gracefulhome]

We keep reusable ones at each person's seat since we all sit in the same chair at every meal. Ours usually last all day, but not always.

Since we need to wash the table off after each meal, I will sometimes have my oldest line them up on the counter in a specific order and then we can paint or do crafts at the table and replace them for the next meal.

A friend suggested special napkin ringsto me, and I bought plain wooden napkin rings and paint a month ago and am going to have my dc decorate their own napkin rings for their napkins soon becasue I think it is a great idea for each of us to have a distinct napkin ring.

[vivalamama]

right now we have a wooden bowl on the table that the not completely crusty ones get thrown back into. I really like the idea of individual napkin rings. I've been meaning to do some with beads, maybe the kind with initials?, for each of us.
clean napkins are in the drawer with the dish towels and dirties are in a bucket under the sink.

[bocks_box]

We made our own individual napkin rings, when we went back to cloth napkins recently after a several-year hiatus back when I was working full-time.

I told the kids we were going to personalize napkin rings so as not to get our cloth napkins confused. I made mine out of some ribbon and beads I had in my stuff. My 5-year-old made his from some stuff in the craft box, pipe cleaners and assorted stuff. My 8-year-old made his out of K'nex, which made me smile. My husband hasn't expressed an interest to make one ROFL, so his napkin just gets re-folded at his place (and doesn't get mixed up since it's the one *without* the napkin ring).

[serenetabbie]

Like Minerva, we have a lot of napkins (I never counted, but there must be at least 40/50 or so). It never even occured to me to use the same one all day or until it was "crusty". I use them at the end of the meals to wipe things up with, so there is pretty much never a clean napkin left. maybe we are just messier than other families

They go in the washer after they are used... so at least 4/8 get washed with each load of dark laundry. They dry so fast, even if the dryer is broken (like it is now) and it is freezing out (like it is now), they dry in no time.

I don't have any that are seasonal, so that is never an issue.

[SoHappy]

I found an assortment of cute vintage tie tacks (without chains) at the thrift shop. We each have one that we put in the corner of the napkin we're using.

[wombatclay]

Our clean ones live on top of the fridge, "in use" ones stay on the table, dirties go in the general laundry basket.

We actually do have close to 100 cloth napkins since we use those white terry cloth style face clothes you can buy in packs of 20 for a few dollars. They double as kitchen towels, dish towels, coasters, baby spit up wipes, bibs, pot holders, and sometimes tissues for my 2yo.

[lovesprout]

we simply leave our used napkins at the table if they don't appear to be soiled or wet. if dirty, they go in the clothes hamper. i like my boys to reuse theirs otherwise i'd be washing napkins daily.

speaking of which, i need to make more.

[gentleearthmama]

Just wanted to add that I have never had to actually make a set of napkins. Our local thrift store is always well stocked with pretty cotton cloth napkins, at 25 cents a piece. We buy them on half price day so they cost even less. We must have 50 or more.
We use them until they're dirty or we have company, and then I reset the table with fresh linens. We sit in the same place each meal, they don't get mixed up.

[camotyka]

It's not often that one is reusable here in our home :. If there is one it's from DH or I and I put in on the counter near the stove and I end up using it.

[ASusan]

My mother has a different silver napkin ring for everyone. They go back into the silverware drawer after the meal, and washed when they need it. Even guests get their own ring for the time they are visiting.

At our place, DH and I just leave them on the table until they need washing. "Need" for DH is about every other day, sometimes each meal. I would leave them on the table longer, but he manages to get them in the wash first.

[Traci mom23boys]

Clearly we are messy eaters! Ours are always dirty after each meal. Sometimes our youngest doesn't pick his up (I can tell because it is still folded next to his plate) so I will put it back in the napkin basket.

At Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond there are often sales of 4 pack, thick, coordinating kitchen towels. I wait until the previous batch are holey and frayed then buy about 16 to use as napkins. I have been doing this for about 20 years. They usually last a good year or maybe two. Then the old ones become rags.


Blessings,