Oilcloth

Everyone has a different reason for loving oilcloths. Some people like them for their durability while others like their design and ease of use. So, if you are looking to decorate your tabletop with some classic retro look, you ought to get oilcloths. 

You would have seen oilcloths before on kitchen tables and in restaurants before. Oftentimes you will even find them as shelf linings and placemats. With some Stichting skills, you can even turn them into a waterproof apron to use when you are cooking. But before you start shopping for them read this article to know more about them. Having a better understanding of them will help you make better purchase decisions when you are shopping. 

A beginners’ guide to oilcloth 

They have been popular as an aesthetic element and a protective covering for tables and kitchen countertops for a really long time. They have also undergone a lot of changes over the decades. And for that reason, you will find them in a lot of different varieties and styles. This is great as you have so many options when it comes to setting the aesthetics of the table. And because the design of the table cloth can affect the overall look of the room. This means that you have to put some thought into selecting it for a table. Here are some basic things you need to know about them.

What is an oilcloth? 

It is basically a roll of transparent or translucent vinyl sheets that you can use to use to cover your tabletops, kitchen countertops, and tote bags. But it doesn’t have to be fully made of plastic. You will also find options that are cotton or paper covered with plastic to make them waterproof. Paper cloths with plastic covering are usually used as disposable table coverings for parties and events while cotton ones are more durable and are costlier. One major benefit of cloth is that you can use it for so many different things. If you want to protect a surface from water, you can simply cover it with a piece of cloth. 

Advantages of oilcloths 

The reason why they are so popular is that they find use in a lot of different ways. Restaurants use them to cover the tabletops as they are wrinkle-free and will not stain. They are ideal for parties and celebrations when you might have to clean the table quickly and there is not enough time to clean the tables individually. In that case, you can simply use a disposable cloth. This will save you time and effort cleaning the tables. Disposable clothes are better than paper tablecloths as they are impermeable to water. 

Disadvantages of these cloths

Although they are extremely versatile and useful, they also have some downsides. The main issue is waste generation due to disposable oilcloths. These temporary transparent tablecloths eventually end up in landfills. Because of the plastic coating on them, they can take years to decompose. Furthermore, there is a chance of them getting eaten by animals and posing danger to their lives. Some studies show that materials like this can take up to ten years before they fully decompose. But the reality is,  some of these disadvantages apply to other types of disposable items as well. 

Uses of oilcloths 

The most common use of these clothes is in restaurants and hotels. Restaurants and cafeterias with outdoor seating use them to protect the tables from weather damage. You can also use it in your home for the same reasons. Other than that, people use them to cover all kinds of things from cardboard packaging to bags and machine parts. With a large enough cloth, you can even cover your car if you happen to park it outside in the sun for a really long time. With some creativity and skill, they can be used as craft materials as well.