How to protect it?

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Sep 03 2024, 1:50 pm

I just got a new wooden dining room table. The dining room table is our main table and in our main area. It's also where we do crafts.
I don't have another place for the kids to do crafts and they are very into crafts.
How can I protect the table from the craft making?
Our old table was all beat up already so I didn't care the same way.
In general how to I keep the table nice and how do I clean it?
I am not getting a glass because it's an extendable table that we will be opening and closing for shabbos.

amother

Peach

Tue, Sep 03 2024, 1:55 pm

I have table pads. The extra leaf has an extra pad that is stored with it.

My MIL always keeps a vinyl tablecloth on hers.

I don't get this concept even though I do it. We buy really nice expense tables and then always keep them covered so they don't get ruined. But what's the point if you never see the table?

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Sep 03 2024, 3:20 pm

amother Peach wrote:

I'm thinking of putting something on the table for when they do the crafts.

The point of the table is not for looks but functionality honestly, but I'd like to keep it nice for as long as I can.

zaq

Tue, Sep 03 2024, 7:17 pm

In descending order of expense:
1. Custom table pads.
2. Ready-made table pads
3. Vinyl-top padding sold by the yard
4. An old blanket, preferably wool, topped by an old heavy plastic tablecloth

Molly Weasley

Tue, Sep 03 2024, 7:46 pm

amother Peach wrote:

I don’t have any sort of cover at all, and my kids use the table during the wekk all the time. Enjoy the table, and just make sure you have something nice to put out if you ever need to entertain during the week.

My great-grandmother was fortunate enough to never have used her beautiful and very comfortable couch. It was thrown out with the plastic still on it. I’m sure the homeless person who ended up with it is really enjoying it. LOL

ra_mom

Tue, Sep 03 2024, 7:56 pm

amother Peach wrote:

That's why I like glass. I get to enjoy the table and it's beauty, but still protect the surface.

I have two pieces of glass that meet in the middle, and when you open up the leaf there is another piece that can be added (granted, I don't really open the leaf).

Maybe you can do this with vinyl or plexiglass, so you're not worried about breaking the glass each time you expand the table.