Skip to content

What To Avoid Doing around Your Dining Room Table

6 habits that will damage your dining room table

Bookmark article to read later

By Amy Saunders | August 16, 2018 | Diy

By Jura Koncius, (c) 2017, The Washington Post

When you buy any wood table, whether it's a dining table, coffee table or end table, ask questions about caring for it. Here is a list of basic mistakes to avoid to keep your table looking good:

 

Putting hot things directly on the table

A casserole dish right out of the oven or a stew pot right off the stove should not be placed on your table without heat protection. Pourny has a simple and modern solution: natural cork trivets. (Bed Bath & Beyond has a set of three round ones for $10.) When used under serving pieces, these can protect your table from scorching and scratches.

 

Passing on placemats or tablecloths

When having a meal, it's best to use something to protect your table from spills. Placemats are great for daily dining, but a tablecloth will be your best choice for a large group. Fritz prefers cloth over synthetic. "Plastic placemats can trap water, and some have off-gassing chemicals that might cause a chemical reaction to the finish on a new table," he says. Fritz advises clients not to make placemats or cloths a permanent fixture. "When you're not using your table, you should enjoy the beautiful wood," Fritz says.

 

Forgetting about condensation

Cold or warm drinks, flower vases and bottles of chilled wine can transfer water and humidity onto a table, leaving white rings if moisture gets trapped under them. Always use coasters, trivets or other pads. If you get a water ring, Fritz says, be patient. "Three things get rid of water rings: time, heat and oil," he says. First, wait a day or two and see whether the ring will evaporate on its own. Second, put your hair dryer on low (blow it on your hand first; if it doesn't feel uncomfortable, it should be okay), then lightly blow air over the ring and hope it will disappear. Third, rub with an oil-based product that can remove water spots. Fritz has had luck with Howard Feed-N-Wax, a blend of beeswax, carnauba wax and orange oil.

 

Taking a knife to wax spills

 If at the end of a dreamy candlelit evening you find some wax drippings on your table, don't grab a paring knife and go at it. Avoid using anything metal, whether scissors or a knife, as you'll probably damage the wood. Pourny's trick: Use a credit card to scrape off wax clumps. If there is still residue left, Pourny suggests covering the wax with a cloth and running a slightly warm iron over it. Any leftover wax should cling to the cloth.

 

Using commercial dusting sprays and silicone polishes

Consumers get hooked on dusting sprays, something fine-furniture experts are not too keen on. Says Pourny: "You should avoid them. They are just giving your pieces instant gratification, a temporary shine, and then they attract more dirt and dust that will eventually build up." Fritz says, "These products are engineered so that every time you go to the store, you feel like you need to buy a can of it. You don't need them."

Experts' advice on the best way to clean: Use a fresh, slightly damp (not wet) cotton cloth to wipe daily spills off your table after a meal. Then buff with a dry cloth.

 

Wearing chunky jewellery or oversize watches

It's not just women with large bangles, jangling charm bracelets or spiky rings that can gouge a table. "These days every guy is wearing this huge metal watch, the bigger the better," Pourny says. "That can heavily scratch your table." If you're having a fancy dinner party where guests might get blinged out, it might be best to use a tablecloth (with a felt liner or table pad underneath) to protect the wood.

 

The original story appeared on The Washington Post.

Featured Image:

 yann maignan, Unsplash