As the holidays head back around, those who do all the entertaining are getting ready for houses full of family and friends that seem to be there daily until the season closes. If the house to be happens to be your house, chances are there will be a few slips and spills along the way that may leave some of your furniture begging for help.
Where should you look first for post holiday damage? End tables. Since end tables are always out there for people to put something on, lean on or toss something towards, they are often the first places to see damage from holiday festivities.
If you're smart, you have taken a little extra time to try and protect them before the holiday season gets underway. There are tablecloths made to fit any sized table, even little ones, and these can save you a lot of grief down the road. Another option is to put coasters or placemats on the parts of the end tables that are likely going to get the most use.
No matter what you do, there is still a threat of some kind of damage. So the question becomes, how do you fix that damage?
Candle Wax
No holiday get together is complete without some scented holiday candles as part of the decorations. While candles in themselves are usually just fine, once you bring people into the mix, anything can go wrong. From bumping the table to waving their arm while talking and knocking the candle over, there are any of a number of reasons candle wax may spill on to your end tables. If this happens, don't panic. Step away from the table and leave it alone.
A lot of people try to wipe up the wax right away. This is only going to make things worse. Instead, leave it alone and let it dry. Once it has cooled and completely hardened (you may as well wait until the party is over then deal with it) bring some of the left over party ice out of the freezer. Rub the ice over the wax until it becomes cold and very hard.
Now it is brittle and you should be able to use any of your plastic kitchen spatulas to pop the pieces of wax off of the surface and toss them away. Now put a little polish down and your end tables should look as good as new.
Water Stains
If you get water stains from someone inadvertently setting a cup on your end tables, it is not the end of the world. Once the offending glass has been removed, leave the table alone. Let it complete dry (often a day or so is good) then use mayonnaise and rub it into the water spot (make sure it is real mayonnaise, not something similar). The oils in the mayonnaise will re-nourish the wood and should remove the unsightly spots. It is important to do this lightly and sparingly. You don't want to leave any of the oily mayonnaise on your end tables or you could end up with oil spots to go with your old water spots.
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