Vinyl tablecloths are not heat resistant. The good news is that cloth tablecloths, such as a cotton or polyester fabric, can withstand high temperatures and steam from hot dishes. This helps stop the spread of germs at the dinner table and increases durability as well. As vinyl doesn't have these properties, in general they should be avoided when dealing with hot dishes or directly with a heat source like an oven top; traces of oil may leach into food which could cause health issues if ingested.