Tablemats that can withstand being used

[Blerg]

Dull, I know but where can I get table mats that can stand having something hot or wet on them without being ruined very quickly? The normal laminate / cork things you get everywhere are just rubbish and quickly look awful.

I'm sure they didn't used to be so badly made?

Slate ones?

I just use fabric ones and bung them in the washing machine. Much easier.

Our glass ones have done really well. Wedding present in 2004. Waterproof (obvs) and heatproof enough for plates although I haven't tried them with a casserole or similar. Dishwasher frequently. None has ever smashed so we have a full set.

Fuckers don't sell them nowadays. You couldn't move in JL in 2004 for glass placemats.

We ended up replacing ours with glass chargers instead (basically a bigger plate!) ours look like cut crystal, but are fine to go in the dishwasher when they need a wash. Not cheap but they last pretty much forever. You can get ceramic ones, and metal, but steer clear of the plastic "Christmas charger plates' as they flake and peel after a while.

Mrshathaway, still available online (some German manufacturer I've forgotten the name of), got ours about 4 years ago :)

Thanks all - sorry I should have said will be frequently used by small children so need to be shatterproof. Otherwise glass or slate sound very stylish - maybe one day!

Fabric might work.

But really, nowhere makes sturdy mats?

We've got bamboo ones from Sainsburys, they wipe clean and don't mark, very pleased with them.

Another vote for slate. Ours are 13 years old. Just need wiping if anything gets spilt on them. Use them under cast iron cookware straight out of the oven without a second thought.

missed the update re glass and slate...

Our glass ones have been swept from the table by Hellbeast DC3 on many occasions. I wouldn't risk slate, agreed.

Glad they're still available. Weird that they are no longer ubiquitous given how practical they genuinely are.

Tbh with my little ones I gave up using mats, figured it was making two jobs as I was cleaning the surrounding table area anyway so now I just scrub the table.

I got the Sainsbury's bamboo ones - first bit of condensation from a hot plate and it got water stained. They have stained up quickly here but maybe we are too hard on them. The idea is a good one though.

Try Denby. I got some from the range they did for Monsoon in Debenhams.
They have so far survived everything the children have (literally) thrown at them and being wiped a couple of times a day.
Prior to this I bought some from Sainsburys and returned them within the week as they started peeling.

We use heavy granite ones which we stick in the dishwasher a couple of times a week. After 13 years they are still going strong. Might not be great with small kids though.

I use these table mats and i've never had any issues with them, there top quality and don't get ruined easily.

palatemilly those look interesting- do you just wipe them down or can you wash them in washing machine / dishwasher?

We have sainsbury's bamboo ones for all the reasons you've stated. A couple have curved which makes them basically unusable but the rest are ok.

Dishwashable ones sound like a fantastic idea.

Thank you everyone!