Transparent Silicone Table Cover: Best of 5 Tablecloths

The tablecloth is not only a good tradition. Indeed, in the days of our grandmothers, great-grandmothers, tablecloths were an obligatory attribute of the table and were embroidered with patterns on their own. Moreover, the more skilled the craftswoman was, the more she was valued - such a girl could find herself a good, rich groom. If the craftswoman has "golden" hands, the house will always be cozy, clean, and orderly.

If you look into the more distant past, for example, in Ancient Egypt, then not everyone could afford to have a tablecloth on kitchen table. Only the nobility had cloth tablecloths with embroidery or interlacing with gold threads. In Russia, the tables were covered by everything. At the same time, every home had a festive and everyday fabric.

And how not to remember the folk signs concerning the kitchen tablecloth! Firstly, you cannot beat a fist on a covered table, which is a bad omen when attracting an ailment to the whole family. Secondly, to sit down at an uncovered table means to incur poverty. Thirdly, the efficient hostess must collect the tablecloth with crumbs before the guests get up. Otherwise, a woman is considered a bad housewife. And if she has a daughter of marriageable age, the girl will not see a good groom, because she will be as slow as her mother. And these are not all signs. But our article is about something else.

In the modern world, the presence or absence of a tablecloth on the kitchen table is an individual choice. For some it is a necessary attribute of the interior, for others it is a bright accent of the room. But more often than not, table cover is a beauty, as well as protection of the surface of kitchen furniture from damage. So what kind of tablecloths does the market offer us today? Let's list the most common ones.

Silicone tablecloth

Nowadays, kitchen tables are some kind of work of art. The more expensive it is, the greater the desire to show the acquired beauty, without hiding the tabletop behind colored tablecloths. On the other hand, there is a desire to protect the surface from scratches, chips, stains that are difficult to remove. For such a case, a transparent film was created.

Transparent silicone tablecloth

Silicone kitchen tablecloth is also known as flexible / liquid / soft glass, screen protector, table overlay. However, in all cases we are talking about a tablecloth made of silicone or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) up to 3 mm thick. This means that the film can be thin, thick: 1 mm, 1.8 mm, etc. The flexibility of the transparent pad will directly depend on this - the thinner the silicone, the more flexible it is.

Advantages:

• Transparent silicone oilcloth is almost invisible on the surface of the kitchen table. The original beauty of the countertop will be visible: a beautiful saw cut of wood, a textured surface, carving, a marble-like pattern or a classic white table…
• High temperature resistance - the film is not afraid of high temperatures up to 80 ° C. It does not lose its properties down to -10 ° C.
• Practicality. Flexible glass is resistant to scratches and other mechanical damage. But in the kitchen the main "pests" are a knife and a fork. Also, the protective film is not interchangeable in a family with small children.
• Easy in daily care: the smooth surface does not accumulate germs, bacteria, dirt, therefore for All you need to clean the tablecloth is a soft sponge / microfiber cloth and a non-abrasive detergent. The film is not afraid of felt-tip pens, paints and other dyes. The water-repellent composition of the material will provide protection to your kitchen table.
• Silicone tablecloth is suitable for any furniture surface: wooden tables, glass, from natural or artificial stone. Even the classic fabric tablecloths can be covered with a transparent cover. At the same time, the soft film does not slip on any surface, fits tightly, leaving no air bubbles.
• Due to its flexibility and lightness, working with a tablecloth is very simple. Special skills for laying it on the surface of the kitchen table are not required.
• Suitable for any worktop shape: from round to a complex design. Silicone is easily cut with a clerical knife, and if you need to get a complex shape, you can make an individual order.
• Environmentally friendly material does not cause allergies, it is absolutely safe for people and animals. Virtually odorless, does not emit toxic substances, even under the influence of high temperatures. Therefore, table manufacturers recommend using a silicone tablecloth on the kitchen table.
• Non-slip material will not break dishes. Plates, cups, glasses, forks do not slip on the transparent cover.
• No sounds! Whichever cutlery is thrown onto the silicone, there will be no ringing sound. The material absorbs it completely.

Note limitationsbased on numerous customer reviews of the clear silicone tablecloth:

• Most clear flexible glass will turn yellow on the table over time due to exposure to sunlight. But there are manufacturers who add special chemistry to the silicone composition, which preserves the transparency of the protective film for as long as possible.
• It can “ripple” if the tablecloth is stretched too far to the sides. This is especially true at the moment of buying flexible glass by the footage, when the seller literally pulls the silicone out of the stuck together roll. This must be done carefully. Be careful when buying.
• Smell. Like any new thing, silicone film still has a specific, rather bright chemical smell. Therefore, before laying the transparent oilcloth on the table, it is recommended to hold it outside or on the balcony. As soon as the smell disappears, the tablecloth can be laid on the table.
• Soft glass is insignificant, but deforms, decreases in length. However, if you cut off the tablecloth, leaving a small margin, after a while, the edges will take on a small wave. According to customer reviews, the protective film shrinks within one month. So please be patient.
• Despite being heat resistant and scratch resistant, it is not recommended to put pots on the silicone tablecloth from the fire or cut food without a board. Take care of the thing and it will definitely answer with a long service life.

How to stick the screen protector on the table without bubbles. Film installation. Flexible glass. Video

Colored silicone tablecloth or patterned

Any plain table (or maybe not a plain one) can be assigned a new color or add a complex pattern. After renovating a kitchen, it is not necessary to throw away a table that may not “fit” into the new interior. It is enough to purchase a colored silicone tablecloth. Due to the low cost, you can change the look of your kitchen by changing transparencies at least every year.

A flexible rug can be less boring, barely visible on the kitchen counter. Manufacturers offer soft colored glass, with a complex pattern, with lace or fringe, matte or glossy... You will surely find “your own” tablecloth in a wide assortment.

Which is better: glossy or matte silicone tablecloth?

Before purchasing a clear desk protector, analyze the surface on which it will be covered.

Transparent glossy film better for kitchen counters with corrugated or matte surfaces. The contact between the film and the table surface will be maximal, without bubbles. Such an overlay will not slide. However, it may seem that smooth flexible glass is ideal for a glossy table (such as a glass top). But if you lightly press your fingers on the oilcloth, or put the mug on the table, traces will remain, as if there is water or traces between the overlay and the table top. After lifting the tablecloth, the marks disappear. To avoid this use for glossy surfaces only matt silicone.

Matte Glossy Silicone Film on the top side it has a glossy surface, and on the bottom - corrugated, the so-called "shagreen". If your table has a smooth surface, including glass, plastic, choose frosted flexible glass. However, unlike glossy film, matte film will not completely contact the corrugated pattern of the table, so some slipping is possible.

Cloth tablecloth

A new tablecloth on the kitchen table is always a holiday, like any new thing in the house. We meet often at the table: at dinner, on holidays, when guests come... And how nice it is when each holiday has its own elegant tablecloth. What is just one New Year!

The most popular kitchen table cover material is fabric. Most buyers prefer to see natural, natural textiles in their home, including table coverings. Consider some fabric materials:

• Cotton. Available material with a wide range. It is easy to iron and wash. However, after each wash, the quality of the cotton will deteriorate and the fibers become thinner. Also, such a tablecloth will give a good shrinkage - up to 10 cm, which must be taken into account when buying and hemming.

• Linen. A favorite of many housewives. But behind its beauty, environmental friendliness and density of the material, logical disadvantages are hidden: high cost, easily wrinkled, gives strong shrinkage after washing, stains are hard to remove, short-lived. However, linen textiles will emphasize the nobility of the interior of any kitchen.

• Silk. This material has always talked about the wealth of the owner. If you want to create a real holiday - a silk tablecloth will only emphasize taste and luxury. Silk has many advantages: nobility, long service life, durability... However, its main disadvantage is its high cost and tenderness, which is why silk requires careful handling. Silk fabric is afraid of puffs, animal claws. It should also be protected from high temperatures.

• Sackcloth. Naturalness is trend of recent years. Therefore, a burlap tablecloth can become the main accent of your kitchen. Jute is most often used as fiber, and this material can be called the hallmark of styles such as provence, country, shabby chic. The burlap tablecloth can be made either independently or with additions in the form of guipure, braided white or colored lace, sewn along the edge / center of the fabric. A completely natural material is the main advantage of burlap. We also note its durability, low price. Such a tablecloth has many advantages, but among the disadvantages is the shrinkage and deformation of the fabric after washing, and it also crumbles along the edges.

• Polyester. With this synthetic fabric you get a tablecloth that is easy to wipe off stains. Also, as the advantages of synthetics, we note its wide range, low cost, and long service life. However, no natural fabric, be it linen or cotton, can ever compare to synthetic. It's like heaven and earth. But the choice is always yours.

The recommended overhang for everyday fabric is 20 cm, for festive fabric - up to 40 cm. But this does not mean that it is indecent to lower the tablecloth lower to the floor - this option is used mainly for banquets.

You can also use a double tablecloth as a festive dress for the table. As a rule, the color of such fabrics contrasts with each other, or the textiles have something in common with a line or pattern.

Paper tablecloth

Paper cannot be associated with durability, especially when it comes to tablecloths. Many of us have been to a cafe where waiters lay disposable paper tablecloths with the logo printed on the tables, advertising, kitchen recipes, etc. Such a marketing ploy is commendable, but is it possible to use a tablecloth like this material at home?

The most budgetary option is a tablecloth made of high-strength Kraft wrapping paper. Despite the fact that this is a disposable tablecloth, the variety in the print will make you think that it is a pity to throw away such beauty. Typically, such paper is sold in a set of several pieces or a roll.

Information for conservationists: Craft decomposes completely from several weeks to 4 years maximum.

Let's move on to more complex material and, accordingly, more expensive. For home use, a paper tablecloth impregnated with grease and water-repellent impregnation is produced. Above for protection, lamination is applied in the form of a polyethylene film. Such “paper” is very different from the classic one: by touch you will feel some roughness, density of the material, reminiscent of cotton fabric. Considering that most paper tablecloths are sold in rolls, you can cut as much material as needed at any time.

A paper tablecloth is unlikely to replace a textile one. However, its use is fully justified if it is a children's holiday, when there will be a lot of spilled juices; spontaneous tea drinking, when a beautiful tablecloth is quickly needed, etc.

Teflon tablecloth

Most people associate the word "Teflon" with pans, so actively advertised on television. However, now you can find teflon-coated tablecloths everywhere.

As a result of complex chemical reactions and physical influences, Teflon is created, which looks similar to a waxy, transparent substance applied to the inside of the fabric at the end of the processing process. But the tablecloth can be created from a piece of fabric (linen, cotton, polyester, acrylic) pre-impregnated with Teflon. As a result, due to the application of Teflon, the fabric is protected from moisture absorption, which is abundant in any kitchen. Also, Teflon-impregnated textiles do not absorb odors, fats, and retains their original color for a long time. At the same time, the denser the impregnation of the material, the more protection from contamination the Teflon tablecloth will provide for your table.

Of the shortcomings, we first note the main one - this is the presence of chemicals in the material, which does not mean the environmental friendliness of the Teflon tablecloth. What to prefer, a natural natural composition or with a chemical impregnation, you decide.

Among the shortcomings, we also note the susceptibility to high temperatures - do not put hot dishes on such a tablecloth. In conclusion, let's add a low service life - on average, no more than 6 years. After each machine wash, the Teflon film is depleted, the tablecloth gradually loses its original properties.

Remember the simple rules that will allow you to enjoy your Teflon-impregnated tablecloth for a long time:

• Clean up spilled food or liquid as quickly as possible from the surface of the fabric. Use a paper towel, soft cloth, sponge.
• Use a mild detergent when cleaning the fabric. It is enough to moisten a dried spot with warm water, and then wipe it with a napkin or rag. Abrasive chemicals will only damage the surface, shortening the life of the tablecloth.
• Wash as seldom as possible, but at a low temperature (30 ° C) and on a delicate program without spinning. The best washing option is hand washing. Spinning will only damage the integrity of the Teflon.

Oilcloth tablecloth

Classic oilcloth has long been used as a dining table cover. Inexpensive material, a wide range of colors, patterns, excellent functional characteristics - all this speaks in its favor. However, no artificial fabric can compare to natural fabric. Tactile, visual perception, spiritual satisfaction of owning a tablecloth made from natural components cannot be replaced with oilcloth, albeit with a high-quality 3D pattern. However, oilcloth is quite suitable for daily use.

The main advantage of oilcloth is not only its affordable price. Note the resistance of the material to moisture and almost any kind of pollution.

Until recently, it was impossible to imagine a dining table without a tablecloth. Then it became fashionable to show in all its glory an expensive table top made of natural wood or stone, but such tables also need protection from damage and stains. Years have passed, and linen and cotton are still the most popular materials for kitchen tablecloths. In recent years, they have been joined by burlap, paper tablecloth and silicone.
Transparent flexible water-repellent silicone film deserves special mention - it entered our life, bringing practicality, convenience and beauty to it. With it, all the "highlights" of your table top will be in plain sight. And the festive table will be decorated with traditional fabric materials, especially silk.
Now you know exactly what is best to put on the kitchen table.