Dust with a dry or barely damp cloth, dry immediately afterwards, and never put a hot or wet glass straight onto the surface. Solid wood asks very little, but the things that damage it are permanent, so the small habits matter more than any occasional treatment.
Water is the main enemy
The white ring under a glass is moisture trapped in the finish. The dark ring is worse: moisture that has passed through the finish into the wood itself, and that one usually needs sanding and refinishing. A coaster from day one prevents both, and it is worth putting them where people actually put glasses rather than where they look tidy.
If a wet mark does appear, deal with it while it is still white. Laying a dry cloth over it and passing a warm iron across for a few seconds often draws the moisture back out of the finish. Once it has gone dark, that trick no longer works.
Heat, sun and dry air
| Threat | What it does | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hot dishes | Clouds or blisters the finish | Always use a trivet |
| Direct sunlight | Fades and yellows unevenly | Rotate objects on the surface |
| Radiator nearby | Shrinks the wood, opens joints | Keep 30 cm clear |
| Very dry indoor air | Cracks along the grain | Aim for 40-60% humidity |
Winter is when most cracks appear, because heating dries indoor air to levels wood was never grown in. A bowl of water on the radiator is a crude fix that genuinely helps.
Oiled, waxed or lacquered
These behave differently and it is worth knowing which you have. A lacquered surface has a film on top: clean it, do not feed it, and oil will simply sit on the surface attracting dust. An oiled surface has no film: it wants re-oiling once or twice a year with a product suited to the wood, and it takes local repairs well, because you can sand and re-oil a small area invisibly. Waxed sits between the two and needs occasional rewaxing.
The product description states the finish. If you are unsure, put a drop of water on an inconspicuous spot: if it beads, there is a film; if it darkens the wood within a minute, the surface is open.
Small dents and scratches
A dent in solid wood - fibres compressed rather than removed - can often be raised. Lay a damp cloth over it, press briefly with a warm iron, and the fibres swell back. Repeat rather than doing it once for a long time. Scratches through the finish need touching up rather than steaming, and on an oiled surface a light sand and re-oil is usually invisible.
The character of solid wood is that it moves, marks and settles. A coffee table that shows a decade of use looks better than one that has been protected into blandness - the aim is to prevent damage, not to prevent age. Keep a set of coasters within reach of every seat, and the wood will look after itself.
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By Meike van Dongen · Veem, Amsterdam · 18 August 2026
