How to Refurbish a Tile Inlaid Kitchen Table

Taping Off

• Whether you are cleaning the tile first or the other material first, protect the other material to ensure that your refurbishing doesn’t accidentally damage the surrounding facade. For example, while grout cleaner generally does not harm a wood stain, the act of scrubbing the tile with a brush might damage the face of softer woods or scratch paint on plastic or metal tables. A layer or two of 3-inch wide masking tape is generally sufficient to provide adequate protection, although more may be added if you desire additional protection. The same goes for covering the edge of tile inlay when refurbishing the surrounding material of the table.

General Cleaning of Tile

• Over-the-counter grout and tile cleaners are the quickest and easiest solution to cleaning tile. Different manufacturers have different mixing and application directions, but as a general rule, apply the solution to the face of the tile, allow it to soak for a few minutes, scrub it lightly with a scrub brush and then wipe up the excess with a damp sponge and clean water. Grout joints that are stained require extra scrubbing and sometimes direct, undiluted grout cleaner. A 50/50 solution of water and vinegar may also be used for general cleaning.

Plastics and Metals

• Plastics and metals are generally cleaned with a household cleaner and a sponge, but in the case of refurbishing them back to their original hue, you may need to apply more direct means. For example, if there are scratches in the plastic or metal, you must sand and buff them out to bring the material back to its original state. High-grit sandpapers rated for plastic or metal must be used depending on the material you are working with. Work your way through several different grits (going higher with each pass to add more polish) to remove scratches. For larger areas, a hand sander or a rotary tool with an appropriate attachment is useful, as well as the buffing attachment on a rotary tool.

Wood

• Regardless if you are working with stained or non-stained wood, the process of eliminating scratches is the same: sand with various grits of sandpaper, working your way from a lower grit to a higher grit, and then smooth and polish the wood. Sanding also removes layers of finish and stain, which allows you to reach the unstained wood beneath and then apply a new coat of stain if you desire. If you're using a new color, always select a stain a few shades lighter than what you want because while multiple layers of stain darken the coat, you cannot lighten stain once it has been applied. For paint applications, use a paint stripper and utility knife to remove the old layer of paint, sand the wood down, and then reapply a new layer of paint.