How to Care for a Dining Room Table

Polish your stained or varnished wooden dining table with a clean, lint-free cloth and furniture polish. Don't use polishes containing wax on a varnished table, as wax can dull the shine. A table pad is a good way to protect wood tables from chips and scratches.

Clean a painted wooden table with a sponge dipped in warm water and wrung out until it is barely damp. For stains and spills, you can use a tiny -- about the size of your pinkie nail -- amount of mild dish soap on a soft-bristled toothbrush. Wipe the surface clean with your damp sponge.

Care for tile, marble, granite tabletops with spray bleach and a sponge, as long as the sealer will not react with the bleach. Check with the manufacturer to be sure. If bleach is too harsh, use mild dish soap.

Use glass cleaner and a clean, lint-free cloth to clean and polish glass tables. Don't forget to clean the underside of the tables, as fingerprints and dust do accumulate there.

Use tablecloths or place mats on all types of tables. They are not only decorative, but they also will protect the tabletop from water rings, scratches and stains.