Guide to Supplies for Restaurant Table Linens

Use the right supplies to care for your restaurant table linens

By J.R. Glass

Action Steps for Selecting and Buying Table Linens
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Employ the service of a commercial laundry company to launder restaurant linens

A laundry service is the most convenient and easy way to take care of dirty linens. The service will pick up and deliver your linens right at your back door. Laundry services can also take care of washing bar mops and the uniforms of restaurant employees.

I recommend: A laundry service that can handle all of your laundry needs, from bar mops, to uniforms, to linens is Majestic Laundry Linen System. Another commercial laundry service is United Laundry Services.

Purchase a washer and dryer to launder your restaurant linen in house

A small restaurant may benefit from purchasing washing and drying equipment to launder restaurant tablecloths and restaurant napkins in house. Purchase a high-quality machine to keep your table linen looking fresh and clean.

I recommend: A supplier of industrial washing machines and dryers is UniMac. Find washers, dryers and flatwork ironers for laundering restaurant table linens. Another supplier of washing machines is LG Electronics. Its energy saving, front-loading machines make it easy to load and unload both the washer and dryer.

Wash table linen with industrial strength detergent and stain remover

Cleaning a stubborn stain from a tablecloth will take a good quality stain remover and detergent. When laundering your own restaurant linens, it's important to use an industrial detergent that is powerful enough to clean the every day wear and tear out of your linens. Skimping by using a generic detergent may result in dull, stained linens.

I recommend: FoodServiceDirect.com is a supplier of all your restaurant needs. It carries industrial strength liquid laundry detergent. Janisan sells everything you need for laundering linens. It sells detergent, stain remover, bleach and fabric softener.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you choose to wash your table linens in house, add in the cost of electricity and the supplies you will need to determine the actual cost of maintaining your linens.

Guide to Restaurant Table Linens

Set your customers' expectations with crisp, clean table linens

By Greg Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Table linens and restaurant linens basics

As you might expect, table linens, tablecloths and napkins come in a variety of types and styles, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Understanding esoteric textile terms is a good start when buying a tablecloth for restaurant tables.

I recommend: Take a look at the table linen glossary at Table Linen and Fibre2Fashion, an industry guide. It will help when you start shopping and can't tell a momie tablecloth from a damask napkin.

Tablecloths, standard vs. custom-cut tablecloth

Most tablecloth vendors have standard sizes, but you can also order tablecloths cut to size and napkins to match. This is particularly important if you want the tablecloth (there are two types: an underlay tablecloth and overlay tablecloth) to hang down to the floor from restaurant tables.

I recommend: Take a look at the measurement guide for custom-cut tablecloths at Web sites Tablecloth and BestDressedTables. More standardized cuts of tablecloths and matching napkins for restaurants can be found at tablecloth vendors like The Linen Company, Superior Linen, and Maine Supply. They also sell table skirts.

Buy tablecloths and napkins from wholesale linen companies

Online prices are low, but wholesale linen sellers are often able to cut prices further due to special volume contracts or because they own foreign production mills that make table linens.

I recommend: Make up your order list and shop online for wholesale linen at Bright Settings, KNG. and Kadee Supply. Check the Business.com directory for restaurant supply wholesalers.

Napkins are the front line in the customer experience

A nice tablecloth matters, but nothing will come closer to your customer, other than the food itself, than napkins. Manufacturers of table linens go to great lengths to make restaurant napkins that can keep up with the finest food.

I recommend: Take a look at extensive guides to high-end table linens and napkins at Anichini and Artex International.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Texture says a lot about your restaurant. Restaurant napkins with a fine, silky weave might seem nicer, but if you serve up fried chicken and coleslaw, perhaps heavy, cotton napkins would serve.
• •  Always ask for volume discounts and long-term pricing. You will have to replace table linens as they get stained or torn, so a good supplier will be more interested in your return business than a one-off buy.
• •  Before you spend on tons of table linens, make sure you budget for regular cleaning service. If cleaning will break your bank, vinyl tablecloths are no great sin in most family-style operations.

Guide to Pricing and Costs of Restaurant Table Linens

Weigh the cost of restaurant tablecloths and napkins before you buy

By J.R. Glass

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Price high-quality restaurant linens

A quality table linen will be around $15 per table cloth. Most vendors only sell table linens by the dozen. The average cost for a dozen high-quality restaurant tablecloths is around $180.

I recommend: Find polyester, cotton blends and many other high-quality tablecloths at Superior Linen. This company adds a surcharge to orders for shipping costs, but also offers a discount for bulk orders. Another provider of high-end linens is LinenTableCloth.com. This vendor offers free shipping for qualifying orders.

Find vendors that offer low-priced restaurant table linens

When you're working with a small budget, you can look for a nice restaurant tablecloth that starts at just over $3.00. Keep in mind that lower-quality linens may not wash as nicely and may need pressing before they are suitable for use.

I recommend: KNG is a commercial supply store that carries both low- and high-quality linens. A benefit of this company is being able to purchase a single table cloth instead of only being able to purchase a packaged set of a dozen. Another provider of affordable restaurant linens is Kadee Supply. It sells its tablecloths in bundles of 12.

Get pricing on and purchase restaurant napkins

A quality napkin is a must when it comes to dining. A napkin that is not durable and absorbent will leave guests scrambling for a place to wipe their mouths and fingers. While the cost for an individual restaurant napkin isn't expensive, when you consider the amount you will need for an entire restaurant, the cost quickly adds up. Cloth napkins will run anywhere from 50 cents to over $1.50 each.

I recommend: Image Textile has a variety of restaurant napkins in varying qualities. When purchasing in bulk, this company offers discounts. Another vendor to consider for napkins is Maine Supply. Choose from a variety of colors and fabric blends from this company.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchase tablecloths and napkins from the same manufacturer when possible, so the texture and color of the fabrics match.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Banquet cloths

Banquet cloths, or banquet tablecloths, are linen tablecloths specifically made to fit the dimensions of a banquet or buffet table. Unlike regular tablecloths that tend to be round or square, banquet tablecloths are usually rectangular and less fancy than other tablecloths.

I recommend: The comparison shopping page at Nextag offers several examples of banquet cloths along with explanations of how their fabric is more heavy duty and stain-resistant than that of standard tablecloths.

Permalux

Permalux is a linen made of equal parts cotton and polyester that is very durable while still being soft and appealing. For these reasons, it's often used in restaurant table linens.

I recommend: Hamida Textiles explains Permalux fabric and why it's beneficial for use in restaurant linens. Learn more about Permalux to decide if it's the right fabric for your table linens.

Dyeability

Dyeability, or dye ability, refers to the ability of certain fabrics to accept dying or coloration.

I recommend: Factory Direct Linens defines dye ability and other important restaurant table linens terms.

Accordion pleat

Accordion pleats are symmetrical continuous folds placed in tablecloths and table linens to give the table a more dressy appearance. Accordion pleats are accomplished with small darts equal distances apart from one another made repeatedly around the fabric.

I recommend: Textile artist Anne Griffiths describes accordion pleating and explains the difference between these and other types of pleating on tablecloths and linens.

Table runner

A table runner, also known as a scarf, is a strip of fabric that is usually used to decorate a longer table. Runners can be laid across the table length- or width-wise and are often used on top of a table cloth.

I recommend: Get the definition of table runner along with advice on how to use one at Pioneer Linens.

Table skirting

Table skirting is an accent linen that is sewn under the table cloth and hangs from the edge of the table to the floor. It's often done in colors complimentary to the table cloth and is entirely decorative. Table skirting can be an inexpensive way to add color and elegance to your restaurant.

I recommend: Table and Kitchen Linen provides an explanation of table skirting and how it can add atmosphere to any restaurant. Learn about table skirting to see if it can benefit your restaurant.