How do i clean a solid oak table?

headcrash27

We have a solid oak table which is currently covered up with a nasty vinyl tablecloth because i cannot clean it! When it got delivered we were told not to use water to clean it, only a dry cloth and to oil it with danish oil every so often. To be honest if i'd known all this beforehand i probably wouldn't have bought it as it's just not practical and i have a 2 year old. Anyway a few times i've cleaned it with a damp cloth and it ends up looking awful with faded patches all over it once its dry. The danish oil does get rid of this but i can't be oiling it everyday hence why it has a tablecloth over it now. Is there anything i can put on it that would enable me to properly clean it? (i would have to clean it several times a day as my 2 year old eats at the table). I wondered about varnishing it but i'm not sure how hardwearing it would be or if it the finish would look a bit shoddy?

TomsMom

headcrash27 wrote: »

We have a solid oak table which is currently covered up with a nasty vinyl tablecloth because i cannot clean it! When it got delivered we were told not to use water to clean it, only a dry cloth and to oil it with danish oil every so often. To be honest if i'd known all this beforehand i probably wouldn't have bought it as it's just not practical and i have a 2 year old. Anyway a few times i've cleaned it with a damp cloth and it ends up looking awful with faded patches all over it once its dry. The danish oil does get rid of this but i can't be oiling it everyday hence why it has a tablecloth over it now. Is there anything i can put on it that would enable me to properly clean it? (i would have to clean it several times a day as my 2 year old eats at the table). I wondered about varnishing it but i'm not sure how hardwearing it would be or if it the finish would look a bit shoddy?

Have a read of this, if you scroll down a bit you'll find info about cleaning.

I have damp-dusted my solid oak table for years and occasionally clean and polish it.

I've used this from QVC but you can get similar from other places.

To be honest though, solid oak furniture is not meant to be used like a wipe-clean melamine table.

I don't know about a 2 year old but I wouldn't eat off my solid oak table without some protection, e.g. place mat or table cloth. As you know a 2 year old can be a messy eater and fling food around and rub it into your table. Beautiful oak furniture is not meant to be treated like that.

Clean up and oil or polish your table. Use it with mats for grown ups and cover it with a cloth when your 2 year old is sat at the table. You will then have a lovely piece of furniture that will last for many many years.

annie-c

I haven't had any problems damp-cleaning mine but I don't have a 2 year old so the issues might be different.

Was the table already oiled properly when you bought it? Oil builds up a layer of protection and the occasional re-oiling is really meant to top up the layer that is already there. If it was natural when it came (or if it had been in a warehouse a long time,) then you need to prepare it properly with several coats of oil before using it.

A tip I will pass on, learned from having problems with my solid beech worktops, is to be very careful in preparing the surface in the first place and then you won't need so much maintenance work.

Since it is already worn, I would start by sanding off the top with a very fine grade sandpaper until it is smooth and clean looking. Then wipe with a damp cloth and leave to dry thoroughly. Then apply a thin coat of danish oil with a lint free cloth, leave as many hours as necessary to dry and then repeat at least twice more, up to 5 times if you can manage it. This will be a faff with a 2 year old but could be done overnight and during the course of the following day so shouldn't take more than one day away.

I swear by Rustins Danish Oil £3.99 for a tin fron Wilkinsons. I use it on all my oak furniture and on my beech kitchen worktops. I used to use Colron and the difference is incredible. The Colron oil was sticky and nasty and ineffective. The Rustins wipes on cleanly and dries perfectly.

Until you are happy with the finish, I would recommend wiping over a thin layer of Rustins Danish oil each night when you go to bed for a few days. After that you shouldn't need to oil it more than once a month, and with the Rustins it really isn't hard work

I agree with Toms Mom though that for a 2 year old I would use a PVC cover. What about buying a small piece (1/2 metre?) from Dunelm or somewhere, and using it as a large mat for your toddler. Easy to wipe down and roll up between meals and you can still have your lovely oak on display the rest of the time.

headcrash27

Thanks, the pvc cover is a good idea. I already have a large pvc tablecloth but i don't tend to take it off as it's so large. Maybe if i just got a smaller piece then it would be easier to put on and off throughout the day. What about varnishing it, do you think that would look ok?

annie-c

I refinished my mum's pine table with diamond-strength clear floor varnish and it worked really well. I sanded it off in the garden. wiped it over carefully with a damp cloth, and then applied thin layers of varnish with a sponge (just an ordinary kitchen sponge). In between layers I let it dry thoroughly and sanded down lightly with 3M sand paper - it's a very fine grade and the best quality I have ever found). It came out really well and was worth the effort. Now even if they put hot cups on it accidentally it stays fine.

Personally I would never varnish oak, I love it natural, but with a little one it might be the best option. You could always sand it back off when s/he is older!

headcrash27

annie-c wrote: »

I refinished my mum's pine table with diamond-strength clear floor varnish and it worked really well. I sanded it off in the garden. wiped it over carefully with a damp cloth, and then applied thin layers of varnish with a sponge (just an ordinary kitchen sponge). In between layers I let it dry thoroughly and sanded down lightly with 3M sand paper - it's a very fine grade and the best quality I have ever found). It came out really well and was worth the effort. Now even if they put hot cups on it accidentally it stays fine.

Personally I would never varnish oak, I love it natural, but with a little one it might be the best option. You could always sand it back off when s/he is older!

Thanks, i think i'm gonna have to give it some thought. Good idea about sanding off the varnish though. I wouldn't have thought of that, i was thinking that once i'd done it that would be it!

Martin_T_3

I also have a solid oak table. We have used this:

http://www.agwoodcare.co.uk/gbu0-prodshow/osmo_polyx_oil.html

It is a very tough natural looking finish. Water does not soak in and it is easily cleaned. Also you can apply it with a cloth.

We have an 18 month year old and it has stood up well. You can also just reapply over the top if need be.

headcrash27

Martin_T wrote: »

I also have a solid oak table. We have used this:

http://www.agwoodcare.co.uk/gbu0-prodshow/osmo_polyx_oil.html

It is a very tough natural looking finish. Water does not soak in and it is easily cleaned. Also you can apply it with a cloth.

We have an 18 month year old and it has stood up well. You can also just reapply over the top if need be.

Thank you that looks ideal! Can i ask how often you need to reapply it?, i'm just wondering what size tin I ought to buy.

Martin_T_3

I have a 500ml pot and that was esily enough to do coats of the table originally (3 years ago) and two top up coats a couple of weeks ago. There is still enough left to do two more coats. I only did the surface though. The 750ml should definatly be enough.