We have bamboo place mats that we use on a pretty constant basis. We like the look of them, but have HAD it with how they let condensation through to the table below. I’ve been saying for lo these many months that I’d figure out a way to fix them. Today was the day. I found a cheap vinyl tablecloth with flannel backing and bought a can of spray adhesive. Supplies were less than $13 bucks because the tablecloth was about 40% off. Or something. Math isn’t my strong suit. Whatever the amount, it was much cheaper than buying all new place mats and I have spray adhesive that I can use to redo the skittles game my sister and I have had since we were kids. That’s a story for another day.
Supplies:
I initially thought the tablecloth was pretty ugly, but taken in smaller doses, it’s not so bad:
It has a certain retro design to it, but it really doesn’t matter since we won’t see that side again. I put the vinyl side against the place mat and the flannel side should slide around on the dining room table like a dream.
I’m not sure why this last photo is so blurry and badly lit. Maybe I was high off the fumes of the spray adhesive:
Just a random thought here, but does anyone else hate the smell of new vinyl? I hate it with the white-hot heat of a thousand suns. Between the spray adhesive fumes and the vinyl smell, it’s a wonder I didn’t stumble out of the garage and face-plant into the back yard.
Update: We’ve been using the improved place mats and last night I noticed both of us stuck our napkins under our drinks. This was after we’d finished eating and we were planning on sitting there for awhile. We, of course, had our napkins in our laps for dinner, but we put them under our glasses as soon as it was chat time. The funny thing was we both had no reason to do it as the new backing was working as it should.
Agreed. Hate that smell. You are very clever though, in your creativity!