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5 Unexpected Reasons to Use Cloth Restaurant-Quality Napkins and Tablecloths Instead of Disposable Paper Products

• May 29, 2018
• Recent News
• Greg

In the fast-paced world of dining, paper napkins and even tablecloths appear to make sense. Paper products seem cheap, easy and quick. And while this strategy may work for fast food restaurants, many restaurant owners and managers are unaware of the massive benefits of switching to cloth restaurant-quality napkins and tablecloths.

Here are just a few reasons why investing in cloth table linens is worth it:

1. Restaurant-quality napkins and tablecloths create a better dining aesthetic.

Real tablecloths and napkins are, and have always been, the mark of a good restaurant. If you’re looking to make your restaurant appear more special, quality table linens are a simple way to communicate that your restaurant is a classy establishment. Table linens’ implicit association with fine dining will make your customers feel like they’re getting the most out of their money (and perhaps make them willing to spend a little more of it). Plus, at Century Linen, you can choose from over 17 tablecloth and napkin color options to get the right look for your restaurant.

2. Customers associate tablecloths with better service.

According to one study, 88% of consumers associated tablecloths with better service. Even though tablecloths and service aren’t necessarily related, switching to real restaurant linens gives your guests a better impression of all aspects of your restaurant.

3. A restaurant linen service is better for the environment than disposable paper products.

Did you know that if every American used reusable linen napkins instead of paper napkins, we’d save 60 million trees per year? Disposable products are terrible for the environment, and reusable cloth restaurant linens are an invaluable alternative. While linen products do require water and energy to launder, the environmental cost is minimal compared to the hundreds of paper napkins your restaurant uses each day that inevitably end up decomposing in a landfill after one use. Plus, by working with an environmentally-conscious linen service like Century Linen, you can further reduce your restaurant’s impact on the environment.

4. Linens reduce noise in your restaurant.

Customers complain about noise in restaurants more than they complain about service and price. The constant clanking of dishes being set down on tables, glasses being picked up and put down, and silverware scraping against plates can make it difficult for your guests to talk to each other, which is a big reason why people go to restaurants in the first place. Switching to restaurant-quality napkins and tablecloths can reduce noise in your restaurant. The cloth acts as a barrier between noisy dishware and the table, and absorbs sound in general as there are fewer hard surfaces for sound to reverberate off. In all, lower noise levels will create a more relaxed atmosphere that’s conducive to conversation and makes your customers happy.

5. The average U.S. consumer uses three paper napkins per meal, but only one linen napkin per meal.

You might think that you’re saving money with paper napkins, but that cost may be offset by the sheer number of paper napkins that your guests are using. In general, people take way more paper napkins than they actually need. Plus, paper napkins don’t absorb liquids well, meaning that in some cases, your guests may actually need 10 paper napkins to wipe up one spill on their table. Real, cloth, restaurant-quality napkins, on the other hand, absorb much better while adding a touch of class to your dining room. And, your guests won’t grab 20 of them to keep in their glove compartments.

Make the switch today!

Reap all of the benefits of cloth napkins and tablecloths with Century Linen. Our full catalog of restaurant linens can meet the needs of any restaurant, and our dedication to quality and service is unmatched. We provide linen management solutions that actually work, giving you more time to make delicious food that brings a smile to your customers’ faces.

Contact us today to learn more about how restaurant linens can work for you!