What do you do about a tablecloth?

[Coraldress]

I've just bought a lovely new dining table. I don't want the kids to trash it like they did the last one. Food spillages, scratches, glitter.

I need to get a table cloth of some sort but I don't want to cover the table all the time.

I'm thinking maybe a washable cloth one and put it away when not in use, or maybe a wipeable pvc one.

If it's a table that will be used daily, then definitely a PVC one, then you don't need to worry about anything being done on it, and maybe a nice one for when you are entertaining?

Definitely get a PVC/wipeable one to use when the kids are eating or crafting.

Wipeclean PVC. Here's mine! Love it, love the birds. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06Y22Q7VJ/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

Get a table protector for under the cloth too

I've just bought this wipe clean table cloth from Next. It's quite thin so it doesn't stick out at the corners like my old one did. I really like it.
www.next.co.uk/style/ST231002?dp=a&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn4PkBRCDARIsAGHmH3fcJOh88q3HHFU-sepR_uBWGbAfA0ZP3MdiSQdD1GVM0nym-1fLa2caAgmtEALw_wcB#157960

Have a wipe clean one, wish I'd gotten it years ago before our table got a bit scratched etc. They are amazing. Also recently bought my first ever fabric one for good occasions with a gift voucher I'd gotten from a department store. Talk about feeling grown up!!(I'm 39)

Thank you. Do you all remove them when not in use?

It seems a shame to keep a beautiful table covered all the time.

I’m not very keen on the pvc ones, so I have a collection of really lovely cloth ones which I change depending on season /event etc. They stay on most of the time as they’re so nice, but when I was little we used to put one down as part of setting the table for a meal and then take it off again afterwards.

We have a pretty flowery one so actually it looks better than the table so it depends on the table I suppose!!!

I leave mine on but I'm a lazy-arse who doesn't believe in making extra jobs.

I have some fabric ones that come out on special occasions, I considered getting a wipe clean one too but then asked myself when would I see my lovely table, when would friends see that I have a lovely table, what is the point in having a lovely table if I cover it all the time when I am being 'fancy' and then again when I am not..... I can just have an old board on fancy legs.
Now I only use 'fancy' cloths at Christmas and lovely mats the rest of the time (which live in the drawer when not in use) and have wipe clean plastic topper for messy crafts etc.

I have two wipe clean oilcloth ones.

An every day one that lives on the table and then the previous one I had (before I got bored of it) that goes on top of the every day one for when we have a take away curry in case of any spills.

My oilcoth one is very soft and is this one from only oil cloths

The curry cloth lives in the storage unit in the dining room with specific table mats too that are also stained. Shhh no-one sees these ones except us.

Oooh, love that @onalongsabbatical - definitely going on my want-list. Thank you!

we had oilcloths when DD was younger but now she's 9 we just have the table 'on show' all the time.

I have a transparent pvc cloth from John Lewis for every day (cut to fit the table top - it doesn't hang over the sides) It's not perfect, but I can see my table. I just use mats etc. over the top as I would normally.

You need a padded / thick backed, wipe clean one, for everyday and in particular when the dc are at a stage of using it for crafts / construction / playing at.
Then, when you have guests, you will still have a lovely table underneath to display when you want to, and when the dc are older.

I had a PVC one, DP said what’s the point, just wipe it down. I said it’s easier with the cloth. After a day out and the kids with DP, the table now is covered in a unremoveable green glitter and looks trashed.
I’d rather trade for the most garish looking table cloth in the world 😩

@RubaiyatOfAnyone it's a pleasure, glad you like it. Love your name!

Fuzzyheadache you'd trade your DP for a tablecloth, have I got that right?

All these are good suggestions but you can also get a piece of glass cut to size.

onalongsabbatical Hadn’t thought of that but why not! 😂 sorry, I meant I’d trade the glitter studded table for a table cloth

Ooh onalong thats a nice tablecloth

I have wipeable for everyday and cloth for special occasions

Buy a table protector and use a pvc pretty cloth on top. They are heat safe, Dunelm sell it by the metre, if you take your exact table measurements as well, they may well cut it to exact size for you. But obviously you have to pay for the nearest metre that you buy.

Table cloths will move so not practical for children doing all the stuff they would normally do on the table.
Wipeable ones are best .
You will find that you will leave it on there in the long run