6 Tips for Maintaining Your Dining Table

A dining table provides a suitable space to eat and enjoy your meals inside your dining room. Aside from that essential purpose, your dining table can often be seen as a centerpiece in your house. Many families even consider elegant dining tables as perfect heirlooms to pass down. 

With that said, dining tables are usually made up of wood, metal, and stone. Some tables are also built using glass. Whatever material your dining table is made up of, it’s important that you keep it clean. Keeping your dining table clean makes it last longer. In this article, we’ll list down some tips on how to maintain your dining table.

Regular Cleaning

Good old-fashioned elbow grease, a bucket of warm water, a mild dish detergent, and a damp cloth is all you need to clean your dining table. Since the dining table is where you’ll eat your meals, it can get very dirty afterward. The dining room and kitchen are often one in some homes or places, which means food preparation is also done on the dining table. 

If you don’t clean your dining table, liquid can seep in, especially on wooden tables. Even though wooden tables are treated to withstand a bit of water, the treatment doesn’t last forever. Sometimes, even the acidity and other chemicals from the food we eat can accelerate the degradation of your dining table. Just by wiping away liquid and grime on your table, you’re making it last longer.

Dusting

Aside from cleaning, dusting wooden dining tables is also a good way of maintaining them. On wooden surfaces, dust buildup can cause scratches, making glossy finishes on wooden tables look dull. Even if you don’t have a wooden table, it’s still best to wipe away the dust that gets on your table. No one would want to stay, let alone eat on a dirty surface.

Placemats and Coasters

If you think placemats and coasters are just for looking fancy, think again. These items help protect your table from heat, stains, and those annoying condensation marks or water stains. 

Vinegar and Olive Oil

Speaking of water stains, a lot of us have been wondering how to remove them from our tables. Look no further as vinegar and oil can help you remove these stains. In a container, mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil. Apply the mixture on a soft cloth and wipe it on the stain. After wiping away the stain, use a dry, clean cloth to wipe away any excess liquid on your table.

Applying Conditioners and Polish

There’s actually a good way to make your table look good. Try applying liquid beeswax to help seal the moisture inside the wood. Don’t worry about a bit of moisture from the beeswax. This moisture prevents the wood from drying up. It also makes the exterior of the table look shiny and glossy. Ideally, it’s best to use beeswax and other natural conditioners on your tables once a month.

Monitor Humidity

It’s best to keep the humidity inside your homes close to or anywhere between 40 to 45%. Low humidity levels can cause the wood to crack. A higher level, on the other hand, can cause swelling. Swelling is when certain parts of the wood or the paint on it bulges a bit. 

You can prevent cracking or swelling in the winter by having a humidifier. In the summer, an air-conditioning unit or dehumidifier helps as well. Avoid placing a wooden dining table near a radiator. The constant heat from the radiator can also cause warping or splitting. 

Takeaway

If taken care of, dining tables can become the perfect addition to your homes. A dining table that’s well maintained can stand the test of time. Designer tables can become great heirlooms to pass down to your family. The value on some of these tables can get higher as time passes by. With the tips mentioned above, you’re well on your way to making your dining table last longer.