How To Clean A Wood Kitchen Table
Kitchen tables get dirty. Really dirty. With juice boxes, glue and glitter, these household workhorses are exposed to all sorts of sticky stuff. And while you wipe it down daily, at some point your wooden kitchen table will need a thorough cleaning. So, knowing how to clean a wood kitchen table is key.
And it’s with that in mind that we’ve put together a surefire how-to guide on cleaning and caring for wood dining furniture, from daily to deep cleaning methods and some home remedies to boot.
1. Placement Matters
First things first, where your table sits in the room matters. What we’re trying to balance here is neither too much heat nor too much humidity. So don’t position a wooden dining table where it would be in hours of direct sunlight or over a radiator.
Both temperature swings and humidity can cause warping or splitting, so be strategic about the placement of your table and chairs, and consider the inclusion of a humidifier or air conditioner in the room, if you can.
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2. Clean After Use, And Dust Weekly
The next important thing is to clean the table after every use with soft cloths to capture any spilled food or drink. A microfibre cloth is best, but any lint-free cloth (and old T-shirt even!) would be a good choice – just dampen slightly and wipe immediately after meals or spillage to prevent stains from setting.
If you have grease spots to deal with, a highly diluted solution of dish-washing liquid and water can be used. It’s also important to dust frequently. While dust can seem harmless, it can build up, and scratch and damage a table’s finish, so it’s best to get ahead of it.
3. Give Your Furniture A Thorough Clean Twice A Year Or So
Even with daily cleanings, your wooden table and chairs will really benefit from a deep, thorough clean once or twice a year. Here’s what you’ll need:
• Dish detergent
• Warm water
• White vinegar
• At least two microfibre cloths
• (Optional) Plastic pot scraper
Begin by creating a diluted solution of warm water with mild dish soap. Or for an even gentler clean, opt for white vinegar – a good ratio to work with is 240 ml (1 cup) of water to 45 ml (three tablespoons) of vinegar.
Next, clean any dust off the table and chairs by wiping it down with a cloth. After that, dip one of the microfibre cloths in your solution and begin wiping your furniture, working from section to section. Avoid soaking the wood in water and always keep a dry, soft cloth on hand to ensure that you wipe any excess moisture away immediately to avoid absorption and warping.
If you have particularly stubborn marks or build up, never use abrasive cleaning products or a sponge or scrubber to clean your tables and chairs, as that might scratch the surface and ruin the finish. Instead, plastic pot scrapers or even credit cards might be a good alternative.
4. Protect And Restore Wood Lustre With Wax Or Oil
Once your wooden furniture is cleaned and dry, it’s all about restoring and protecting the natural lustre and look of your table and chairs. Use a cheesecloth (or your trusty microfibre cloth) and apply a semi-solid or carnauba wax, by buffing it in with firm, circular motions for a lovely, gentle shine.
If you don’t have wax, or lack the time to make a run to the hardware store, all you need is in your kitchen! Simply mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and use that for an easy, homemade polish.
