The $1.25 Dollar Store Find I Always Have in My Car During the Summer
It’s summertime and the living is easy because of a … tablecloth?
Dotdash Meredith
During the height of the pandemic, my family did a lot of hiking and outdoor picnics. The outdoor tables were often dirty, sticky, muddy, or covered in food. We tried using blankets to sit on or wipes to clear off the tables and benches. The fabric didn’t work well and wipes couldn’t handle big outdoor messes. We would just end up with a dirty blanket to wash once we got home.
That was when I realized that I had leftover, inexpensive plastic tablecloths in my pantry from home and school parties. I’d often overestimated how many I needed in case one was ripped or extra guests arrived. I didn’t want them to go to waste, so I tossed them in my car. They were lightweight and pre-packaged to store easily in the trunk.
Any time we stopped to eat or hike, I’d simply grab one of the tablecloths. At around $1 each, it was a cheap way to cover tables and the ground. If the wind was blowing, we added rocks at the corners or tied the edges to the table and benches.
The unexpected versatility of this inexpensive table covering makes it a great summer (and beyond) staple. Keep some in your trunk and be ready for messiness and meals. I like to keep 3 or 4 on hand because they work great with outdoor picnic tables–one for each bench and one for the tabletop.
Having dollar store tablecloths on hand for on-the-go also adds a celebratory touch to outdoor tables. Eating with a themed or brightly colored tablecloth can be fun!
Shopping for Dollar Store Tablecloths
Plastic rectangular tablecloths range between $1-$1.50. You can pick them at dollar and party stores, big box stores, or via Amazon. I’ve found rectangular tablecloths work best for topping tables and benches because of their size; those are $1.25 at dollar stores.
The Many Uses of a Dollar Store Tablecloth
While the most obvious use of an inexpensive plastic tablecloth is for picnics, they also work great for other uses.
As rain ponchos or head coverings
As a wet or dirty grass and ground covering to protect clothes and shoes
As a temporary wrap for wet clothes or swimsuits
Covering for car floor boards if shoes are muddy or dirty
As a table covering for board games or puzzles
Covering for food in the case of wind or rain
For outdoor classroom parties or events like Field Day
As ground cover to set supplies or bags on
Under painting or crafting projects
As ground cover at large outdoor events like Fourth of July or Labor Day
To carry food and paper goods from one location to the next
Covering for backpacks
Lay out forest discoveries to dry like leaves or acorns
The Plastic Tablecloth Upgrade
If you want to upgrade your inexpensive tablecloth game a bit, consider buying flannel backed ones that are also available at dollar and big box stores. Additionally, party stores offer tablecloth rolls that you can transport too. If you don’t want the entire roll in your car, consider cutting off tablecloth-sized sections.
Read the original article on All Recipes.
