A practical guide to cleaning timber and resin, handling hot mugs, sunlight, water and scratches, and understanding what really harms the surface. The right care depends on the timber finish as well as the resin — not on a one-size-fits-all maintenance rule.
Your resin table is made to be used
A well-made timber and resin table is ready for everyday life: breakfast, laptops, children’s drawings, a glass of wine, work, visitors and regular cleaning. You don’t need to cover it in plastic or worry about touching it. But normal use is different from habits that gradually damage almost any furniture finish.
The key principle is simple: epoxy resin is hard, not indestructible. Timber may be protected, but it remains a natural material. A water-resistant surface is not necessarily resistant to every chemical. A few sensible care habits can help a table look good for decades, and minor signs of use can often be repaired rather than replacing the piece.
One detail makes a big difference. ‘Resin table’ describes the construction, not necessarily the topmost finish. One table may have a clear tabletop resin coating over the whole surface. Another may have resin only in the river, with the timber protected by oil, hardwax oil, lacquer or polyurethane. Care needs to suit the surface you actually touch.
Three tables, three different approaches
These pieces feature in our business portfolio. They show why a design starts with more than resin colour: the format, timber grain, resin river and base all shape the table’s character and the way it can be used.
Azure River Dining Table
A large-format table with live edges, deep blue resin, striking grain and an open geometric steel base.
Deep Blue Round Table
A compact round table combining richly figured timber with translucent blue-violet resin and a striking sense of depth.
Live-Edge White Resin Table
Natural timber edges and a clean white resin river create a lighter composition for a dining or meeting space.
The photographs show genuine Ahoj Epoxy pieces. Descriptions reflect the features documented in our portfolio; dimensions and lead times are agreed separately for each new commission.
The essentials at a glance
For everyday cleaning, use a soft cloth, water and a mild, neutral cleaner. Regular treatment with aggressive degreasers is unnecessary.
Never place a hot saucepan, frying pan or oven dish directly on the resin. Use a heat-resistant trivet.
A coffee mug and a dish straight from the oven expose the surface to very different temperatures. Each resin system has its own heat limit.
Use a chopping board, not the table surface. Even hard resin and a good lacquer finish can be scratched.
Consider UV protection before leaving the table in prolonged direct sunlight. Resin systems vary in resistance, and long-term UV exposure can affect colour and clarity.
Wipe up wine, coffee, oil and sauce promptly. The table won’t dissolve, but brief contact is always preferable to leaving a spill all day.
Follow the maker’s instructions for the specific finish on the timber. Oil, lacquer and polyurethane need different care.
A fine scratch need not be permanent. Polished resin can often be repolished, and an oiled timber surface may allow a local repair.
A quick guide to good habits and common pitfalls
| Situation | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday dust | Use a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth | Reduces abrasive rubbing and smears |
| Coffee, wine or sauce | Wipe up promptly, then use a mild cleaner | Avoids unnecessary prolonged contact with staining liquids |
| A hot mug | Use a coaster | Limits heat exposure and condensation marks |
| A frying pan or saucepan | Always use a heat-resistant trivet | Some tabletop resins can deform at around 50–55 °C |
| Knives and food preparation | Use a chopping board | The surface is hard, not scratch-proof |
| A laptop or monitor | Suitable for normal use; move heavy items carefully | Grit beneath an object can act as an abrasive |
| Direct sunlight | Avoid prolonged intense exposure or choose a UV-protective finish | UV exposure can cause resin systems to yellow and degrade |
| Acetone or solvents | Do not use for everyday cleaning | Can damage the finish and alter its sheen |
| A fine scratch | Identify the finish before attempting a repair | Many finishes can be repaired |
1. Start by identifying the finish
Knowing the finish is more useful than a generic tip from the internet. A table may have polished resin and oiled timber, while another has a polyurethane topcoat across the whole surface. They can look similar but need different care.
For a new table, ask the workshop for the finish details and keep them. The product or system name will be useful when the surface needs refreshing in three, five or ten years. A good maker can explain what was used on the timber and resin, and whether local repairs are possible.
If the finish is unknown, don’t start with a strong degreaser, concentrated alcohol, solvent or abrasive powder. Begin gently with water, a neutral cleaner and a microfibre cloth.
2. Everyday cleaning: keep it simple
Most tables need very little daily maintenance. Remove crumbs and grit, wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth, add a little mild soap or neutral cleaner if needed, then dry the surface.
On a glossy surface, grit can be a bigger problem than a stain. A grain of sand beneath a laptop, vase or ceramic plate can leave a visible mark when the object is moved. Remove loose particles first, then wipe.
Glossy resin does not need constant polishing. Frequent use of waxes, silicones or unsuitable furniture sprays can leave a film, create smears or change the sheen. If the surface is clean, basic care is enough.
3. Cleaning the resin
Tabletop resin manufacturers commonly recommend mild soap and water for routine care. TotalBoat’s care instructions give that advice and warn against harsh chemicals.
That is a sensible starting point. Fully cured resin is much more resistant than resin during manufacture, but there is no reason to keep testing it with strong solvents. Oven cleaner, acetone, harsh descalers and concentrated degreasers are unnecessary for ordinary household dirt; a mild cleaner is the better choice.
For a stubborn stain, identify the finish first and test any cleaner in an inconspicuous spot. Take particular care with matt and satin finishes: vigorous rubbing can create a shiny patch even before a chemical damages the material.
4. Caring for the timber: follow the finish
An oil or hardwax oil finish gives timber a more natural feel and usually allows straightforward local refreshing. It still needs care products compatible with that particular system.
For its oiled interior surfaces, Rubio Monocoat recommends dedicated mild cleaners and, where wear appears, an appropriate maintenance oil or refreshing product. It also advises against soaking the timber or leaving water standing on it.
A film-forming lacquer or polyurethane finish needs a different approach. These surfaces are not routinely oiled. A video recommending annual oiling may be right for one table and completely unsuitable for another.
5. Water: wipe spills up rather than leaving them
Fully cured tabletop resins can be highly moisture-resistant, and some manufacturers describe their systems as waterproof. But a table is more than a strip of resin: it also includes timber, edges, openings, joints, fittings, an underside and a surface finish.
A spilled glass of water is no disaster: simply wipe it up. Avoid leaving a wet towel overnight or water pooling around a vase, particularly at material joints and on oiled timber.
For a plant that stays on the table, use a saucer and check beneath the pot occasionally. Trapped moisture is more troublesome than a stray drop you notice straight away.
6. Coffee, wine, oil and everyday spills
A good modern furniture finish can handle ordinary household spills. The simplest way to prevent a stain becoming stubborn is not to leave it all day.
Blot coffee or wine first, then wipe with a soft, damp cloth. Lift grease with a paper towel rather than spreading it over a wider area. Use mild soap for sticky residue.
Don’t start with a scourer. Abrasive Scotch-Brite pads, the rough side of a kitchen sponge and cleaning powders can dull a glossy finish or create a shiny patch on a matt surface.
7. Heat resistance: know the system, not the slogan
‘Epoxy is heat-resistant’ says little without identifying the system. Resins differ in heat resistance, casting thickness, post-curing requirements and protective topcoats.
TotalBoat TableTop Epoxy illustrates the point. Its manufacturer advises against placing items above 125 °F, approximately 52 °C, on the fully cured surface because distortion and discolouration may occur. This is a product intended specifically for tables, bar tops and worktops.
That does not mean every resin table will be damaged at 53 °C. It means there is no single temperature limit for all systems. The practical rule is simpler: a coffee mug is generally part of normal use, but place hot pans, oven dishes and kettles on a heat-resistant trivet.
A trivet costs a few euros. Repairing a large, finely polished surface costs considerably more. This is not an experiment worth making.
8. Can you use a laptop on a resin table?
Yes. A laptop, keyboard, monitor and ordinary office equipment are all part of normal use. Keep two points in mind.
First, ventilation: don’t obstruct a hot-running laptop’s cooling, or leave a very hot power adapter in the same spot for months. Second, take care when moving heavy equipment. A monitor’s rubber foot is normally fine, but grit trapped beneath it can scratch a glossy surface when you slide it.
For a permanent workspace, a desk mat protects the surface and adds comfort. Think of it as a useful accessory, not compulsory armour.
9. Hard does not mean scratch-proof
Some tabletop resins have high Shore D hardness and are described as scratch-resistant. That means greater resistance, not that a mark is impossible.
Ceramics, metal, grit, keys, watches, heavy crockery and everyday use can leave fine scratches over time. They show more clearly on glossy black resin than on translucent or matt surfaces. That is a question of light and reflection, not necessarily poor-quality resin.
Don’t chop food directly on the table or use it as a workbench for metal parts. A thin protective pad is sensible beneath a large vase with a rough ceramic base.
10. What to do about an existing scratch
First identify where the damage sits: in a clear topcoat, in the polished resin itself or in the timber finish.
TotalBoat explains that its fully cured tabletop resin can be wet-sanded and polished to a mirror finish. Polishing can address surface imperfections and scratches, while deeper damage may need a new topcoat.
That is not an invitation to reach straight for sandpaper. Polishing requires a controlled sequence of abrasives and compounds; the wrong approach can create a dip or visible distortion. For a valuable table, send the maker a photograph first and ask whether a local repair, full repolish or coating renewal is appropriate.
11. Matt can be more practical than high gloss
High gloss photographs beautifully, with depth, crisp reflections and a glass-like river. It also makes dust, fingerprints and fine scratches easier to see.
A satin or matt finish feels quieter and is often practical for desks and family tables, where minor signs of use stand out less. Local repairs still need precision: the repaired area must match the sheen as well as the surface level.
When commissioning your table, discuss the sheen as well as the resin colour. It affects how the piece will look after years of everyday use.
12. Sunlight and UV: clear resin ages too
Resin systems vary in UV resistance. Some contain inhibitors that slow yellowing, but no such additive makes epoxy completely unchanged by prolonged intense sunlight.
TotalBoat’s guidance on UV protection explains that prolonged ultraviolet exposure can cause yellowing, cloudiness and a loss of gloss. For substantial outdoor exposure or sustained sunlight, it recommends a UV-stable urethane or varnish topcoat. The manufacturer also points out that this matters in interiors with plenty of natural light.
An everyday dining table beside a window is no reason to panic or keep the curtains permanently closed. A clear resin river table in a south-facing conservatory, or an indoor finish used outdoors all year, is a very different brief.
13. Indoor and outdoor tables need different designs
A patio table needs to be designed for outdoor use from the outset. UV is only part of the picture: rain, changing temperatures, condensation, timber movement and repeated wetting and drying all take their toll.
However beautiful an indoor river table looks, you cannot simply move it onto an exposed patio and expect the same service life. An outdoor commission needs suitable timber, an exterior protective finish, a design that does not trap water and a maintenance plan.
Seasonal use on a covered terrace is less demanding, but it is still worth discussing with the maker before work begins.
14. Your room’s climate matters to the timber, too
Timber responds to humidity. Even when properly dried and carefully worked, it expands and contracts slightly across the grain. That is a normal characteristic of solid wood.
Very dry air beside a constant heat source, sharp seasonal changes or a very humid room put more strain on a table than a stable indoor environment. Keep a solid timber top away from powerful radiators, fireplaces and other concentrated sources of heat.
When a large table arrives from another country, allow it to acclimatise to the room and avoid extremes of temperature and humidity. This is particularly relevant in mountain chalets, holiday homes and properties where the heating stays off for months before being switched on suddenly.
15. Tablecloth, protective film or glass: does your table need a cover?
Permanently hiding a beautiful table beneath protective film rarely makes sense. You chose the timber and resin to enjoy their appearance and use the table.
A glass cover is sometimes useful in restaurants or exceptionally demanding settings, but it changes both the feel of the surface and its reflections. At home, trivets for hot dishes, chopping boards and sensible handling are usually enough.
A soft tablecloth for a celebration is fine. Do not leave a wet, waterproof cover sitting on the timber for long periods without ventilation.
16. Cleaning products best left in the cupboard
Unless the maker specifically advises otherwise, avoid acetone, solvents, paint thinners, adhesive removers, strongly alkaline cleaners, concentrated acids, scouring powder, wire scourers and the abrasive side of a kitchen sponge.
Take care with alcohol-based disinfectants, too. During the pandemic, damage to many furniture surfaces came not from a single encounter with alcohol, but from repeated cleaning with harsh products unsuitable for the particular finish.
For a table in a restaurant, office or other professionally cleaned space, give the staff a short care guide. That is far more reliable than expecting a cleaning contractor to guess which finish has been used.
17. Dealing with stains on oiled timber
One advantage of oil finishes is that they can often be maintained in individual areas. Rubio Monocoat, for example, offers separate products for grease, limescale and tannin stains, alongside maintenance products for refreshing worn patches.
That does not mean these particular products are right for every oiled table. Always choose a system compatible with the original finish. The useful principle is that damage to an oiled surface can often be treated locally, without sanding the whole table back to bare wood.
For a stubborn stain, resist the temptation to try baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and a bit of internet magic. First, establish which finish is on your table.
18. When does the finish need refreshing?
A resin table does not come with a compulsory annual polishing appointment. If the surface looks good, leave it alone.
Oiled timber may need refreshing when it begins to look dry, becomes harder to keep clean or shows visible wear in frequently touched areas. A coating that forms a protective film generally needs less frequent maintenance, but deep damage can be more involved to repair.
Over the years, glossy resin may develop a network of fine marks. If they bother you, professional polishing may restore the surface. A carefully refurbished table can look almost as good as new.
19. Can a table be refurbished after five or ten years?
In many cases, yes. That is one of the great advantages of a well-made piece using solid timber and quality resin. Cosmetic wear need not mean replacing the entire table.
Options include refreshing an oiled area, sanding and refinishing the timber, polishing the resin, repairing a chip, renewing the topcoat and adjusting the base and fixings.
The right approach depends on the construction and extent of the damage. It helps if the workshop keeps a record of the materials used. For our bespoke business and private commissions, we see project documentation not as paperwork for its own sake, but as part of good aftercare.
20. Caring for a boardroom table
A large boardroom table faces different demands from one at home. Laptops, chargers, mugs, notebooks, microphones and video-conferencing equipment are constantly moved across it. Cleaning staff maintain it regularly, often using stronger products than the owner would use at home.
At the design stage, choose a practical sheen and plan integrated sockets and cable management so that cables do not rub against the edges. After installation, give the facilities manager a straightforward care guide.
For a business project, we recommend agreeing on a suitable cleaning product explicitly. A one-page PDF care guide can do more to protect the surface than the most expensive resin.
21. Caring for restaurant tables and bar counters
A restaurant table faces frequent cleaning, alcohol, grease, crockery and objects being moved across it all day. In hotels, restaurants and bars, ease of repair matters alongside good design.
A mirror gloss is not necessarily the best choice for a bar where hundreds of glasses are slid across the counter each day. A satin finish or an additional hard-wearing topcoat may be more practical. The right solution depends on the concept and expected use.
Whether we are making a bar counter or tables for a client in Germany, Austria, Czechia or elsewhere, we discuss how the piece will be used before applying the finish. That way, we choose a surface for real life, not just the day of the photoshoot.
22. When your table arrives from abroad
On delivery, check the packaging and the table itself before putting it into regular use. Large tops are often transported separately from their bases. After assembly, check that the fixings are correctly fitted and allow for the natural movement of solid timber.
Do not unpack a cold table and immediately place it beside a powerful radiator. If it has travelled by road from Bratislava in winter, let it gradually come up to room temperature.
For white-label commissions for design studios, the care guide can carry the partner’s branding, giving the end customer clear aftercare information alongside their furniture.
23. Enjoy your table — it is made to be used
Do not worry about normal everyday use or every stray drop of water. Your table does not need polishing after each clean, and a tiny scratch is not a disaster.
Well-made furniture gradually acquires signs of a life well lived. The distinction is between a pleasing natural patina and damage caused by misuse. A trivet for hot dishes and a chopping board prevent most of the real problems.
24. The information that should come with your table
A bespoke piece benefits from a short specification sheet covering the timber species, resin system, finishes on the timber and resin, basic cleaning guidance and the workshop’s contact details.
For a commercial project, this can include instructions for cleaning staff, approved products, guidance on local repairs and details of aftercare services.
For white-label partners, we can supply these materials without Ahoj Epoxy branding or under the studio’s own name. The client receives a professionally supported product, and the partner does not have to write the technical care instructions themselves.
Your table care questions, answered
Can I put a hot mug on the table?
An ordinary mug is not an extreme heat load in most cases, but using a coaster is still a good habit. Always use a suitable trivet for very hot dishes.
Can I clean the table with alcohol?
Do not use alcohol as your everyday cleaner unless its compatibility with the particular finish has been confirmed.
Can I use glass cleaner?
It may be suitable for some finishes, but formulations vary between products. Mild soap and water are a more generally suitable starting point.
Can I cut directly on the resin?
No. Use a chopping board.
Will water damage the resin?
Properly cured resin can be highly resistant to moisture, but your table also contains timber and surface finishes. Always wipe away standing water.
Does clear resin turn yellow?
Prolonged UV exposure can alter many epoxy systems. A UV-resistant formulation reduces the risk, but intense sunlight may call for a UV-stable topcoat.
Can scratches be removed?
Often, yes. The right method depends on their depth and the type of finish.
Does the table need oiling every year?
Only if the timber has an oil finish and that particular system requires this maintenance.
Can I use the table on a patio?
Only if it was designed and finished for outdoor use.
What if I do not know which finish is on my table?
Start with gentle cleaning. Before using strong chemicals or attempting a repair, contact the maker.
Good table care should fit around your life
You buy a resin table to enjoy it, not to spend your life guarding it. Everyday care is straightforward: gentle cleaning, protection from extreme heat, no abrasive products and a sensible approach to sunlight and moisture.
Above all, know your finish. That way, you will not treat oil like varnish, polish a matt topcoat as though it were a car bonnet, or reach for harsh chemicals when water would do the job.
If your table loses some of its original lustre over the years, its story is not over. Quality solid timber and resin can often be refinished, polished or given renewed protection. A well-made bespoke table is a lasting piece of furniture, not a passing interiors trend.
Ahoj Epoxy makes tables in Bratislava for private and business clients across Slovakia and Europe. For interior design studios, we work from drawings and 3D visualisations, offer white-label manufacturing and can prepare care guidance under the partner’s own branding.
Need advice on your table’s finish?
Send us a photograph of the table and explain what has happened to the surface. We will suggest the next step based on the damage and the finish.