Few things make a holiday table look as put together as freshly laundered — and wrinkle-free — tablecloths. But it seems that tablecloths and napkins inevitably end up wrinkled, especially if they’ve been hiding in storage up until this point.

“I’ve found that no matter what I do, after (the table linen) is washed, there’s a high probability that there will be wrinkles in the fabric,” says Delah Gomasi, CEO of MaidForYou.

But wrinkle-free tablecloths don’t have to be a dream. We spoke to several cleaning and hosting experts to get their top tips (and anti-wrinkle tricks) on dealing with wrinkled tablecloths, napkins and everything in between.

Wash your bedding ASAP

Do not leave table linen stored until the big day.

“Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to bring them,” says Marcella Valladolid, chef and author. “Often, leaving them in a dark, damp place can leave them wrinkled and not smelling their best.”

Instead, pull them out a day or two before so you can inspect them for stains and tears (and repair or replace as needed) and so you don’t have to rush through the washing process.

Wash them properly

“Whether it’s a tablecloth, bed linen, towel, dishcloth or cloth napkin, the first thing you’ll want to do is give it a good wash,” says Valladolid.

She recommends using a gentle detergent for table linens, and you might even consider using additives like fabric softener or wrinkle remover when you wash them.

Be sure to read the care label on your tablecloths, especially if they are made from a delicate fabric like silk or linen. And don’t forget to pre-treat any stains before washing the table linen.

Dry the table linen at a low temperature

Reduce the temperature before machine drying any table linen. A dryer that is too hot can cause some fabrics to overheat and wrinkle – your dryer’s Eco mode is probably a better choice than Dry Time or Quick Dry.

Another must-do when drying tablecloths and napkins? Take them out of the dryer as soon as they are done.

“Removing the bedding from the dryer as soon as it’s done and laying or rolling it flat helps keep it wrinkle-free,” says Valladolid.

Leaving bedding in the dryer – especially if it’s still a little damp – will lead to major wrinkling.

Use an iron or steam for last-minute touch-ups

A reliable iron or steamer is an easy way to deal with daily wrinkles. In fact, Gomasi actually prefers to use steam rather than iron.

“We recommend using steam instead of a regular iron,” she says. “We let it hang on a coat rack and then use a steam wand to remove any wrinkles.”

Once the wrinkles have been steamed or ironed out, remember to lay the table linen completely flat (or hang it with as few creases as possible) to prevent new wrinkles from forming.

Store them properly

When you’re ready to put away your table linens, do so carefully. Be sure to wash and dry them first – you don’t want stains sitting around for months – before carefully storing them away.

“While you may be prone to folding sheets, this can often create sharp lines,” says Valladolid. “I recommend rolling them on a surface—like a cardboard tube—to prevent creases and help them stay smooth.”

Tablecloths can also be stored on a hanger inside a garment bag, while smaller linens such as cloth napkins can be hung on a tie or scarf hanger for wrinkle-free storage.