A napkin is a piece of cloth or paper that’s used to help protect your clothes from messes and spills. It is also used to wipe your hands and mouth while eating a snack or meal. It can also be used as home decor by being folded into shapes to make a dining table look nice. For cleaning larger messes, napkins can be used along with paper towels, cleaning wipes and disinfecting wipes.

Both napkins and serviettes are terms that describe the same item, a piece of paper or cloth that’s used to wipe a person’s mouth and hands during a meal. The difference in how the words are used comes down to regional vocabulary and sometimes social context. Along with napkins, you can upgrade your tableware with new dinnerware, cutlery and flatware, drinking glasses and cooking utensils.

Yes, standard napkins are compostable. They can act as a “brown” material that’s carbon-rich and breaks down quickly in compost bags and compost bins. Plain white, brown or unbleached napkins can be used as compostable materials. Municipal programs may accept food-soiled paper napkins in organic waste collection. However, you should check your local guidelines to make sure. You can also buy types of disposable cups, disposable cutlery, disposable plates and bowls that are compostable.

The main difference between 1-ply and 2-ply napkins is their layer count. 1-ply napkins use one single layer of paper tissue, while 2-ply napkins use two bonded layers of paper tissue. The extra layer makes 2-ply napkins softer, thicker, more absorbent and stronger when wet. For larger spills and messes, paper towels are better suited because they are more absorbent than napkins.