Every day, there are grease marks left by my sticky-handed son. Someone told me I should only use a soft cloth dampened with water as chemicals could hurt the wood. Is this true? What about for spills? Is water really enough? Thanks!
I've only used a damp cloth and never damaged my wood. My damp cloth hasn't removed my sheen on my dining table at all. I've cleaned off juice, jam, you name it.
I once had a child use a sharpie on it (marker) and used a cleaner, and it did remove the finish/shine in that spot.
If this is your dining room table, you may want to consider having a piece of glass cut to fit it. I still cover mine with a tablecloth though because if you spill water it will magically roll under the glass which you will still need to mitigate.
It completely depends upon the finish. I only use Tung Oil on my teak furniture. My wood counters are finished with marine varnish and soap and water are fine on them. I do wipe them dry though. You don't want to leave wood wet.
Damp cloth is fine but wet cloth isn't. You don't want to leave water on wood because it will cause the wood to swell and eventually damage the surface.
I have a plastic table cloth ($2.99 at the Christmas Tree shop) on my table to protect it from my granddaughter. Totally worth it for not having to worry about her crafting/eating on the table.
National Wood Floor Association:
To clean wood floors use 1 cup white vinegar mixed in 1 gallon warm water.
This what I use on ALL my wood. It all really depends on the finish though.
We put a clear plastic table cloth on our wood coffee table and dining room table. We got the material from JoAnn fabric and then had them cut it to table measurements. The cloth comes in 3 sizes of thickness and blends in really good with the table so you only notice it up close.
After 3 kids using them for matchbox cars, water paints, markers, crayons and everything else, they are in great condition. So much so that they have out lasted the furniture, which was treated better, purchased at the same time (16 years ago).
Actually, we just bought my daughter a very old, neglected solid oak 6-pc bedroom set that was in great condition except the person just didn't take care of it for $300 September. I washed it all down with the vinegar and water solution and used just a bit of polish and it looks brand spanking new!
I will use a damp cloth for an occasional wipe down.
My go to is Guardian Wood Cleaner and Guardian Wood Polish. I use both of those with my custom wood breakfast and dining tables as well as other wood furniture.
You can buy it at Bed Bath and Beyond and some of the better furniture stores.
Good luck.
I wash my wood table, in the dining room, with a dishcloth out of the dishwater when I first run it. I also put a bit of bleach in the dishwater.
If your table isn't sealed have you considered taking it in to be sanded a bit then sealed professionally? Then you can wash it with soap and water every day multiple times.
Hi C S,
I have an ancient wood table in my dining room...I think we're the third family to use it. I swear by the product in the link pasted below. My mom used to produce wood pieces, tables and such, and she also swore by this brand. It won't leave a residue and it will treat the wood as you go along. :-) S.
http://www.amazon.com/Formbys-300115-Lemon-Treatment-16-O...
I was told by a furniture guy steel wool will not hurt the finish. I can't remember what furniture cleaner he said to use because this was 20 or so years ago. I would never use water on wood, they just don't get along.
I second the idea of having a glass top made for it and then covering with a tablecloth. We did that with a vintage table we have--- the top is some sort of marmoleum-type surface and is rather delicate. Once we had our son I insisted that we do something to protect the table--- before that, my husband was dubbed The Coaster King, always sliding coasters under cups and trivets under everything else, drove me nuts!.... I don't like things to be too, too precious.
My mother has a hardwood table with a shiny finish and I have a softwood table with a matte finish. We both use dish soap water to clean them.
we just put down new wood flooring. the cleaning suggestions are to wipe with a damp cloth for normal dirt. for medium dirtiness a 1/3 ratio of rubbing alcohol to water mix and for extreme cases a 1/4 ratio of acetone to water. (this is bamboo flooring though.)
i have a different wood flooring in a different area of myy house and the recommended cleaning of it is glass cleaner with ammonia...
my aunt uses hot water with a drop of dishsoap
others use vinegar and water
so CHECK with the manufacturer of your table to see the recomended cleaning of it.
I clean my wood furniture with 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar, drop of olive oil, drop of dish soap. I mix it all up in an old spray bottle.
My wood looks great and it removes all those damn grease hand marks that are everywhere!
There's a hardwood floor cleaner called Bona that you can get at Home Depot, etc... It comes in a spray bottle.
Works beautifully on our dining room table, or any hardwood surface.
