Your Ultimate Guide to Wood Table Product Care

Wood table product care is a necessary part of keeping your most beloved item looking clean and varnished. This procedure also helps in extending your wooden tabletop’s lifetime, eventually making it look as good and new for the years to come.

On the other hand, unwillingness to care for your wooden table will leave it covered in grime, dirt, and stains. Worse, it may deteriorate gradually, dashing your hopes of owning a wooden item you can cherish for a long time.

For that reason, you need to start taking better care of your wooden furniture. If you need help with how to do it, we’ll provide you with the tips and tricks in this guide.

Getting Started: Knowing the Wood Processing and the Wood Finish

For starters, wood will go through drying and coating processes before being sold. Each drying and coating method entails different properties that affect its maintenance. 

Hence, knowing the characteristics of your wooden table’s processing and coating methods helps you to maintain it better. And in this case, we’ll explore more on the kiln-drying and nano-coating methods, both deemed to be innovative in the woodworking industry.

What is kiln-drying wood processing?

The process of removing moisture and insects from wood is known as kiln-drying. This procedure is usually carried out after the tree has been extracted and cut into pieces using a sawmill machine.

Fresh timber from the sawmill machine is unsuitable to be transformed into furniture items. It still contains high water content and tiny insects from the greenwood, which can be harmful to the quality of wooden furniture.

Hence, each freshly cut timber needs to go inside a kiln machine for an average of 60 days. The timber will then go through a dehumidification process inside the kiln machine that runs on an average temperature of 38°C to 49°C.

Once the timbers are taken out of the kiln machine, they should be completely free from any moisture and insects related issues. This results in durable wooden furniture items that resist shrinking, warping, and termite attacks.

What is Nano-Coating wood finish?

Nano-coating is a protective layer that serves to safeguard any wooden surface to make it stain and water-resistant. This protective layer entails water-based that provides protection while remaining transparent and lightweight.

In turn, by opting for a nano-coated wooden table, one can have their furniture protected while enjoying its natural texture and grains. Aside from that, nano-coated wood surface maintenance and cleaning are far easier compared to other protective layers.

Another advantage of using a nano-coating protective layer is that it’s non-toxic and food safe. It’s a popular choice for dining tables trusted by our customers and used in 90% of restaurants we supply wooden furniture in Singapore.

Finally, the 3 layers of nano-coating get any tabletops protected for at least 10 years. As a result. one can enjoy their elegant wooden table for a long time without worrying about it getting easily stained or damaged.

How to Clean Wooden Tables: Supplies That You’ll Need

After learning about the common causes of tabletop blemishes, you may be wondering how to clean your wooden table. Before cleaning your table, make sure you have the following supplies on hand to help you remove the grime, dirt, and stains:

Tools

Microfibre cloth

Microfibre cloth is one of the best materials to use to clean your tabletop. It’s highly absorbent and can quickly dry out any liquids on your table’s surface. Besides, it’s also soft and will clean your wooden table without causing scratches.

Synthetic cloth

Another material you can use to clean your wooden table is synthetic cloth. It’s a highly absorbent material that can quickly expel liquids. Furthermore, it’s smooth and soft, though not as flexible as microfibre cloth, and effectively cleans your tabletop.

Feather duster

A feather duster is a tool typically used to remove dust and other light debris from surfaces, including tabletops. When you use a feather duster to clean a tabletop, the soft, fluffy feathers trap the dust particles, removing them from the surface.

Material

Water

Water makes a useful material for cleaning a tabletop. When you use water to clean a tabletop, the liquid helps to loosen and remove dirt and debris from the surface, leaving it clean and refreshed.

Mild soap

Using mild soap such as hand wash soap which is gentle to your hands can be an effective way to clean a tabletop. Its properties help to break down and remove dirt, grime, and stains from the surface. Besides, it’s also gentle and is unlikely to cause the coating to deteriorate.

Taking Care of Wood Furniture

Your solid wood table is a valuable asset. You can always keep its elegant appearance if you know how to care for it. You can even make it an investment to pass down to your kids.

Without further ado, we’ll guide you through wood table maintenance, including both daily and long-term caring tips that you can easily do by yourself, as explained below.

4 Daily Tips to Maintain Wood Table

Your daily use is the key to keeping your table in good condition. After some time, the way you treat your tabletop affects its shape, texture, and colour. If you neglect your tabletop and use it carelessly, it may look worn out quickly.

Now you may be wondering what you should do to keep your table in good shape. Things are relatively simple; only you need to be consistent in doing the following measures:

1. Use coasters only for hot cast iron materials
   Our wooden items are made for you to enjoy without covering them. Hence, using coasters on your tabletop at all times is unnecessary. Placing ceramic hot cups and bowls at a maximum of 100°C will not be a problem.
   
   However, it’s different when you’re going to put hot items made of cast iron, like kettles and pans. Hot objects made of cast iron are prone to cause burnt stains, and we advise you to use coasters when you want to place them on the table.
   
   Using coasters should be temporary. It would be best if you put them aside as soon as you lift the cast iron materials. This prevents dye or moisture from becoming trapped beneath the coaster and damaging the surface of your table.
   
2. Never leave spills overnight
   Spills are sometimes unavoidable if you use your table to eat. It could be an accidental knocked-out glass from one’s elbow or a stump when about to pour water due to the limited space on the table.
   
   Whatever the cause, you should never leave the spills overnight on your dining table. Ignoring the spills overnight can result in stains on your tabletop. In the worst-case scenario, the stains will be difficult to remove and remain permanently.
   
   Encountering heavy stains on your dining table will make it look unappealing. Hence, if you wish to keep it in excellent shape, you must never leave them overnight. We recommend using a damp microfibre or synthetic cloth to absorb any spills on your tabletop.
   
3. Wipe down after meals
   Did you know that a tabletop is one of the dirtiest places in the house? You read that correctly. According to a study, tabletops, as the most touched surface, have higher bacteria contamination, even when compared to toilet seats.
   
   You certainly don’t want to compromise your and your family’s health by eating at a filthy table. Neglecting basic hygiene can result in avoidable illness caused by bacteria transfer from the tabletop to the body’s system.
   
   For this reason, you need to wipe down your dining table right after finishing your meals. Wiping your tabletop using a clean damp microfibre or synthetic cloth will keep it hygienic and free from dangerous bacteria and viruses.
   
   Stay away from cleaning your wooden tabletop using diluted bleach and hand sanitiser. These properties can be dangerous to the appearance of your beautiful tabletop. They contain unsuitable chemicals that can cause fading and patches on your wooden table.
   
4. Regular dusting
   Dust particles that accumulate on a tabletop can make it look unappealing. The layer of grime also causes an uncomfortable sensation to the touch, particularly for those with sensitive skin.
   
   Additionally, neglecting dust accumulation for a prolonged time can harm you and your family’s health. Inhaling the filthy air full of tiny dust particles can irritate the respiratory system, causing allergic reactions like sneezing or wheezing.
   
   For this reason, you must keep your tabletop free of dust buildup. Regular dusting with a cloth soaked in a mixture of water and soap is enough to do the job. Avoid using harmful chemicals as they may cause damage to your tabletop.

4 Long-term Maintenance Tips

Keeping the table in good condition so that it lasts and looks varnished for a long time requires your further attention. Paying attention to several measures allows you to protect your table from external factors that could damage it.

We have several suggestions that can help you maintain your tabletop in its good condition in the long term, as explained below:

1. Ensure that your furniture is placed under a roof
   While it’s always good to place any wooden furniture indoors, setting it up on your roofed balcony or patio also makes an acceptable alternative. This makes it an excellent choice to enjoy the fresh air while protecting your table at the same time.
   
   A roofed balcony or patio makes a great way to enjoy the outdoors, as it protects your wooden tabletop from excessive sunlight and rain. While the furniture may be exposed to the elements, it can still be a viable option, mainly if the roof provides adequate coverage.
   
   In fact, kiln-dried and nano-coated furniture sets are designed to withstand a certain amount of exposure to the sun and rain. As a result, the solid wood material is water-resistant and will not easily break due to minor exposure to natural elements like sunlight and raindrops.
   
   With proper care and maintenance, wooden furniture can last for many years, even when placed under a roofed balcony or patio. This, in turn, allows you to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience without worrying about easily damaging your tabletop.
   
2. Avoid using diluted bleach and hand sanitiser
   Wiping down your table on a regular basis keeps it clean and free of harmful bacteria and viruses. Many people go above and beyond by using diluted bleach and hand sanitiser, assuming that these properties will wash the germs off their tables.
   
   You should never use these chemicals on your tabletop. Using diluted bleach and hand sanitiser to remove bacteria and viruses from a wooden surface is such an exaggerated action. Due to their unsuitability, these chemicals will also damage your table.
   
   If you wonder why these chemicals are unsuitable for your tabletop, we’ll explain what they entail. For diluted bleach, it contains high levels of alkaline, which can cause your beautiful table set to fade over time.
   
   Furthermore, hand sanitiser contains alcohol, which is not compatible with any wooden surface. When these properties are applied to wood materials, they result in cloudy white patches. Unfortunately, these patches will remain and will be difficult to remove, causing the surface to deteriorate.
   
   As a result, you should only use a damp microfibre or synthetic cloth to wipe your table. You can also clean it with a mild soap and water mixture. This way, you can keep your table clean while also preserving its natural beauty.
   
3. Avoid roughly dragging items
   Just like any other materials, solid wood will develop slight hairline scratches from daily use. For this reason, you should avoid roughly dragging items on your wooden table. This way, you can keep your table looking pristine and delay any deep scratches from occurring.
   
   Some of the actions that are thought to cause scratches on a table include forcefully or carelessly sliding plates or glasses across its surface. Tapping cutlery on the table is also considered inappropriate, as it causes the table to scratch as well.
   
   Avoiding these careless behaviours altogether will result in a more preserved table appearance as you wish. As a result, you and your family can sit and enjoy delicious meals while appreciating a beautiful table, free of visible scratches.
   
4. Refine your wooden set
   Refinement is recommended when you notice that your table gets severe scratches, stains, or damages. Thankfully, with a nano-coating that can last for at least 10 years, you can save your time and effort from repetitive maintenance.
   
   Taking your table set to a professional restoration service will replenish them to their original shape. We suggest you avoid fixing the physical damages on your own, which can go wrong if you have little experience with woodworking.
   
   In addition, reading online tutorials won’t ensure that your table set is properly repaired. The tutorials may be inappropriate for a nano-coated wood, which, if continued, may deteriorate the natural texture of your nano-coated table set.
   
   On the other hand, professional refinement services use specialised tools and techniques to varnish your table to its original beautiful shape. We also have the expertise to repair deep scratches, chips, stains, and other physical damage resulting from everyday use.
   
   This way, you can eliminate the need to refine your table on your own. Attempting to do so without sufficient knowledge may only lead to unsatisfactory outcomes.

Common misconceptions around wood table maintenance

Since there are several benefits of keeping a wooden table in excellent condition, many people attempt to keep theirs looking varnished in the way they think is right. Unfortunately, this leads to the spread of misconceptions about wood table maintenance.

Frequently, the misconceptions have become a family tradition, passed down from generation to generation to the lines below. As a result, you should consider whether your method of caring for your wooden table is correct or merely a misperception.

Now that you want to take better care of your table set, let’s take a look at the following avoidable common misconceptions to extend your table lifetime:

“Vinegar is a natural ingredient to clean stains.”

Many think that using common kitchen ingredients like vinegar is a natural way to clean tabletops from stains. The popularity of vinegar in several households makes some people think it’s safe to use components for their tables.

In fact, vinegar has a high level of acidity that is unsuitable for wood materials. Using it for your tabletop will only result in a peeled-off coating, exposing the wood’s inner surface and lessening your tabletop’s natural aesthetic.

From here, you should know that vinegar isn’t the right ingredient to get rid of stains. The best natural way to remove any blemishes is by wiping it with water mixed with soap, which should be enough to eliminate most types of stains.

However, if the stains are heavy and difficult to remove, you may want to let a professional handle them for you. They should be able to identify the best treatment to refine your tabletop and make it look brand new.

“Using diluted bleach can disinfect the table surface.”

We understand that you may worry about harmful bacteria and viruses on your tabletop. Your concern is justified because a tabletop is a breeding ground for germs.

However, cleansing your tabletop using diluted bleach is unnecessary. Bleach has a high level of alkalinity that can cause a corrosive effect on your table. Alternately, using this chemical will only damage your tabletop rather than sanitising it.

Some of the damages caused by bleach include colour fading, decay, and, worse, severely cracked wooden tables. Hence, you may want to look for other alternatives to kill the bacteria and viruses on your table effectively.

Using a mix of water and mild soap should be enough to sanitise your table. Dip a microfibre cloth into the mixture and proceed to wipe the entire table surface with it. Any germs and viruses should be effectively killed this way.

“You need to oil your wooden table every once in a while.”

Another common misconception about maintaining a wooden table is that it must be oiled every once in a while. This method may be appropriate for wooden tops with traditional coatings. However, applying oil to a nano-coated table is meaningless.

The nano-coating layer is sufficient to protect the wood surface. This type of protective layer can also make the wood surface appear varnished while highlighting the natural wood texture.

Applying oil to the surface of your nano-coated table will only make it appear greasy. Remember the oil residues that can also absorb into the wood’s parts and damage the wooden furniture over time.

If you’re concerned about your tabletop appearance and think you need refinement, let a professional handle it for you. They certainly know better how to restore and refine your wooden table into its brand-new look.

FAQ

What can I put on my wooden table to protect it? 

You won’t have to worry about additional coverage for your nano-coated table. You don’t need to protect your tabletop with placemats or coasters if you’re not placing hot items, such as kettles, hotpots, and pans.

Using placemats or coasters to cover your nano-coated tabletop will only cause damage to it. The moisture and dye may become trapped underneath the coverings, which can gradually transfer into the table surface and damage it.

What is the best thing to clean wood with?

The best thing that you can use to clean wood surfaces is by using a microfibre damp cloth. You can also use a feather duster to remove dust particles from the surface.

How do you clean a wooden table without damaging the finish?

Cleaning a wood table without damaging the finish requires your attention to avoid using harsh chemicals. Instead, you can use a damp cloth or add mild hand soap to remove grime from the tabletop.

How do I get rid of watermark?

If you place cold drinks on your tabletop and notice a watermark, you won’t have to worry, as you can simply use a damp cloth to wipe it down. This watermark is a result of temporary condensation, which will evaporate as soon as the wood warms and dries. The duration of this process may vary, taking a few hours depending on your room temperature.

Looking For a Reputable Wood Refinishing Service? We Got You Covered! 

Despite your effort to maintain your solid wood table in its excellent condition, some circumstances are entirely out of your control. There may be scratches, heavy stains, and colour fading that result after years of use.

In this case, look no further than Wood Capitol. We’ll happily restore your wooden tabletop to its lustre shape. This way, you can eliminate your need to clear those imperfections by yourself, which may result in further damage.

We’re confident that the wood refinishing service we provide suits your needs. Our team, with 30+ years of experience in the woodworking industry, will ensure to get tabletops of any design and material restored.

Contact us today and get your wooden table looking back into its brand-new shape!