How to Get Folds Out of Vinyl Tablecloth

Lay your vinyl tablecloth out on your lawn or over your deck on a warm and sunny day. The heat from the sun may soften the vinyl enough that you can pull out the wrinkles and creases. At the end of the day, have another person help you pull the tablecloth from both sides to straighten out the residual creases and wrinkles. If the vinyl is soft enough, they will pull right out and your tablecloth will lay limp and flat. Bring the tablecloth inside and put it immediately on your table so it molds to the flat surface.

Steam your tablecloth gently if the sun doesn't remove the wrinkles. If your tablecloth has a soft, flannel backing, place it in your clothes dryer along with a damp washcloth. Dry it on a medium setting for five minutes. Check on it, and if it is wrinkle-free, take it out. If it isn't, leave it in for additional five-minute intervals until it is. Don't use this method if your tablecloth doesn't have a flannel backing.

Blast steam on your flannel-backed tablecloth if the gentle steam method doesn't work. Place your tablecloth with the flannel side up on a hard, flat surface with towels underneath it. Set your iron to its steam setting. Hold your iron at least 8 inches away from your tablecloth and steam the entire surface. Let the tablecloth cool down until it is cool enough to touch. Have another person help you pull the tablecloth from both sides to straighten out the residual creases and wrinkles.

Place stubborn vinyl tablecloths or those without flannel backings between two towels on a hard surface. Set your iron on a steam setting and iron the top towel. Don't leave your iron too long in one spot or you may melt your tablecloth. Lift your towel to inspect the tablecloth regularly, and take it out from between the towels and pull on it from both ends as necessary to remove wrinkles.