Certain cleaning products can be rather damaging to slate, so knowing the proper way to clean a slate table is an important part of maintaining one for long term use. That said, although specific, slate cleaning is not expensive or difficult.
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Dust the surface of your slate tabletop with a soft duster. Remove all loose debris, dirt and lint. Maintain a fluid motion, in one direction when dusting a slate tabletop, so the debris does not damage the slate surface.
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Fill a bucket with warm water. Add a few drops of a mild detergent. Dish detergent or a gentle laundry detergent such as Dreft or Woolite works good. Avoid cleaning products that have vinegar or other acidic ingredients.
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Submerge a clean, soft, cloth into the bucket and hold it under water until it is saturated. Lift it from the water and wring it out over the bucket, so that it is no longer saturated, just moist.
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Wipe the surface of the slate table with the soft cloth. Work slowly and use even strokes. Wet and wring out your soft cloth frequently, so you are not spreading dirt around.
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Allow your slate table to air dry, but it should only be damp, not saturated.