Once you’ve successfully chosen a dining room table, you’ll want to research the best way to care for it so it will last for years to come. In today’s blog, the furniture care experts at Star Furniture discuss how to protect a wooden dining room table.
Wood Table Care Tip #1: Dust Regularly
Dust may seem harmless, but when it comes to how to care for wood furniture, regular dusting is incredibly important. Dust buildup can quickly lead to scratches in the wood finish, so make sure you make a habit of regularly dusting your wooden dining room table. Not sure how to get started? The best way to dust wood furniture is with a microfiber cloth, which naturally clings to dust. You can also use a slightly damp cloth to get the job done. In general, its best to stay away from specialized dust polishes like Pledge, as they often contain silicones that can slowly soak into the grain of the wood causing permanent damage to your wood table.
Wood Table Care Tip #2: Use Dish Soap to Wash & Spot Clean
The best way to clean wood tables is with a microfiber cloth and a cleaning solution made of warm water and a few drops of dish soap. First, dust the table. Once you’ve tested a small area, you can then apply the solution to the area you need to spot clean or the entire table. Because moisture can easily damage wood, make sure that you dry the table thoroughly after washing.
Wood Table Care Tip #3: Keep Your Table Away from the Radiator
When choosing your dining room layout, make sure to keep your wood dining table away from radiators, heat registers, and fireplaces, because high heat and temperature swings can cause warping and splitting in the wood. You’ll also want to be careful about where you store extra table leafs, avoiding areas with high temperatures and humidity like attics and basements.
Wood Table Care Tip #4: Manage Humidity
One of the best ways to care for wood furniture is to manage the humidity level in your home. In general, humidity levels should be between 40-45% if you want to prevent cracking and swelling in your wood table. In most climates, this requires running a humidifier in the winter and using an air conditioner or a dehumidifier in the summer months.
Shop online or visit a Star Furniture & Mattress store in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, or Bryan, Texas, where we have a wide selection of wooden dining room tables and other stylish dining room furniture for you to choose from. In the meantime, check out our interior design blog where we cover everything from how to clean an upholstery couch to dining room decorating tips.