subject: Plastic Placemats Are A Great Choice [print this page] The versatility and durability of plastic placemats are legend. Since they're obviously made of plastic, they are meant to last a very, very long time. Aside from being economical in that way, they also do their job of protecting wood or glass surfaces and preventing stains on tablecloths.
For cloth placemats which are often seen in chi-chi homes, are a big burden to busy homeowners. It's hard enough to get the housework done while worrying about removing stains on the very elegant linen placemats. Not to mention the fact that the mats have to be soaked for a time, washed, starched, and pressed before being stored properly in order to make them look good on the table. Plastic placemats just need to be wiped with a damp towel to get them clean.
While plastic placemats are very useful, the designs on most of them leave a lot wanting. The mats that are supposed to help whet your appetite are usually decorated in garish and highly contrasting colors adorned with ridiculous or childish prints that take the attention off your food. It's not often that you come across mats with appetizing themes or soothing colors.
Other arguments against the mats put them in question, too. The fact that they're not too ecological, being made of plastic, would lead people to choose mats made of other materials. They're not too sturdy if not treated properly, easily becoming moldy or scratched or, in the case of the cheaper ones, having the designs wear off easily. Designers don't advocate them, calling the mats 'cheap' or 'trashy.'
But all in all, the popular little mats are a great help to busy homemakers with full-time jobs and even fuller schedules with the family and friends and love the ease of just using a damp sponge to magically clean of each and every stain you can throw at it. Treated properly, they are a wise, and practical, choice.
