Placemats are an essential part of any dining room table. They provide a place for guests to place their dishes and protect the table from spills or scratches. But how do you keep your placemats looking like new? Read on to learn how to clean and sanitize your placemats!
Start with a Quick Wipe Down
The first step in cleaning your placemats is to give them a quick wipe down with a damp cloth. This will remove any food particles that may have been left behind after dinner.
If you’re using fabric placemats, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove dust and dirt. Be sure to get into the corners and crevices of the placemat where food particles may be hiding.
Wash Your Placemats in the Laundry Machine
For fabric placemats, throw them in the machine with some mild detergent on a gentle cycle. If your placemats are made out of vinyl or plastic, you can use warm soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth to clean them by hand.
Be sure to rinse off all excess soap before drying them off. Place your placemats on top of towels so they don’t stick together while they dry. For more stubborn stains, try soaking them overnight in white vinegar or baking soda mixed with water before washing them as usual.
Sanitize Your Placemats
To ensure that your placemats are completely clean, it's important to sanitize them as well. For fabric mats, mix one cup of hydrogen peroxide (3%) with one gallon of warm water in a large basin or bucket and soak your mats for at least 15 minutes.
For plastic or vinyl mats, you can spray them down with an alcohol-based sanitizer such as rubbing alcohol or Lysol Disinfectant Spray before wiping off any excess residue with a dry cloth or paper towel. You should also consider spraying down both fabric and plastic mats with an anti-bacterial spray after each mealtime use for extra protection against germs and bacteria.
Storing Your Placemats Properly
When it comes time to store your placemats away until next time, be sure not to fold them too tightly—this will only cause creases that make it difficult for your placemats to lay flat when you're ready to use them again.
It's also important not to store any kind of fabric material away damp; this is especially true if you live in an area with high humidity levels as it can lead to mold growth over time. Instead, let everything air dry completely before storing it away in a cool and dry place like a closet or cupboard shelf.
Preventing Damage from Heat Sources
It goes without saying that hot plates shouldn't be placed directly onto fabric placemats; this includes plates that have been microwaved or taken directly off the stovetop as well.
Too much heat exposure can damage the fabric fibers, resulting in fading and discoloration over time—not something anyone wants! To avoid any damage caused by heat sources, keep all hot plates off your placemats until they've cooled down first before placing it onto the mat itself.
Conclusion
Taking care of your placemats doesn't require much time or effort—just remember to give them a quick wipe down after each mealtime use, wash according to their material type when necessary, and finish up by sanitizing them regularly!
Don't forget to store your placemats properly and avoid damage for heat sources. With these steps, you'll make sure that your placemats stay looking like new for years to come!
Can't get those stubborn stains out? Then you may need some new placemats, check out our top picks!
Jocelyn
