You have used a restaurant napkin completely wrong! Etiquette expert William Hanson explains the dos and don’ts of napkins (including why they should NEVER be folded into a swan)
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You’ve used your restaurant napkin all wrong – but help is at hand from etiquette expert William Hanson.
Hanson has produced one TikTok video has gone viral, with over 670,000 views, where he explains the dos and don’ts of napkins.
In the video, also sent to Mr. Hanson’s InstagramThe Merlin of manners explains that when you leave the table and intend to return – for example to go to the toilet – place the napkin on your seat or on the arm of the chair if it has one.
Pro tip – ‘never place it on the back of the chair’.
Sir. Hanson continues: ‘If you leave the table entirely because you’re done with the meal, it gets placed in a neat pile to the left of your setting. There’s no need to fold it into a neat shape.’
William Hanson has produced a TikTok video that has gone viral, with over 670,000 views, in which he explains the dos and don’ts of napkins.
And Mr Hanson added in a caption: ‘And definitely don’t fold it into a swan – plain!’
When you put the napkin on the table when you’re done, are there any stains on the table that’s a no-no?
Hanson told MailOnline Travel: ‘Yes, avoid things like the plate or cutlery. An empty surface is all you need – usually the space to the left of the setting where the bread plate was when you started eating, but it will be cleared after the first or main course.’
Do the same rules apply to paper napkins?
Hanson said: ‘Generally, yes. Paper napkins tend to fly away, especially when eating in a row or outdoors. It would be nice to hide the napkin under your plate when you’re done to weigh it down.’
In the video, the Merlin of manners explains that when you leave the table and intend to return – for example for a toilet visit – the napkin is placed on your seat, or on the arm of the chair if it has one. Pro tip – ‘never place it on the back of the chair’. And never fold it into a shape
If one’s napkin has crumbs on it, what is the etiquette for discarding them?
Hanson replied: ‘You can gently brush them on the floor, but only if there are a few. If not, leave them there and be careful how you fold the napkin at the end to try and keep the crumbs in.’
Is the purpose of the napkin not only to catch crumbs on the lap, but to dry both hands and mouth?
Hanson noted: ‘Yes, the wipe is multi-functional, although there really shouldn’t be too much dirt on the wipe from dabbing your mouth clean. Food is meant to go in the mouth, not around it. If you have a dirty napkin at the end, something has gone wrong.’
For more from Mr. Hanson visit his TikTok and Instagram profiles. His new book, Just Good Manners (Penguin Random House), will be published on 12 September 2024. Billed as ‘a witty and authoritative guide to British etiquette’, William shares ‘his definitive guidance on how to charm and delight those around you in any situation with idiosyncratic authority’.