How to protect your dining room table over Christmas

Christmas usually mean bringing the whole family together and hosting or entertaining friends over the festive season, although this can be the most wonderful part of the holidays with so many things happening, accidents can often occur and your beautiful dining room furniture can become damaged. Water rings, spillages, heat marks and scratches can all have a damaging effect on your oak dining furniture.

Whether you’re planning on sprucing up your existing dining table or you’ve treated yourself to one of our gorgeous oak dining table sets to mark the occasion, our top tips for looking after your dining table will ensure that you keep your table protected at all times.

Dust it all off

Keeping your dining table clean is not only good for maintaining a good standard of hygiene throughout the winter months when coughs and colds are rife but it also keeps the table looking newer for longer. Regular dusting will prevent the build-up of dirt and grime that can lead to blemishes on your dining table surfaces.

So with all the fun and merriment happening around you be sure to give your Christmas table a good wipe-down before and after the festive season begins.

If you have an oak dining table steer clear of dust polishes as they can damage the grain of the wood, instead use a slightly damp, lint-free cloth to clean the surface.

If you have a high gloss or glass table you should you a damp cloth and apply light pressure when cleaning, this will ensure spillages are soaked up quickly to prevent dried residue from ingraining into the surface. 

Remember to avoid dry dusters and microfiber cloths as well as cream or solvent-based cleaners as these types of products can warp the surface of the dining table. However, you can use a simple household cleaner containing citric acid or vinegar as this will help to make the table shine.

Be wary of additional heat

Christmas will often bring with it colder temperatures and harsh winter weather and so you’re likely to have the radiators and heaters turned on to keep you and your guests warm and comfortable. It is important to consider the placement of your Christmas table in relation to the heaters and radiators around your home. Excess heat can warp wood, bending it out of shape, so be sure to keep this in mind when thinking about where to place your dining set.

Winter sun is another factor to consider, the sun is never something we have a tendency to take into account during the winter months, but it can have a detrimental effect on the appearance of your dining table surfaces. Constant exposure to sunlight can cause fading or discolouration on oak dining tables as well as painted and high gloss tables too.

Use a table protector and cover or tablecloth

A brilliant alternative here is to use a Christmas dining room table runner or a dining table protection cover such as a nice table cloth to cover the surfaces and hide them from the sun, this is also a fantastic way to protect against spillages and surface scratches that could occur over the course of Christmas. Table protector covers are often made from water-repellant and heat-resistant materials which means that stains and spills can be wiped away with ease.

You could also add decorative placemats and coasters, this way you can celebrate Christmas in style whilst still caring for your dining room table. Placemats and Christmas dining room table runners help to guard against burns and unsightly scratches from hot plates and dishes.

Chairs need care too

Most people fret so much about their dining room tables that they often forget that their dining chairs are also a key part of their dining sets and are what keeps their guests comfortable. You can easily maintain your dining chairs in the same way you would care for your dining table with regular dusting and keeping them away from constant heat or direct sunlight. It really is so simple.

Now you are all prepared to take on the role of hosting the perfect Christmas and New Year without having to worry about what state you may find your furniture sets in once the year is through.