How to Get Wrinkles Out of Polyester Tablecloth Without Ironing

Help with purchased table linens PLEASE!!

I purchased my tablecloths from linentablecloth.com and they are extremely wrinkly. So far, I've ironed out two of the 15 and it takes about an hour for each. I tried putting them in the dryer on low heat and it's not really working. Has anybody found an easier way of getting the wrinkles out? This is going to take me forever.

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36 Comments

Super June 2013
Tracey · on April 25, 2013 at 11:58 PM
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Do you or someone you know have a steam iron?

Mine are wrinkled also but that is what i am planning to do (with help) the day before the wedding when we get the clothes on the tables.
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Super May 2013
JMedd · on April 26, 2013 at 12:31 AM
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That's what I'm using but it's a longer process than I expected. I've spread them out over the dining room table on top of padding and sheets, but I'm being careful how hard or long I press because I don't want to wreck the finish on the table.

I'm half tempted to clean the garage so I can use the floor space to iron.
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Super June 2013
Tracey · on April 26, 2013 at 12:48 AM
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OH wow... i haven't even tried mine yet .. hmmm. hope we don't end up having to pay for dry cleaning.. but maybe an alternative... wondering the cost of having them professionally pressed
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Master March 2014
Andre'ya · on April 26, 2013 at 12:54 AM
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I was going to suggest dry cleaning as well, especially if the steam ironing is taking longer than expected and the dryer isn't working either.

Or you could call a bunch of friends, even FH, and the WP to help you out...I know I am DEFINITELY enlisting the help of mine come the last days of mine...
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Super May 2013
JMedd · on April 26, 2013 at 12:55 AM
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The permanent press on your dryer should work - I just don't have that. I'll do some googling and get back with you if I find a faster solution.
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VIP July 2013
Charlotte · on April 26, 2013 at 1:06 AM
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Have you tried downy wrinkle releaser? You can spray it with that first then iron on low setting.
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Super May 2013
JMedd · on April 26, 2013 at 1:13 AM
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@Charlotte A., do you know if this works without causing spotting on 100% polyester? I just found some other forums where brides were talking about this product, but no on posted results.
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VIP July 2013
Charlotte · on April 26, 2013 at 1:20 AM
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You will have to stand at least 2 feet away from the linen (always test) what you are trying to achieve is a very fine mist, do it on the wrong side of the table cloth.
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Super May 2013
JMedd · on April 26, 2013 at 1:28 AM
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You've potentially saved me from hours of labor. Thank you so much!
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Nancy Taussig · on April 26, 2013 at 10:31 AM
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When you put them in the dryer, did you put a damp cloth in there, too? That should help.
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Super August 2013
Chelle · on April 26, 2013 at 10:37 AM
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@JMedd- I used to do event sales at a restaurant and ironed about a million 100% polyester linens. I suggest a steamer. Hang the linens on a pants hanger and steam out the wrinkles, then go back over with an iron if there is any pleating you need to crisp up. It is definitely the fastest way.
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VIP May 2013
Sara · on April 26, 2013 at 10:41 AM
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I had 100% polyester. I washed mine and then put them in the dryer on the permanent press setting. As soon as the dryer was done, FH and I layed them flat on the bed to let them cool. Then we carefully rolled them up to store for the wedding day.

This thread oultines what we did and has before/after pictures. We still haven't unrolled them to double check that we didn't create new wrinkles. Some of them had to be washed and dried twice. Be careful not to overpack the washer or the dryer. We had to wash them (get them wet) - just putting them in the dryer didn't do anything. We used a short cylce on the washer and no soap.

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/buying-tablecloths-have-little-bit-of-advice/c5c47c4f82e02552.html
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Master April 2013
Michelle · on April 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM
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I did short cycle hot and high heat in the dryer and had no issues. Mine did have wrinkles when I unrolled them from being rolled up. So good luck. They weren't terrible and when the lights were down you didn't notice
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Master September 2014
Barbara · on April 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM
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I'm with Chelle-- steamer!!

If you don't have one, hang them in the bathroom and run the shower on hot. They should be smooth in 15 minutes.
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Just Said Yes August 2014
C. · on July 14, 2014 at 6:19 PM
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This is what worked for me - I washed 120 inch round tablecloths, one at a time. I put them in the dryer (again, one at a time) on high heat with three dry hand towels, tri-folded and rolled, held together with a rubberband (to make a small, tight cylinder shape). The towels (or you could use balls) kept the tablecloths moving freely and they came out with no creases after 20 minutes or so. I had about 60 polyester tablecloths to wash and I experimented until I found something that worked. I washed 70" square tablecloths 3 at a time, but dried them one at a time too.
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Sara · on May 20, 2015 at 2:04 PM
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Can anyone tell me how they got the lines to the event without wrinkles after ironing?
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Just Said Yes September 2015
Peter · on August 22, 2015 at 12:10 PM
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OK - I searched and searched and this one that "C." posted 2 posts back worked PERFECTLY for me.

I am the father of the bride and we have 28 120 inch rounds and I tried all kinds of stuff I found online and this is it... I am copying her post right above into this one.

This is what worked for me - I washed 120 inch round tablecloths, one at a time. I put them in the dryer (again, one at a time) on high heat with three dry hand towels, tri-folded and rolled, held together with a rubberband (to make a small, tight cylinder shape). The towels (or you could use balls) kept the tablecloths moving freely and they came out with no creases after 20 minutes or so.
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Just Said Yes October 2016
laura · on August 8, 2016 at 2:15 PM
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I have 15 132" and I tried the above method. Worked the best by far! I took clean tube socks and put a tennis ball or 2 in them and tied the end instead of the towels. I used 4. Very easy and about 90% of the wrinkles came out. Will use wrinkle releaser on them now for the 10%. Very happy I saw this post!
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Just Said Yes July 2016
To get wrinkles out of my sashes, I put ice cubes in the dryer. I will try them on the new satin overlays I just got.
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lisa limburg · on August 25, 2016 at 11:04 AM
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I bought table linens from www.linentablecloth.com and i wash like 5 to 6 tables at a time and place one tablecloth in the dryer under wrinkle free perm press for like 10 mins and they came out perfect and the chair covers i got to wash like 25 to 30 and i placed like 5 to 10 in the dryer under wrinkle free perm press and they came out perfect, and the overlays i wash like 10 ten of them and dry 5 together and the sashes i had 50 lavender and 50 pink and 50 mint green and 50 baby blue and i wash then all together and dry them in 50 at a time, and the runners wash fine too, and i hope this helps you and i just placed them on our tables and chairs cause we had a backyard wedding, but if you are bring them to other place then you would have to fold them in half, unless you have a rack on wheels that you can hang the linens from, so good luck.
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