How to Clean a Kitchen Table

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu

The kitchen table is often the place where papers and personal items pile up, where drinks get spilled, and where dust and bits of food collect. All of this leaves little room for you to actually eat your meals. But by using the right products to wipe down your table and then finding ways to keep it free of clutter, your kitchen table can be a tidy and clean spot to gather and entertain again.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning a Wooden Table

1
Wipe down the table with a damp washcloth. Lightly moisten a washcloth and wipe it across the surface of the table. Use a microfiber cloth or an old t-shirt so that the cloth will collect dust and not leave any lint behind.^{[1]
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2
Wipe down the table with a cleaning solution. Either buy a commercial wood cleaner, or make a solution of warm water, 1 - 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and a few drops of dishwashing soap.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.} Dampen a microfiber cloth or old t-shirt with the cleaner and wipe the table down, focusing on areas that look and feel grimy.^{[3]
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- Do not allow any moisture to linger on the wood for long.^{[4]
  X
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  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.} Wet areas should be dried immediately with a clean, dry cloth.
- A porous table can become warped or deformed due to excessive liquid seeping into the wood.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.}
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3
Wipe any tough grime with mineral spirits. If soap or commercial cleaners won’t remove all the residue on the table, try dampening a cloth with mineral spirits and scrubbing at tough stains. Mineral spirits are generally safe for use on wood, but try testing it on an inconspicuous area first to be sure.^{[6]
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4
Polish the table with wood wax. Purchase a wood wax at your local hardware or home improvement store, avoiding any products with silicone, since silicone can absorb into the wood and damage it. Use one cloth to wipe the wax on and another to polish and buff the table.^{[7]
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- You only need to wax your table about twice a year, or as often as you’d like to in order to restore shine.
5
Use an old toothbrush to clean in any cracks of the table. Dirt can fall into hairline cracks within the wood, so find an old toothbrush or buy one to use just for cleaning. Brush the bristles into the cracks in long sweeping strokes to try to eject the dust and dirt.^{[8]
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- For tough grime, go back with the toothbrush a second time. Wet the bristles and add a drop or two of mild liquid soap, then scrub until the cracks are clean.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Cleaning a Non-Wooden Table

1
Wipe the table with a dry cloth. Use a lint-free cloth to wipe any dust, dirt, or food off the table. If you have a glass table that’s completely transparent, wipe the underside as well.^{[9]
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2
Wipe the table with a damp cloth. For a basic cleaning, dampen a cloth with warm water and wipe down the surface of the table. If the table is heavily soiled, mix a bowl of warm water with a few drops of dish soap and use this soapy solution to dampen the cloth before you wipe the table.^{[10]
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3
Spray the table with a vinegar solution. Create a solution that’s equal parts white vinegar and water and pour it into a spray bottle. Squirt the table with the solution and then wipe it down with a microfiber cloth until the surface shines.^{[11]
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- Don't use vinegar if your tabletop is made of granite, marble, or any other natural stone. The acid in the vinegar can etch the stone, so just stick to dish soap and warm water.^{[12]
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EXPERT TIP

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Bridgett Price is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional

Look for non-hazardous, eco-friendly cleaners if you'd prefer a commercial product. Some of my favorite cleaning products are from the brands Method, Mrs. Meyer's, and Bar Keeper's Friend.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Keeping the Table Free of Clutter

1
Move the mail and paperwork. Create a separate area to catch mail, newspapers, magazines, and receipts. Use a sideboard or bookshelf near the door and outfit it with baskets or small file boxes. Sort mail as soon as you walk through the door, and keep a recycling bin near the door to catch catalogs and junk mail before they can hit the table.^{[13]
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2
Hang personal items. Install hooks on the wall or get a coat rack so you have a specific place to hang coats, bags, and hats. Find small hooks and place them near the door to hang your keys on as soon as you get home. Create special bins for kids so they know where to put belongings like backpacks and mittens.^{[14]
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3
Place a trash can near the table. Having a trash can nearby will make it even easier to toss garbage that’s been left on the table. Find a creative way to store the can, either by tucking it under a sideboard or sticking it in a cabinet right next to the table.^{[15]
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4
Finished.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I prepare a solution to clean a wooden table?

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.

Raymond Chiu

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

To clean wooden tables, use a mixture of warm water, 1 - 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap.
Question

Why is it essential to dry the table?

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.

Raymond Chiu

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

It is essential to dry the table because a porous table can become warped or deformed due to excessive liquid seeping into the wood.
Question

How to clean a laminate wood table

Community Answer

Try lightly dampening a cloth and and wiping the table down. If there are tough stains, mix a solution of equal parts vinegar and water, then spray the solution onto the table and wipe or scrub the surface with a microfiber cloth or old t-shirt.