A well-chosen wooden dining table can be a stunning centerpiece that will endure generations within your family. It also requires regular cleaning and care to ensure it looks at its finest.
With this to think about that in our mind, we’ve created an easy-to-follow guide to taking care of and cleaning wooden furniture for dining that covers everything from the everyday to more thorough cleaning strategies and a few home solutions.
Before we begin our process, here are some fundamental principles to keep in mind:Prevention is always better than cure: Use coasters, cork or felt mats to keep scratches on your table and clean up spills as fast as you can so that they don’t cause any damage.
If you are cleaning, begin small and start with the most straightforward choices before moving to more techniques.Make sure you ask your furniture maker for their top techniques.
Now, let’s move on!
Table of Contents
1.Placement issues
First of all, where you place your table in the room can be a factor. We’re trying to balance with this isn’t too much heat or excessive humidity. Therefore, don’t place a wooden dining table in a place where it will be in direct sunlight or the vicinity of the heat source.
Temperature swings, as well as humidity, can result in cracking or warping. Be careful with the location of your chairs and table; consider adding a humidifier or an air conditioning unit in the space, if possible.
2. Cleanse after use and then dust every week.
The second important thing to do is wash the table after each use by using soft, soft cloths that catch any beverages or food. A microfibre cloth is the best; however, any lint-free fabric (and an old T-shirt, too!) is a great option. Simply dampen it a bit and then wipe it clean after eating or spillage to stop staining from developing.
If you’ve got spots of grease to take care of If you have grease spots to deal with, a highly diluted mixture of dishwashing liquid and water is a good option. It is also essential to clean regularly. Although dust may seem innocent, it’s possible to build up and scratch and harm the surface. It’s best to be proactive.
3. Make sure your furniture gets a good cleaning at least once a year.
Regularly cleaning your tables and chairs will require a deep well-groomed clean at least twice per year. What you’ll need:
- Dish detergent
- Warm water
- White vinegar
- Two microfiber cloths at least
- (Optional) Scraper for plastic pots
Start by making a dilute mix of hot water using moderate dish soap. If you want a more gentle cleanse, choose white vinegar. A suitable ratio is 240 milliliters (1 cup) of water to 45 milliliters (three teaspoons) in vinegar.
Clean any dust from the chair and table by wiping them down using an abrasive cloth. Then you dip one of the microfiber towels into the solution and start wiping furniture from one section. Be careful not to soak your wood in water, and keep a soft, dry cloth in your bag to ensure that you wash any accumulated moisture to prevent absorption and warping.
If you’re experiencing a challenging time getting rid of streaks or accumulations, do not use abrasive cleaning products, sponges, or scrubbers to wash your chairs and tables since they could scratch the surface and cause damage to the surface. Instead, pot scrapers made of plastic or credit cards could be a better option.
4. Restore and protect the wood’s luster by using oil or wax
After your furniture is clean and dry, it’s about protecting and restoring the natural shine, appearance, and appearance of your chairs and table. Make use of cheesecloth (or the microfibre cloth you have been using for years) and apply semi-solid or carnauba wax by buffing it into the wood using gentle circular motions to create an elegant, soft shining.
If you don’t own wax or have the time to visit the area that sells hardware, then all you’ll require is your kitchen! Simply mix one tablespoon vinegar and three tablespoons of olive oil. Use that to make a simple, homemade polish.
5. Mix some homemade solutions to clean wood furniture
As we’ve discussed previously, olive oil and vinegar are excellent cleaners and polishes for your dining table made of wood. There are also food items that work as quick cleaning tricks. For example:
· Mayonnaise can lift water staining.
If you’ve got a mark on your dining table that it’s probably not on the wood but within the wax layer. Applying mayonnaise on it will lift the stain out and provide some polish as well!
· Make use of tea to achieve the perfect shine.
Make two cups of black tea into a pot of simmering water, then allow for it to cool. After that, take a soft, soft cloth, and to soak it in tea, squeeze it and clean your furniture made of wood. This will create organic protection and smooth shine.
· Deploy Baking Powder For Stubborn Marks
For paint marks and ink (or any other stain insisting on staying), Mix baking soda with a tiny amount of water, say about a teaspoon or two – into a smooth paste. Apply the paste to your chair or table using a soft cloth, and then rub it until the stain is gone or fades.
Other Tips For Cleaning & Protecting a Wood Table
1. Make Sure To Dust Your Wood Table Frequently.
Small dust particles may seem harmless, but a sufficient accumulation could scratch the wood’s surface. Make sure to dust at least every week using the help of a soft, lint-free cloth.
Beware of special dust cleaners as they are filled with silicones that could penetrate through the wood’s pores and cause harm to a great extent. Instead, simply dampen a cloth using water or microfiber cloths which will stick to dust particles by themselves.
2. Use Oil And Vinegar To Remove Water Rings From Your Table.
When you find a watermark ring on your tabletop made of wet glasses, mix equal amounts of vinegar, olive oil, and vinegar, then employ a soft cloth to apply the mixture to the ring in a manner that follows the grain of the wood. After that, you can use another clean, soft cloth.
3. Keep It Away From The Radiator.
Avoid placing a dining table next to a heater or close to a heating register. The fluctuations in temperature could harm the wood by cracks or warping. If you own the leaf in an attic, basement, or attic, the temperature and moisture difference could be a problem.
4. Monitor The Humidity Levels.
Like all woodwork, including flooring, trimming, dining tables, and other furniture, you should maintain the humidity in the home in between 45 percent. A lower humidity level could damage the wood, and any higher can cause swelling. For most people, that would mean using a humidifier during the winter months and an air conditioner or dehumidifier during summer.
5. Let Your Table’s Wood Shine.
As we mentioned above that it’s better to avoid silicone products. Instead, polish using carnauba, a hard wax. Utilize two soft, lint-free cloths to apply the wax and the other to polish.