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How do you clean your wood kitchen table?

16 years ago

I just got a wood table and chairs - it's stained beechwood, actually. I have two toddlers who can be messy eaters. I wipe down the table and seats with a damp paper towel and then dry after each meal, but I wonder if that's ok to do. Is there some kind of cleaner that I should use or is the damp cloth sufficient? I want to preserve the table for as long as possible. Thanks!

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Comments (6)

jleek
16 years ago
my table and chairs are "hard rock"maple and they are pegged. Belonged to grandparents and not sure who before them. I use damp cloth, dow, whatever and they are fine. Used daily, you name it and it probably has been on this table. Stripped the chairs 37 years ago and applied 1/2 linseed oil and 1/2 shellac (orangish) I think, per grandfather's instructions. Just as good as the day I inherited them.
fivefootzero
16 years ago
I use baby wipes to clean my pine diningroom table. It's an oiled pine. You wouldn't believe the grime the wipes get off the table.

And like you, I have a 5 year-old and a 3 year-old who can be messy eaters, right up there with my husband.

I figure if they're gentle enough for a baby's bottom, you know the rest. Unfortunately, for convenience, I use them for just about everything (since I don't have to use them for dirty diaper bottoms any more).
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duluthinbloomz4
16 years ago
I'm sure you're doing fine with the damp towel. I've done that, but always follow through with a lint free soft cloth to make sure I'm not leaving any trace of "damp.

Have also used Murphy's Oil Soap on lots of wood surfaces - not all the time - when I'm doing major cleans. That'll gently get any grime out.
momfromthenorth
16 years ago
Ctymom, it really depends on what kind of finish is on the wood. If it's polyurethane, you can wipe it down with just about anything - soap & water, etc - and it won't hurt the finish.

However, if you have a varnish, shellac, laquer on there, you should dry the table right after you wipe it. Water (liquid) left standing can leave white marks on those finishes. If you don't know, a safe bet is the damp cloth and then dry it after wiping.
patti_bee
16 years ago
I just cleaned my 30+ yr old dining chairs with a well-wrung out microfiber cloth. Wow. What a difference! Now I'm embarrassed that I didn't do it before. I have cleaned them with various wood cleaners over the years and nothing did as good a job as this simple approach.
uxorial
16 years ago
My dining table has a tung oil finish, so I just wipe it down with a soapy sponge and dry it with a dish towel.

If you use a store bought cleaning product, choose one without ammonia. Ammonia, even the fumes, can cause wood to darken, and you'll never get it back to the original color. Some woodworkers intentionally put wood in an enclosed space next to an open container of ammonia to make the wood darker without staining it.

Here is a link that might be useful: fuming with ammonia

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