We can help - Care for it

A dining table is part of countless memories and happy moments. It is often the setting for romantic dates, birthday dinners, family meals and teas. Children play with toys, build with blocks, do arts and crafts, and tackle homework on the dining table. Packages, grocery bags and items in transition are placed on almost every dining table, as well as the occasional surprise.

In fact, it's hard to imagine any home without a dining table, considering the amount of life that takes place on it over 25 or 30 years. Since a dining table plays such a vital role in everyone's life, it's important to care for it.

DiningTables UK offers warranties that insure use for years and protective coatings that allow dining table sets to look like new for many months. However, it is up to the buyer to keep his dining table maintained, and this can be done quite easily in just seconds a day.

A laminate table top will remain handsome with regular wiping from a damp cloth containing a bit of liquid soap. (Should a commercial cleaning solution be used, it must be thoroughly removed with a wet cloth; otherwise, future moisture can cause left-over cleaner to erode the finish). Cleaners containing abrasives or acid, or any form of steel wool, should never be used because they will remove the finish. Sanitizing chemicals should also be avoided, since they may cause damage if the laminate is even slightly damp. The best way to handle stubborn marks is to allow a paste of baking soda/water to sit on the table top stain for one minute, and then blot it off.

Handsome wood table tops should be coated with a hard paste wax every 12 weeks during their first year of use, then less in subsequent years. Cleaning can be done with products that combine cleaner and wax or polish ingredients. As with laminates, abrasive solvents should never be used. Damp cloths can rinse off any cleaning product and may safely be used wipe spills.

With both wood and laminate, hot pads or trivets should be utilised when placing hot pans or pots on the table. Plus, even the dullest knife may damage a table, so cutting should always be done on a cutting board or plate. It is an excellent idea to keep the top covered with a full sized table cloth, or at least a center runner, when not in use, and to use placemats for meals and work done on the table. In addition, centerpieces with candles or fresh flowers should sit on bases wide enough to keep wax and water from dripping onto the table surface.