Sticky Kitchen Table

[allanmartin]

Dear All,

Over the past few months our wooden kitchen table has become quite sticky, and we cannot clean it. Tried to use vinegar and the usual soaps, polish etc. It is like the varnish/finish has come off leaving the sticky residue.

Question 1. Does anyone have any ideas?

Question 2: I have read online to use a mild product that will remove the existing finish by gently scrubbing with a fine wire wool. Can anyone suggest a "fine wire wool" as I dont want to damage the table. I have seen a sort of synthetic pad made by 3M which claims to do the job, and does not look like it would damage the table.

Any tips would be great.


Thanks in advance,

 

[JohnD]

I have known varnish go sticky where it is cleaned a lot in a bar. I have a feeling it may be the cleaning products that are doing it, this may be the case in your kitchen as well.

You are describing abrasives to take the surface off. If the varnish has softened, you will mark it severely and the abrasives will be quickly clogged as it will not come off like dust.

You could try cleaning a small test area with meths, and another with white spirit. Maybe do it on a leg or edge where any spoilage will not show.

 

[HERTS P&D]

You may have to use a belt sander on the table top and then re-varnish.

Andy

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

It sounds like its had it. I have known cheap acrylic varnish do similar things with and moisture and heat. Sand it off and try an oil finish its; bullet proof

 

[JohnD]

my bar looks like it is a polyurathene varnish.

It is a Victorian slab, looks like mahogany type, but was refinished in 1986 years after being neglected for 20 years while the building was empty.