What is the best way to clean one?

Mild soap and warm water handle most daily dirt. Just wipe the surface down quickly and dry it with a clean cloth so the wood does not absorb standing water. If the table has a wax finish, avoid harsh chemical sprays. They break down the wax over time and leave the timber looking dry and patchy.

I have an old farmhouse table with a gap running right down the middle between the planks, should I try to fill it in?

Wood moves across the seasons. Central heating dries the air in winter, causing old pine planks to shrink and open up those gaps. Filling it with putty or filler usually fails. When summer returns and humidity rises, the boards swell and push the hard filler straight back out. Leaving the gap alone is the safest approach. It is part of how a plank top breathes.

Why are some tables painted underneath?

Paint sealed the softwood frame against damp floors. It made washing away coal dust and grease much easier. People simply refreshed the base with whatever household paint was left over from other jobs.

The drawer on my kitchen table sticks badly when I try to open it, is there an easy fix to make it slide properly?

Sticking usually means the wooden runners underneath have worn down. This lets the drawer drop and wedge itself inside the frame opening. Turn the table upside down to inspect the tracks. Rubbing a block of dry candle wax along the contact points often provides enough lubrication to get it moving again.

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Antique Pine Tables in East of England

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Built for farmhouse kitchens and dairies, these solid softwood utility pieces feature plank tops and sturdy legs to provide a large, scrubbable workspace for preparing food and taking daily meals.