FAQs About Restoring Picnic Tables

A quality picnic table should stay in the family for years and if properly cared for, serves as unusual family heirloom. Whether used for pleasant meals or as a play area for the kids, any picnic table made of hardwood needs only a few minutes to restore it to its original luster.

Q: How should you wash your picnic table?

A: Keeping a picnic table clean takes only a few minutes and costs virtually nothing. Cleaning the table prevents dirt from tearing apart the finish like sandpaper. Simply take a light sponge, squirt dish soap on the surface, and give it a quick scrub. No need to use elbow grease, just enough to wipe off dirt. Rinse with a garden hose and the table look good as new. This simple task adds years to the life of a table.

Q: How should you fix a squeaky table?

A: Old tables squeak. Noises do not mean a junk table, but simple a loose one. Flip the table over (gently), and go through each screw and/or nut and bolt. Simply tighten them, but not too much, otherwise the screws and bolt could strip, causing a separate headache.

Q: How do you completely refinish your picnic table?

A: Sometimes a crumbling table seems beyond regular repair. If that is the case, owners need to complete a few more steps. First, move the table into a garage or shed to prevent rain from ruining any finish. After cleaning the table, gently sand the ENTIRE surface. Using a detail sander works, but do not sand too much. Picnic tables only have so much wood. After sanding, use a finish, stain and/or varnish to complete the look. A natural finish looks best. Use simply polyurethane in coats, letting it dry completely between each one.

Q: How do you keep it looking restored?

A: A simple trick is to move it out of direct sunlight. Although beautiful sunlight defines summertime use of a picnic table, those same rays tear into the natural fibers of wood, drying out the moisture and expanding the grain, causing cracking and splits. Eventually moisture gets in, and that is the end of the table. Move it to a shaded spot.