In Defense of Cloth Napkins

Home + Dine

Jan 3

There’s nothing more civil in my book than a cloth napkin. Some people think they’re fussy, but seriously… why?

You may think cloth napkins are for Thanksgiving dinner, your grandma Mildred, or maybe Gwyneth Paltrow… but I’m here to make the case that it’s time to take them out of the “special” category and use them every day.

Let’s get this out of the way first; I am not opposed to using paper napkins. They’re fine. They have their place… Like greasy pizza.

However, for over three decades, I’ve been a devotee of cloth napkins. I think it stemmed from the time a college friend invited me home for dinner and they used them. It was the first time I’d ever seen anyone set the table with one. It felt so special, and fancy. Each child had their own napkin ring with a code on it. Everyone knew exactly what to do. Then and there I made a vow that when I had the chance I too would be setting my dinner table with cloth napkins.

Over the years I’ve heard it all. “Ooohh, fancy!” “Is someone special coming to dinner?” You get the idea. Why is it that we put them in the category of extravagant? I’m on a mission to change that. Is it going to instantly change your life? Probably not. But it does bring civility into the picture and can elevate even the most humble meal. Suddenly, a grilled cheese sandwich goes up a notch.

The way I look at it, you’re worth it. So, unless you’re already a convert like me, you’re probably making a few classic excuses. So let’s tackle them head-on!

Excuse number one: They’re too expensive.

You’re right. You can find some napkins that cost upwards of $30 each. But seriously, I don’t consider a $200 t-shirt a good buy either but that hasn’t stopped me from buying t-shirts. I’ve enjoyed building my linen collection with mismatched ones I found in thrift stores and then building my arsenal from there.

Thankfully, today you have options. Get creative! Janelle & I once hosted 30 people for a sit-down dinner party and yup, you guessed it, we set the table with them. No one knew we were using simple kitchen towels and they cost 88 cents.

Excuse number two: I’m busy enough, who has time for more laundry? And didn’t someone say I have to iron them?

It’s not like wearing your underwear several days in a row. It’s more like sleeping on the same sheets. Your guests, naturally, can always get fresh napkins. But if you’re family — you reuse.

Whew! That’s settled. As for caring for them, it’s not really that much work. Honest. Throw them in whenever you’re washing your towels, then fold and go. I’ve made my peace with them not being perfectly crisp, and if you purchase the right ones this isn’t even a problem in the first place. And remember, Martha Stewart will not be coming to your home to inspect how neat you are. The point is that using them makes you feel special.

Excuse number three: Won’t they get stained?

Well in a word. Yes. It happens. It’s life. But for every napkin that’s been “ruined” by some stain that I couldn’t get out, I’ve had 10 others that I still use. Truth be told, for my everyday napkins, I’m ok with them being imperfect. It’s part of their story. When they get too tired they’re repurposed as rags.

And really friend, let's keep the big picture in mind. It’s not really about napkins — it’s about making your every day, Tuesday night life special. After all, as some commercial told me once, You’re Worth It!

So here are some picks, to get you started…

For every day, we created these. We might be biased, but we think they’re the right blend of laid-back casual and effortless grace that we use year-round around here. And, we have the added satisfaction of knowing we taught a group of Syrian refugees in DC to make them. Win-win!

We recently added these beauties to our home collections. It’s a little bit of an investment, but we really wanted to support The Little Market, which is a non-profit social enterprise we really admire, and their partnership with Sustainable Threads, a beautiful weaving cooperative across India.

And about that dinner party… here are the kitchen towels we keep in bulk tucked in a closet for big group events. We feel like having an option you’re not precious about that you can pull out when you need them is part of a both/and approach to stocking a home.

*Some of these links may be affiliate links, where possible. Be sure to check out our Affiliate Link Policy to read our philosophy on this.