I switched to cloth napkins about 2 years ago. Rags also now replace paper towels in our house. It’s wonderful how much less paper we are using, but I find myself throwing barely used napkins in the laundry on a daily basis. While visiting friends on Martha’s Vineyard, I came across their clever and beautiful solution.
Drawer of napkin rings
At the start of our visit they assigned everyone a different napkin ring (they have a wonderful odd assortment of wooden and sterling rings; their family ones all have their names or initials engraved with some text inside detailing when it was given and by whom). My son loved his wooden lion; I had an elegant silver hexagon engraved with the initial D.
Our friend Henry showing off my napkin ring
Napkins were rolled and kept in the rings; they came out for meal times and went back in the drawer when the table was cleared. The system worked perfectly. I’m now on the hunt for my own eclectic collection. In the meantime, our host Susan suggested using small cookie cutters as rings—what a great kid-pleasing idea!
From: mary moon | 9/14/10 at 8:37 am
Does not strike me as a sanitary thing to do/use. Neither rags nor "barely used napkins." Not a good thing. Sorry, but thanks, anyway.
From: A Day That is Dessert | 9/14/10 at 2:55 pm
I don't know how I missed Martha Stewart adding a family blog, but the idea is brilliant. We use cloth napkins exclusively and struggle with a good system for maintaining cleanliness without too much laundry. Thanks for the great suggestion!
From: Carl | 10/5/10 at 7:01 pm
Such a great idea. I'm always throwing barely used cloth napkins into the washing machine (which is conveniently located in the kitchen). This is a great way to cut down on all that extra laundry. And it will be fun for my daughter to help pick out the rings too.