How to deal with wooden tabletops

I. Cleaning and maintenance
- Daily cleaning
- For wooden tabletops, daily cleaning is the basis for keeping them in good condition. First, you should use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe the tabletop to remove dust and surface debris. This can prevent dust particles from staying on the tabletop for a long time and scratching the tabletop. For example, wiping the solid wood dining table with a clean dry cloth after each meal can effectively prevent dust accumulation.
- If there are stains on the tabletop, you cannot directly wipe it vigorously with a wet rag. For mild stains, you can use a slightly damp cloth dipped in a mild detergent solution (such as diluted dishwashing liquid water), gently wipe the stain, and then wipe it dry immediately with a dry cloth. Pay attention to controlling the amount of detergent to avoid residues that damage the tabletop.
- Regular maintenance
- Regular waxing of wooden tabletops is a good way to maintain them. Wax can form a protective film on the surface of the tabletop to prevent moisture intrusion and stains. Generally, waxing is performed every few months. Choose a special wax suitable for wooden furniture, apply the wax evenly on the tabletop, and then wipe it with a clean, soft cloth along the direction of the wood grain until the tabletop is shiny.
- You can also use wood maintenance oil. Maintenance oil can penetrate deep into the wood, moisturize the wood, and prevent the wood from drying and cracking. When applying maintenance oil, make sure the tabletop is clean. Dip a clean cloth in an appropriate amount of maintenance oil and apply it evenly on the tabletop. Wait for a while for the oil to be absorbed by the wood, and then wipe off the excess oil with a dry cloth.

2. Repair minor damage
- Scratch repair
- If there are minor scratches on the wooden tabletop, you can use some simple methods to repair them. For shallow scratches, try wiping the scratches with walnut or walnut meat. The oil in walnut or walnut meat can fill the scratches and make them less obvious. Crush the walnut or walnut meat, then dip a soft cloth in its oil, wipe back and forth on the scratches, and then wipe it clean with a clean cloth.
- You can also buy a special wood scratch repair paste. According to the instructions for use of the repair paste, apply the repair paste to the scratch, and then wipe it with a soft cloth until the scratch blends with the color of the surrounding desktop.
- Small pit treatment
- If there are small pits on the desktop, you can fill them with wood putty. Choose a wood putty that is similar in color to the wood of the desktop, fill the wood putty into the pit, and scrape it flat with a scraper to make it flush with the surface of the desktop. After the wood putty is dry, gently polish it with sandpaper to make it smooth, and finally wax or oil it for maintenance.

3. Dealing with moisture problems
- Initial treatment of moisture
- When it is found that the wooden desktop is damp, if there are only slight signs of moisture on the surface, such as a little fogging or slight deformation on the surface. The first thing to do is to wipe the desktop dry, and then place it in a well-ventilated place to let the moisture in the wood slowly dissipate. Fans and other auxiliary ventilation can be used, but avoid direct sunlight, because direct sunlight may cause the desktop to crack.
- If the dampness is caused by the tabletop coming into contact with water, such as accidentally spilling water on the tabletop, immediately use a dry cloth to absorb the moisture, and then place a desiccant (such as a bamboo charcoal bag, etc.) under and around the tabletop to help absorb the moisture.
- Treatment of severe dampness
- If the wooden tabletop is severely damp, it will be obviously deformed, swollen, or even moldy. For the deformed and swollen parts, if possible, you can use a clamp to fix them back to their original shape, and apply a mildew inhibitor to the damp parts. After the tabletop is dry, depending on the degree of deformation and damage, it may be necessary to re-sand, paint, or wax the tabletop for repair work. If the mold is more serious, it may be necessary to remove the moldy part, re-fill the wood, and perform surface treatment.

IV. Surface Renovation
- Polishing
- If the surface of the wooden tabletop has been worn, lost its luster, or has deep scratches that cannot be repaired, you can consider surface polishing and renovation. First, clean all the items on the tabletop, and then use coarse sandpaper to perform a preliminary polishing of the tabletop to remove the old paint, stains, and uneven parts on the surface. After the coarse sandpaper is used for sanding, it is then sanded with medium sandpaper and fine sandpaper in turn to make the surface of the table gradually smooth. During the sanding process, it is important to sand along the grain direction of the wood to avoid new scratches.
- After sanding, the table needs to be cleaned to remove the dust generated by sanding. You can use a hair dryer or a clean cloth to clean it.
- Repaint or color
- After the table is clean, you can choose to repaint or color it according to your personal preference. If you choose to paint, choose an environmentally friendly paint suitable for wooden furniture. You can use a brush or spray gun to evenly apply the paint on the table. Pay attention to the uniform thickness of the application to avoid paint flow. After painting, let the paint dry fully.
- If you want to change the color of the table, you can choose to use wood stain for coloring. The coloring method is similar to painting. Apply the stain evenly on the table. Apply multiple layers as needed to achieve the desired color effect. After coloring, the stain also needs to be fully dried before waxing and other maintenance work.