How to Reuse Vinyl Tablecloths

Vinyl tablecloths with flannel (or other soft material) backing are great for use on indoor tables, picnic tables or even as picnic blankets. But, once they have served their purpose, gone out of style, been damaged or just don't tickle your fancy anymore, don't be too quick to toss it in the trash - there are many ways to reuse this great material and keep it out of a landfill.

How to Reuse Vinyl Tablecloths: Crafty Ideas

If you are the crafty sort, vinyl tablecloths can be reclaimed to create all sorts of creative, cute and practical items. For example, if you also have some old cork coasters, or a corkboard lying around, you could cut pieces of the tablecloth and glue it to the cork to make fun, colorful coasters to use in your home or on your patio.

It can also be used to make reusable shopping bags, tote bags, diaper bags and zipper pouches, and as liners for cosmetic bags, handbags or any other item that needs to be easy to clean.

For some great project ideas and tutorials for handbags, zipper pouches and tote bags, check out sites like crafster.com, or do a Google search and find tons of links to patterns and tutorials.

How to Reuse Vinyl Tablecloths: Practical Ideas for Around the House

Old vinyl tablecloths are great to use as protective covering for floors or tables when doing craft projects or other activities with children. Kids don't care how ugly or out of style they might be, and it will keep your table and floors glue-, glitter-, paint-, and marker-free.

Using vinyl tablecloths as drop cloths for painting is another great way to reuse them around the house, while also saving money by not having to buy plastic sheeting to protect your floors.

You could also use old vinyl tablecloths in your trunk or on your backseat when hauling wet or dirty cargo, or cut it into pieces to use as easy to clean drawer and shelf liners.

How to Reuse Vinyl Tablecloths: Disposal Ideas

Okay, so maybe you aren't that crafty, or you don't feel like storing your old vinyl tablecloth for the next time you need to paint a wall, or maybe you're just tired of looking at it. If that's the case, there are still earth-friendly options for getting rid of it and avoiding having it hang around in a landfill for thousands of years.

To keep your old vinyl tablecloth in circulation, give it to someone who has children or who makes items out of reclaimed materials, or it to a thrift store, if it's in okay condition.