Here's how to get your fine linen tablecloth ready for the big day. First, if you've stored the tablecloth for a year or more, you need to launder it again before pressing.
Laundering:
Check tablecloth and napkins for stains. Spot-treat (consult the stain chart in a household-hints book) as soon as possible after the meal. Wash on gentle in warm water with detergent. Rinse thoroughly.
Line dry -- dryer heat can set stains. When dry, recheck stains. If any remain, treat again or take to a professional.
After washing, partially dry or let dry and sprinkle linens with water, then store overnight lightly rolled in a plastic bag (some people store in the refrigerator) before ironing. Old, thin linen and cotton easily scorch. So even for linen, don't turn the iron temperature to linen. As an added precaution, use a pressing cloth -- a piece of white cotton sheet works fine.
Before ironing, wipe off the ironing board legs. Set the board on a large, clean sheet spread on the floor.
To avoid a crease, double the cloth the long way and iron one half, being careful not to iron a crease in the center fold. Reverse cloth and iron the same way on the other side. Then, fold the cloth in thirds and press the unironed section down the center.
Let tablecloth dry completely. Loosely fold (long way) with tissue paper to cushion layers and drape over a padded hanger to avoid a crease. Hang in a closet out of light with plenty of space around it. The tablecloth should stay unwrinkled for a couple of weeks.
Easy way out:
Take your tablecloth to a neighborhood dry cleaner, which probably will send it out to a commercial laundry.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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