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Acrylic, oilcloth or cotton - which fabric lasts outdoors?

If you are looking for a wipe clean tablecloth, you will usually end up with oilcloth or coated cotton. Both keep liquids out because a plastic coating sits on top of the weave. We take a different route: our tablecloths are made from Agora Liso, a solution-dyed acrylic. The colour sits in the core of the fibre, and the water- and dirt-repellent finish works as stain protection and is PFAS-free. The tablecloth stays a fabric, feels like one and can go in the washing machine. What the levels of lightfastness mean and how the water column is measured is explained in the guide.

FeatureAgora acrylic (our tablecloths)OilclothCoated cotton
Construction100 % solution-dyed acrylic, 260 g/m², plain colours without patternPlastic layer on a backing fabric, usually printedCotton weave with an acrylic or plastic coating
Waterwater-repellent, water column of 180 mm, not watertightwatertightwater-repellent to watertight, depending on the coating
Stainswipe off, washing-up liquid solution, bleach 1:20 permittedwipe offwipe off
Washing machineyes, gentle cycle up to 30 °CFalsedepends on the manufacturer
Colour in the sunlightfastness 7-8 out of 8 (ISO 105-B02), 5-year guarantee on colourfastnessdepends on the printdepends on the print and the coating
Feeltextile, creases littlesmooth like filmtextile, somewhat stiffer
Tablecloth size

Measure the garden table, add the overhang

In the configurator you enter the finished size of the tablecloth, that is the table plus the overhang on both sides. How far it hangs over is up to you. Outdoors, a fairly short overhang works best, because the wind then has less fabric to lift. Small deviations are normal with textiles, see tolerances for made-to-measure items for details.

Rectangular up to 150 cm wide

In all 19 colours we sew the rectangular tablecloth up to 150 cm wide and in any length your table needs. The hem is about 3 cm wide, and the corners are mitred, so they sit neatly at an angle.

Round up to 160 cm in diameter

Round tablecloths are available in all colours up to 160 cm in diameter, with a finely turned hem of about 1 cm. This shape also fits the classic round bistro table.

Extra Large, over 3 metres

Blanco, Marfil, Perla and Silver are also available 320 cm wide off the roll. This gives rectangular tablecloths up to 310 cm wide, with rounded corners on request, and round ones up to 320 cm in diameter.

How to calculate

A round table with a diameter of 120 cm and a 20 cm overhang all round needs a tablecloth of 160 cm. For a table of 90 x 160 cm, the same overhang gives a tablecloth of 130 x 200 cm.

Think of the chairs too

If you are also renewing the seat cushions for your garden table, measure the chairs at the same time. The measuring guide for chair cushions shows how.

Wipe clean and washable

Stains, washing and storage

Easy care means this: you can remove most stains at the table, and for anything else the tablecloth can go in the washing machine. The rules for this fabric are in the care instructions for Agora, the general ones in the care guide for table linen.

Take up fresh stains straight away

Blot spills with a dry cloth, then wipe over with lukewarm water and neutral soap. Because the finish repels liquids, little soaks into the fabric as long as you act quickly.

Wine, ketchup, coffee

Wine, ketchup, mustard, coffee, tea and sun cream come out with a solution of one part washing-up liquid to 20 parts water. Remove machine grease, oil and chewing gum with acetone.

Candle wax

Let the wax harden and peel off most of it. Soak up the rest with kitchen paper and an iron on a low setting, then wipe over with the washing-up liquid solution.

Washing machine at 30 °C

Gentle cycle up to 30 °C, no fabric softener, low spin speed. Then air dry, not in the tumble dryer. No dry cleaning. Ironing is usually not needed; if it is, only at a low temperature.

Diluted bleach is permitted

Because the colour sits in the fibre, the fabric tolerates a diluted bleach solution of 1 to 20. This helps with stubborn stains and mildew spots, and you can read more under mould on outdoor textiles.

Store only when dry

After rain, let the tablecloth dry completely before you fold it. Do not leave it on a wet table for long periods, and in winter store it loosely folded in a dry place.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A fabric that repels water and stains and keeps its colour in the sun. Our outdoor tablecloth is made from solution-dyed Agora acrylic, 260 g/m², with a lightfastness of 7-8 out of 8 according to ISO 105-B02. An oilcloth tablecloth is watertight, but feels like film. Uncoated cotton and linen soak up liquids and are therefore of little use outdoors.

Yes. Calling our tablecloths wipe clean means this: you wipe fresh stains away with a damp cloth and neutral soap. Stubborn marks such as red wine or ketchup come out with a diluted washing-up liquid solution. And if the whole tablecloth needs a wash, it goes in the machine on a gentle cycle at 30 °C.

Hardly. The fabric reaches 7 to 8 out of 8 on the lightfastness scale, depending on the colour. Because the colour goes into the fibre during spinning and is not printed on, it stays the same even if the surface wears slightly over the years. The manufacturer gives a 5-year guarantee on colourfastness. That makes the fabric UV-resistant enough to stay outdoors all summer.

It will cope with a shower: the fabric is water-repellent with a water column of 180 mm, so summer rain beads off. Weather-resistant does not mean watertight, though. In continuous rain the fabric gets wet and needs time to dry. Let the tablecloth dry completely afterwards and only then fold it.

That is a matter of taste. As a rule of thumb, allow 20 to 30 cm on each side, a little less outdoors so that the wind does not lift the cloth. Add the overhang twice to the table size: a table of 90 x 160 cm with a 20 cm overhang needs a tablecloth of 130 x 200 cm.

Yes, we sew a round outdoor tablecloth up to 160 cm in diameter in all 19 colours. Larger round tablecloths up to 320 cm in diameter are available as Extra Large in Blanco, Marfil, Perla and Silver. You enter the diameter in the configurator, and the price appears straight away.

No, we do not stock an outdoor table runner. Our tablecloth covers the whole table and so also protects the tabletop from stains and sun.

The Agora fabric is certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which means it has been tested for harmful substances, also for direct skin contact. The water-repellent finish is PFAS-free.

Choose the shape and colour, enter the finished size in the configurator and put the tablecloth in the basket. We then sew it in our own workshop in Westoverledingen. If you would like to hold the colour in your hand first, order free fabric samples.

Size measured? Then only the colour is missing

Order free fabric samples in the 19 colours, or ask us which size fits your garden table.

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