Dining table help 2Qs please

Fruball

I adore my dining table - it is waxed pine so the wood is soft which means that when my DD attacked it with a pencil a couple of years ago, it has dented and marked where the pencil was... so first question is how can I get the pencil mark out, and is there anything at all I can do about the dent. If not then no bother, its a family table so if it carries the reminders of the past then so be it

Secondly, and more importantly is that I have a table protector on it which protects against heat etc, and also an oilcloth tablecloth so I don't end up washing the tablecloth every other day...
Problem is that the children don't sit still on the table and they move the cloth about which I find really irritating as I have to keep straightening it. Unfortunately the sides of the tabletop are too deep for me to use the usualy table cloth clips... does anybody have any ideas how to stop it moving around?

I could just put a heavy dish in the middle full of fruit I suppose but wondered if you had any other ideas please?

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu

rachbc

My dh tells me you can use an iron to 'steam' dents out of soft wood - not tried it myself so can't vouch for it.

I have the same problem with the table protector/ oil cloth - drives me mad and short of nailing the childrens hands to the table I have no ideas sorry - though this option would also prevent further pencil mishaps!

Bigjenny

I had the same problem with the vinyl/oilcloth slipping off the table.

I used something like this http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0936552/c_1/1|category_root|Home+and+furniture|14417894/Trail/searchtext%3ECARPET.htm, cut to size

I got mine from the local carpet shop.

HTH

bluebag

I have a runner underneath made of a mesh rubber material, I bought it at Wilkinsons for about £2.

It's described as a non slip mat but in came in a roll and was long enough to go down the centre of the table and stop the slippy- sliders.

i also use the same stuff to stop glasses slipping off my plastic garden table, unscrewing bottles and jars as it gives a good grip and keeping stuff on the dashboard of the car.

They had smaller rolls of it in Poundland too.

marmalize

poundland do a rubber mesh great for slippy rugs on wood floors, use on trays to stop plates slipping(i even sat my niece on it when she had to use a wheelchair but kept sliding forward in it..worked great)and i should think it would stop your cloth from slipping..just cut into strips and place under each end....

Fruball

bluebag wrote: »

I have a runner underneath made of a mesh rubber material, I bought it at Wilkinsons for about £2.

It's described as a non slip mat but in came in a roll and was long enough to go down the centre of the table and stop the slippy- sliders.

i also use the same stuff to stop glasses slipping off my plastic garden table, unscrewing bottles and jars as it gives a good grip and keeping stuff on the dashboard of the car.

They had smaller rolls of it in Poundland too.

ahhhhaaaa now, i have some of this stuff but not sure where it is... hmmmmmmm

Pink.

Hi Frugal,

The ironing tip above does work. My ds had played with his gogos on an antique pine coffee table recently that had belonged to my late mother, and left lots of little dents. I wanted to murder him, but I covered it with a table cloth and spent about an hour ironing the tablecloth over and over again. The dents are now invisible and ds survived to play another day!

Pink

EDIT It needs to be a steam iron.

Pink.

Just re-read your post again....to get rid of the pencil mark first just use a rubber.

Pink

bluebag

Frugal wrote: »

ahhhhaaaa now, i have some of this stuff but not sure where it is... hmmmmmmm

Cue losing a whole afternoon while you empty the house to find it.:rotfl:

Gigervamp

bluebag wrote: »

Cue losing a whole afternoon while you empty the house to find it.:rotfl:

I know where it is, it's in a safe place! :rotfl:

babyshoes

The non-slip mat is a good idea. My first thought was duct tape and/or cable ties - if it can't be fixed with them, then it can't be fixed...