Waterproof tablecloth that feels like fabric?

June 10, 2017 3:20 PM

Our wood table is easily ruined if I just leave a glass of water sitting there too long. I need an attractive tablecloth that looks and feels like fabric but acts like vinyl (eg. waterproof).

In the past, I was able to find tablecloths at Bed, Bath and Beyond that acted like waterproof, vinyl (water just sits on the surface) but looks and feels like real fabric. Recently I have no luck finding this. I've tried shopping on-line but it is too hard to judge if the fabric is really want I need (both waterproof and also looking and feeling like fabric) without being able to touch it. Even shopping in a store is hard unless I can open the package to see and touch the fabric without the plastic bag over it.

What am I looking for? Is there some magic name that would lead me to happy tablecloths? Do you have a specific recommendation? Help me have a more sophisticated, company-ready kitchen that doesn't look like it's ready for a picnic!

posted by metahawk to Home & Garden (19 answers total)

You want oilcloth.

You can also put a waterproof layer on top of your table and then put any kind of tablecloth you want on top of it.

Coasters are also useful.
posted by phunniemee at 3:41 PM on June 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

Was it Scotchguarded?

You can also wax fabric to make it more water resistant, and it's much less plasticky than vinyl, but Bed Bath & Beyond probably doesn't sell that.
posted by ernielundquist at 3:42 PM on June 10, 2017

I solve this with a waterproof layer under the cloth tablecloth, because then I can use whatever tablecloth I want. But I did get an oilcloth tablecloth at Bed Bath and Beyond a few years ago.
posted by instamatic at 3:54 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: As an alternative, you can go to a fabric store and buy clear vinyl (pick whatever weight suits you, it comes from very flimsy to very sturdy) by the yard, lay it on top of the table, and cut it exactly to the size of the top. That way you can see the pretty wood tabletop, wipe off water/spills/etc. very easily, and just toss a regular tablecloth on top if you like. We've done this for years and people (who've been here dozens of times!) hardly ever notice it until they say, "Oh, do I need a coaster?" and I peel up the corner to show them the vinyl and they're like WHOA. Which is to say it's not like I HAVE VINYL ON MY TABLE. It's pretty unnoticeable.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:54 PM on June 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

Sorry, to be more useful: I went to Joanne's Fabrics and bought a length of clear...vinyl? PVC? Whatever. I cut it to fit my table and a few inches extra over the side. I put whatever tablecloth I want over it.
posted by instamatic at 3:55 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Etsy has some beautiful oilcloth.
posted by Elsie at 4:12 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Do the clear vinyl, as Eyebrows suggests. You can just use it that way, or put a cloth on top.
posted by theora55 at 4:39 PM on June 10, 2017

I got this laminated cotton from etsy and love it! (Didn't even bother hemming it, just ordered the right length and put it right on the table.)
posted by amanda at 4:52 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yep, +1 for clear vinyl, optionally with another tablecloth over it.

There isn't really any material which feels like fabric and yet is waterproof. Your options are (1) waterproof and feels like plastic, (2) waterproof layer under a fabric layer, possibly laminated together so it handles like one sheet, possibly with durable water repellent (DWR) treatment on the fabric so small spills will bead up. (But I suspect most DWR treatments don't work well for tablecloths because some of your spills may be greasy.)

By the way, if you try to buy oilcloth online, make sure it specifically gets all twee about the natural waterproofing of linseed oil, or you're likely to get a sheet of PVC instead. PVC "oilcloth" has almost completely supplanted linseed oilcloth in modern usage. Ask me how I know.

Or for a totally different approach: my grandfather used to keep a sheet of glass on his table top. Super easy to clean and looks quite nice. If you ever move house, though, you'll have to deal with a giant pane of glass.
posted by d. z. wang at 6:36 PM on June 10, 2017

Best answer: I have this one - If it's just small spills, it beads up and doesn't go through, but I don't know what would happen if you dumped a lot of water on it (they go in the washer and come out damp). But for accidental slip-ups it definitely works.
posted by Mchelly at 8:07 PM on June 10, 2017

TJ Maxx home goods usually has a good selection of table cloths. I am a fond user of glass table tops, with beautiful table cloths, laces and etc, under the glass. Pier One usually has a good selection of glasses, cheaper than anyone else. I have quite a few table cloths, and I change things up depending on the season. I bought a couple of smaller laces to go under the center. Makes me happy. I only clean glass. Nice reflections too.
posted by Oyéah at 8:33 PM on June 10, 2017

If you want to protect from both water and heat, get a table pad. I think you can buy them by the yard at some fabric stores or online.

I would personally just put a oilcloth/vinyl tablecloth on, and cover it with the nice tablecloth for nice dinners, but I'm tacky.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:52 PM on June 10, 2017

I use laminated cotton. It's somewhat thinner and less plasticky/sticky than oilcloth proper (also thinner). Not sure what you mean by 'feels like fabric' - possibly scotchguarded regular fabric?
Anyway if you go with laminated cotton, I can recommend the selection at landofoh. No need to hem, just cut where you need.
posted by The Toad at 8:57 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

If it's not laminated you're looking for, maybe 100% polyester outdoor fabric will do the trick. Check out this one- looks like it has a 'fabric' surface in the closeup pictures.
posted by The Toad at 9:00 PM on June 10, 2017

Best answer: A bit more about laminated cotton, so you can figure out if that's what you want. Apparently, it is "a friendly material that makes fabulous tablecloths and splat mats. Because it’s BPA-free, PVC-free and it's CPSIA compliant and great for family use. Laminated cotton is a thinner and more supple oilcloth that is a high-quality quilting-weight cotton print, coated with a thin layer of polyurethane on the fabric’s right side." Source: Oilcloth Addict

I think my mother might be getting a laminated cotton tablecloth for her birthday in August now, if I can find somewhere to buy one in the right size.
posted by Jaie at 10:24 PM on June 10, 2017

Random idea, if the table is near the size of a mattress you could drop a waterproof mattress pad on there, under a more conventional tablecloth.
posted by potrzebie at 12:03 AM on June 11, 2017

After asking a similar question (but for outdoors) I'll just back up d. z. wang's warning that "oilcloth" has become a nearly useless term for searching online, since the vast majority of returns are going to be PVC. I wasted a good bit of time looking for actual oilcloth before coming to this realization. Some good tips here for specific places/products, or how to drill down in search to avoid the plasticfantastic stuff.
posted by taz at 11:43 AM on June 11, 2017

PUL. used for cloth diapers.
posted by pearshaped at 12:24 PM on June 11, 2017

Response by poster: Final report: I bought the tablecloth recommended by Mchelly. It feels like normal fabric and the water really does bead up on the surface as advertised. I've been using it for a few days and delighted so far. Thanks for all the help - I plan to use Eyebrows McGee's idea for clear vinyl cut to size on my beautiful dining room table and I will be checking out the other fabrics the next time I'm ready to switch things up in the kitchen.
posted by metahawk at 10:15 PM on July 13, 2017 [1 favorite]