Metal tables are not made of just one type of metal

Copper

Copper is a fickle metal, it is one that the older it gets the more beautiful it becomes. The copper table will fade if exposed to direct sunlight. You have to polish it regularly if you do not want it to collect the patina that is often found on antique copper pieces. Do not use water or other cleaning agents on your copper surface. It is best to rub it vigorously with a soft cloth or to use a brass and copper cleaner. Copper is easy to care for and only needs a coat of wax once or twice a year. A mixture of table salt, flour and lemon juice will work fine as a cleaning, polishing and scratch removing agent.

Wrought Iron

This is by far the easiest metal to care for. If you have a wrought iron table it can be hosed down to remove the dirt and debris. The use of wax or strong detergents and abrasive cleaners is not recommended. Mild soap with do the job just fine. You can purchase touchup paint to match any color you have from the Manufacturer. To remove scratches use a 120 grit sandpaper to buff them out and spray paint the finish.

Stainless Steel

Beautiful durable and prone to fingerprints. Stainless is an easy to care for surface but requires frequent dusting. For routine cleaning, mild detergent and warm water will do the trick. If you have stubborn prints you may use an organic based solvent for best results. Acetone, alcohol or a product with methylate can be used on this surface with impunity.

If you are unfortunate enough to get a particularly stubborn stain a soft or nylon bristle brush and a stainless steel cleaner should be used. To remove scratches use a nylon scrubbing pad, follow along the polish lines for best results. Then clean with a mild soap and warm water. For more information on care and maintenance of metal tables go online or ask your local dealer.

Most metal tables' for indoor use are a mixture of metal and glass. This does not propose a cleaning problem if you use and all purpose cleaner and a soft cloth. You can clean both surface types at the same time. This will not leave streaks to mar the beauty of the tabletop.

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Mr. Steele researches and improves the metal decking products at Alpharetta based D-Mac Industries. When not blogging about the new uses of steel deck at D-Mac Industries, Jon enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three kids.