Be Keepers

Cloth Napkins vs. Paper Napkins

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{ 07:50, 13 October 2007 } { Posted by haflinger }

We use cloth napkins all the time!Its just my husband and myself. But if you decide to go cloth keep some paper also because some folks may not want to use cloth. Like my dad he thinks germs are always on them. I wash mine and use bleach. If you were to make them use a 19"square that gives you and a nice size. Then on the other hand we also use wash clothes or tea towels. It would cost quite a bit to make them or buy them. Or go to a goodwill or used store u can get them at a good price. I go thru alot of napkins ..LOL What I do is I have a small baskets just for dirty napkins and I wash them with my towels..If you have any questions just send me a message..for amount you would need at least 21 napkins a day for seven people.. .. good luck haflinger

Hi!

{ 08:48, 13 October 2007 } { Posted by pcsmom }

I switched my family of 8 to cloth napkins last year. I still love it! I make my own. the first set I hemmed each square. That got old fast! Then I read on mommylife.net that she pulls threads around all 4 sides. (I'm not sure if that is a clear description. It's sorta like fringe on all 4 sides, except its from the thread that are left. Like unraveling some on all 4 sides, at least a 1/4 of an inch all the way around) It works great! AND my girls loved doing this, so it was a HUGE timesaver for me! You can get clearance fabric for a dollar a yard. I also use washcloths. I purchase one of those large packs for 5 dollars. These are the ones that my husband prefers. I need to wash them after every meal. My little piggies would never be able to use one for more than one meal. I wash them with my towels. I really don't have to do an extra load of laundry. I do 2 loads of towels a week, and they just fit in with them. I discovered that if we put napkins out when we set the table we went through a lot. But if we have them in a basket, and they take one if they need it, we go through a LOT less
WOW! that's long! Hope some of that helps!
Linda

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{ 08:52, 13 October 2007 } { Posted by morningsunshine }

my SIL was getting rid of some very large-fancy-dinner type cloth napkins. 12 of them. I took them to my mom's and used her surger sewing machine to cut them into four pieces each, and then surged up the other sides. I now have 48 11x11" napkins for everyday use.
and they are so nice for kids - you know how they always get sticky while eating? and paper napkins just stick to their faces? the cloth wipe everything clean, and you can get them wet and they don't fall apart. we use one to clean up the baby after she has "fed" herself.
I soak mine in oxyclean before washing with my whites. I use bleach with my whites. I also try to line dry them so as not to set tomato stains that I didn't see before washing.

Me too

{ 09:18, 13 October 2007 } { Posted by chunkywoman }

I too have been contemplating this and so am interested in the response you get. I only have four and basically only for supper so it isn't such a big hoopla like larger families would have. I keep watching at the Goodwill and such but thus far haven't seen anything I'd want to bring home yet, LOL. I love Linda's idea of putting them in a basket and people using them if need be. I can see that being a saver.

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{ 11:00, 15 October 2007 } { Posted by jocelyndixon }

Hello!
I've selected this post for the 20th Homesteading Carnival!
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/Jocelyndixon/72920/

Stop by and, would you mind spreading the word on your blog?

Happy fall!!

Blessings!
Jocelyn

cloth napkins

{ 11:55, 14 January 2008 } { Posted by Brenda }

I only use cloth napkins. It was one of the first things we did when we started living frugal and more simple. I have 14 children and I love the arrangement. We have at least a hundred cloth napkins. I buy them at the second hand store for about a quarter each. I buy them here and there and make many of them also. We take out as many as we need for a meal. My husband uses his own, but we share ours. Sometimes there are many out and other times just a few. We keep them in there own basket in the laundry room and when the basket is full I wash them. Brenda