I’ve talked about this before when it comes to clothing, but the textile industry is seriously unregulated.
If you check the tag of a product made of fabric, you’ll see the primary fiber(s) it’s made out of (like cotton or polyester), but that’s it. It will say nothing about the hundreds of chemicals that could have been used throughout the production process.
Those chemicals are used throughout the various stages of the manufacturing process. They may be used to turn a raw material into a usable fiber, they could be used to add a “performance” feature to a fabric (like making it stain-resistant), or they could be added right before shipping (like to prevent mildew growth as they’re shipped overseas).
Not all of the chemicals used to make textiles are toxic of course, but many of them are. They include things like PFAS, heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, and others.
Just like with clothing and bedding, fabric home goods like tablecloths and napkins can contain these chemicals, too. That’s one reason why more folks are looking to invest in organic cotton table runners, tablecloths, placemats, tea towels, and other linens for the kitchen and dining room table.
My goal is to save you time and stress by doing the research for you. I hope you’ll find something from one of the brands below that matches your dining room’s aesthetic, fabric preferences, and item needs (like placemats, napkins, etc.)
This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine! Featured image credit: Magic Linen
Here’s where to get your non-toxic tablecloths:
I’ll get right to the brands first. If you want to read more about what exactly to look for in safer and more sustainable table linens, scroll down.
Magic Linen
Carries: Tablecloths, table runners, placemats, napkins, aprons, tea towels, oven mitts, pot holders, bread bags
Price Range: $12 (linen tea towel, on sale) – $200 (tablecloth)
Machine-Washable? Yes (except the raffia ones)
One of the reasons I personally love Magic Linen is the size of their collection… You can basically get everything you need for your dining room table in one place. (I also have a bath robe from them and I love it.)
I love the colors and patterns they offer, from neutral and bold soild colors, to gingham, striped, botanical print, and even pom-pom lined—ugh, so cute!
As their name indicates, most of these kitchen linens are made from linen. They use 100% European flax, which is stone washed for maximum softness (btw, linen actually gets softer as you use and wash it!). Plus, they’re OEKO-TEX certified, which means they’ve been verified to be free from a list of toxic chemicals.
But in addition to their linen goods, they also use a couple of other eco-friendly materials, like raffia for these placemats and this table runner. Combining a linen tablecloth with the raffia placemats and runner is a great way to mix up the textures at your table setting.
Magic Linen also has various other sustainability initiatives as well, incuding a zero waste collection, for which they find ways to make even more beautiful, practical goods out of fabric waste.
Coyuchi
Carries: Tablecloths, kitchen towels, table napkins, aprons, bowl covers
Price Range: $20 (set of 4 napkins) – $168 (tablecloth)
Machine-Washable? Yes
Coyuchi is one of my favorite brands for organic bedding, bath towels, and other home textiles. Part of the reason I love this brand so much is that their pieces are always high-quality, and the designs are relatively timeless—so they can still look good in one’s home years later.
Coyuchi carries most of the practical fabric goods you need for the kitchen—from tablecloths and napkins, to cooking aprons and bowl covers for storing leftovers.
Everything is made out of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, which is grown and woven ethically in India. Most of their products are also OEKO-TEX certified and are made in a factory that recycles 98% of its wastewater.
Made Trade
Carries: Tablecloths, placemats, table runners, napkins, coasters, oven mitts, pot holders, aprons, and other kitchen accessories
Price Range: $14 (napkin) – $202 (tablecloth)
Machine-Washable? Yes, most are, but be sure to check the directions for each individual brand. Some materials (such as raffia) are not machine washable.
As an eco & ethical online retailer, Made Trade is a really great place to find a collection of sustainable table linens from various eco-conscious brands.
Whether you’re looking for a timeless and practical solid-colored organic cotton tablecloth, or loud, rainbow-colored placemats that the kids will love, Made Trade has a really wide variety of designs, patterns, and colors.
They make it really easy to filter according to what you’re looking for. On the side bar, you can sort by material (organic cotton, raffia, linen, etc.), by value (Fair Trade, women-owned, BIPOC-owned, etc.), by brand, by price range, and more.
Good luck choosing a favorite set from this collection! 😉
Anchal Project
Carries: Tablecloths, placemants, table runners, oven mitts, pot holders, coasters, aprons, tea towels
Price Range: $9 (tea towel, on sale) – $110 (tablecloth)
Machine-Washable? Yes
Personally, I really love Anchal’s aesthetic—it’s not really a look you’ll find anywhere else, with their block prints, thick stiches, and bold, contrasting colors.
Pretty much all of their products are made out of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, although some of them use upcycled vintage cotton saris instead(!).
Not only that, but they’re all Fair Trade, too, made by artisans in Ajmer, India. In fact, Anchal is actually a non-profit, with the goal of not only creating beautiful, high-quality textiles for your home, but also partnering with women around the world to create a more ethical global trade. For a truly unique touch, each product features a hand-stitched signature of the maker.
You can also find many of Anchal’s products at Made Trade.
Pottery Barn / Williams Sonoma
Carries: Tablecloths, table runners, placemats, napkins, aprons, towels, and more
Price Range: $10+ (set of organic napkins); $70-$180 (tablecloths)
Machine-Washable? Yes
If you want to be able to look at your table linens in person before you buy them, then Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma have some good options. Many of their options are more affordable than the other brands on this list.
These are good stores to look for holiday-themed linens too, as they have designs with fall vibes, Christmas colors, and more.
Although not all of their table linens are made with natural materials, they do have plenty of options that utlize GOTS certified organic cotton (as well as conventional), natural linen, and rattan. Many of their textiles are OEKO-TEX certified as well.
At Pottery Barn, you can also use the filter features on the side bar to search for products that are “organic,” “Fair Trade,” “sustainably sourced,” and more.
Shop Pottery Barn | Shop Williams Sonoma
Splash Fabric (non-toxic wipeable tablecloths)
Carries: Tablecloths, aprons, baby bibs, fabric
Price Range: Tablecloths start at $65+
Machine-Washable? Yes
If you’re looking for a non-toxic wipeable tablecloth for your dining table, Splash Fabrics is one of the few places you can find one.
These tablecloths are made out of 100% cotton and then laminated with a water-based urethane, which is what makes them wipable and durable against stains. (They’re also OEKO-TEX certifed and are tested for food safety in accordance with FDA standards.)
They have an awesome selection, too. They have squares, rectangles, and circles that come in standard sizes, but you can also order a custom size! Or, if you’d rather make your own, you can order just the fabric. They have lots of sewing resources available to help you out. (They have fabric swatches available, too.)
Plus, they have ton of colors and designs available as well. All of their products are made in Seattle, Washington, USA.
These tablecloths act like “real” fabric, not the plastic-y stuff. So even though they’re wipeable, they still drape over your table well and have a high-quality look and feel to them.
Here’s what to look for in a non-toxic tablecloth:
If you’re doing your own shopping elsewhere, here are some things you might want to keep in mind:
Skip the PVC and choose organic cotton or linen instead
A lot the of tablecloths on the market are made with PVC, which is one of the most toxic kinds of plastic. This is especially true of the single-use, disposable tablecloths, but even many of the reusable table linens contain a layer of PVC on either side of the fabric (or both), usually to make it wipeable and more resistant to water and stains.
Instead, you’ll ideally want to go for plastic-free table linens that are made out of natural materials like cotton or linen, and colored using non-toxic dyes.
Hemp is another good option, although it’s not used nearly as often.
If you need something more affordable, conventional cotton is also a pretty good choice. Yes, it’s often grown and harvested using toxic synthetic pesticides, which is not ideal. But it’s still a natural, plastic-free fiber that could be biodegradable at the end of its life.
(I say could be because it depends on what is added to it in terms of dyes and finishes. But that’s the case for all materials!)
Avoid “performance” features…
Whenever you see some sort of “performance” feature on a textile, such as “stain-resistant” or “wrinkle-resistant,” a red flag should go up.
These features often indicate that a fabric has been treated with something. And many times, that something is a toxic chemical. For example, PFAS are used to make fabrics stain- and water-repellent. Carcinogenic formaldehyde is used to make things wrinkle-resistant. You get the idea.
There are currently no laws on the books that require companies to disclose whether or not these chemicals are being added to their products, and which ones. So, unfortunately, there is virtually no way of knowing for sure whether or not they’re being used (unless they explicitly say so, voluntarily). That’s why consumers are forced to look for “hints” such as these performance claims.
Although it’s certainly not guaranteed that an organic table runner or tablecloth is free from these toxic chemical treatments, it’s certainly more likely that your table linens are going to be safe and non-toxic if you buy them from a brand that prioritizes things like organic materials and eco-conscious manufacturing processes.
…Or at least look for safer coatings
You might be thinking: “But Abbie! I need my table linens to be wipeable, water-resistant, and stain-repellent! I have kids! We are messy!”
I hear you.
First, let me point out that most of the table linens I’ve recommended above are machine-washable. (Most are meant to be washed and dried on gentle.)
But if you definitely want a non-toxic wipeable tablecloth, there are safer options out there that are PVC-free and PFAS-free.
The main thing you’ll want to look for is a PU or TPU coating over a natural fabric such as organic cotton. PU and TPU are still types of plastic, which are not entirely natural or non-toxic. But they are both definitely better than PVC and PFAS. As far as I know, they are currently the safest options available for making something waterproof and wipeable. (I talked about this more in-depth in my guide to waterproof mattress protectors.)
A couple of brands that carry non-toxic wipeable tablecloths (and other linens) using TPU/PU include Splash Fabric (mentioned above) and PlaceMatFab.
Consider patterns instead of solid colors
Another little tip I have for you when it comes to stains is to choose a patterned design instead of a solid color. That way, any food spills that do happen will be more easily hidden inside the shapes and colors. If you take this approach, you won’t have to worry so much about getting a tablecloth that has a stain-resistant treatment added to it.
P.S. On a related note, you might find this guide helpful when it comes to removing stains!
Does washing your table linens before use get rid of the chemicals?
Can any of these chemicals that may or may not be added to table linens be washed out?
It depends.
As you can imagine, some of the chemicals are meant to stay attached to the fabric, even through washing.
(The problem, of course, is that we know that doesn’t happen… Even though you can’t wash PFAS out of products, for example, these toxicants don’t stay in products either. Rather, they slowly leach out over time, especially as the textiles age and start to break down.)
That sad, I personally still wash all of my clothing, bedding, and other textiles before I wear or use them. That’s because if there are any excesses in chemicals present (such as dyes), or if there were any extra chemicals that were added at the end (such as antifungals meant for preservation during shipping), then some of those will likely wash out.
I hope you have found this guide to organic and non-toxic table linens helpful! If you want to stay updated on new content (and get a bunch of other tips, tricks, and more delivered to your inbox once a week, subscribe to Filtered Fridays.