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Oilcloth

About Oilcloths

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.

Tips on how to buy Oilcloth online in the UAE

Choosing any such product is not rocket science. But that doesn’t mean you can choose one blindly. If you want to get the most out of oilcloths, there are a few things you have to consider while selecting one. But as there are literally thousands of them out there with subtle differences, it is easy to make mistakes. This is even more true if you are new to this. But it gets easier if you know what to look for in an oilcloth. Here are some tips that you can follow when you are shopping for them.

  • Type – There are mainly two types of cloth. The cheaper version uses PVC plastic and they are very durable. Even durable than the more expensive type that uses laminated cotton. But PVC oil-cloth does not have a pleasing finish and looks really cheap. On the other hand, cotton oilcloth will look like a fabric cloth.
  • Get the right size – Just like the table covers, an oil-cloth also come in a variety of sizes. If you are buying a big roll of cloth, you only have to look at the width of the table. Don’t make it exactly the same as the width of the table though. You should have at least fifteen centimetres extra on both sides. Therefore, the width of the cloth should be thirty centimetres more than that of the table.
  • Get the clips – For the clothes to stay in place, you will need to use clips to fix them, especially if you have kids in the house who are into pulling things. You can also keep the tablecloths wrinkle-free using the clips.
  • Colour and design – The great thing about clothes is that they come in a wide range of colours and finishes. The right design and colour will let you set the mood of the event. But if you already like the way the table looks, you can choose a clear plastic table cover instead.

While they can protect the table from food and liquids, they do not insulate the tabletop from heat. So, if you want to keep hot pans and containers on the table, it is necessary to get a table protector. Also, don’t leave them in direct sunlight for long as it will cause the colours to fade. In case you are not able to find them in the right size, you can easily cut them using scissors. With some care, you will be able to cut them without fraying. Finally, you can find a lot of amazing products similar to this in the Home and Living category.

Question & Answer

How to wash an oilcloth?

Before trying to wash the cloth, you should keep in mind that not all are washable. You can only wash and reuse PVC  cloths and fabric coated with plastic or vinyl film. Most of the time, you will be able to clean them by just wiping them with soap water. But if the cloth is dirty beyond what a wiping could clean, then you can soak it in a mild detergent solution. Throwing the oilcloth in a washing machine is not a good idea. As they are impermeable to water in the first place, you cannot make them any cleaner using a washing machine.

Can you iron an oilcloth?

Generally, they come in rolls. But if you happen to purchase them as a large pieces, then you will have to fold them when you transport them. This might cause some creases to form on the cloth and will make it look less slight. So, is there a way to remove those creases? Can you iron it out? Well, no. They are plastic sheets and ironing them will destroy them completely. It is also fairly easy to remove creases from it. All you have to do is to lay it flat on a warm surface and leave it like that for a few hours. The folds will straighten themselves out as they warm up.

How is an oilcloth different from a PVC tablecloth?

It is hard to tell the difference between a PVC tablecloth. But some subtle differences exist between the two. They usually have two layers: a base layer that is either fabric or paper and a plastic coating. They, therefore have a better finish and are more pleasing to look at. So basically, it is a PVC sheet with an extra layer of fabric or paper that makes it easy to clean. This makes them expensive than PVC tablecloths. The easiest way to tell the difference between two of them is to actually feel both sides. In the case of a PVC tablecloth, both sides will feel exactly the same while you will be able to feel the fabric on the.

If you are looking to buy oilcloths online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. You will find anything from cheap oilcloth to the best options on Shops.ae. All you have to do is to look for them using our shopping search engine. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering Dressing products here on Shops.ae. These include popular brands like IKEA, Unique, Amscan, H&M, Decdeal, EffortLife, and VividHome.

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