how to clean an air hockey table
If you’re a fan of air hockey and you just bought a table, you’re probably looking forward to having a great time playing it. If this describes you, then you’ve come to the right place.
When it comes to purchasing an air hockey table, the majority of consumers place their emphasis on two particular criteria. One is, of course, the quality of the playing experience, and another is the longevity of the table itself as a factor to consider.
However, after you have purchased an air hockey table, how you maintain it will have a significant impact not just on its longevity but also on the quality of the game you can play on it.
In this post, we will demonstrate some of the most efficient ways to clean an air hockey table, and the process of cleaning won’t take up a lot of your time at all.
Why Do You Need to Clean Your Air Hockey Table?
If an air hockey table hasn’t been cleaned and maintained for a number of days, it might have a negative impact on the overall experience of playing the game.
To help you picture the worst-case situation, if there is a buildup of dust on the table, it will slow down the movement of the puck quite a little. It’s possible the puck won’t even make it to the other team’s end of the rink in some situations.
Over time, the air holes will collect a significant amount of dirt, which will likely result in the holes becoming obstructed. The overall quality of the gameplay may suffer as a result of this.
After some time, you will find that you need to apply a greater amount of force in order to transport the puck towards your opponent, and the game will no longer be as pleasurable as it was in the beginning, when the table was first purchased.
When Do You Need to Clean Your Air Hockey Table?
The primary reason why air hockey tables need to be cleaned on a consistent basis is to either stop the air holes from becoming blocked in the event that they have already become clogged or to unclog them in the event that they are already clogged.Air hockey requires a consistent and powerful airflow; hence, those holes must be kept free of any and all debris at all times.
In addition, the table needs to be tidy and polished so that the pucks and mallets may move easily across it. The more grime and filth that is present on the tabletop, the higher the level of friction that will be formed, which will result in the puck moving more slowly.
Last but not least, the aesthetic value of a table that has been recently wiped down and polished is unquestionable.
In point of fact, determining the point in time at which you ought to think about cleaning your air hockey table is not really difficult to do. The following is a list of indicators that suggest you should clean it:
- When the movement of puck gets slow
- When dust and dirt are visible around the air holes
- When the table top loses its shine
Cleaning Air Hockey Table Takes 6 Important Steps:
- Turn On the Fans/Blowers
- Vacuum the Air Hockey Table Top
- Wipe the Table
- Clean the Air Holes
- Polish the Air Hockey Table Surface
- Sand the Pucks and Mallets
Step by Step Guide to Clean Air Hockey Table
Step 1: Turn On the Fans/Blowers
Keep the fans on while you clean your air hockey table. This will prevent any dust, debris, or even liquids from getting into the air holes, which is a good practice to follow and an important practice to follow while cleaning your air hockey table.
Step 2: Vacuum the Air Hockey Table Top
Utilizing a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust and cobwebs is the next best thing you can do to improve the situation.
It is essential, however, to position the vacuum cleaner so that it is not too close to the surface of the table, since doing so could result in scratches being made on the table’s surface and could even harm the table. It is important to make sure that the vacuum cleaner is used to cover the entire top surface of the table, and you should also make sure to spend some extra time using the vacuum cleaner to remove dust particles from the air holes, as table holes demand more attention.
It is always a good idea to cover the table top when it is not being used because doing so helps to avoid the buildup of dust and debris on the table surface.
Step 3: Wipe the Table
In the subsequent stage, you can continue to use the air blowers while wiping the surface of the table with a gentle cotton or microfiber cloth. You can even keep the air blowers on. You may also get the desired results by utilizing a cleanser that contains alcohol, dishwashing liquid, or window cleaner. On the other hand, you need to check to see that the cleanser does not include ammonia in its ingredients.
When it comes to cleaning an air hockey table, you should always apply the cleaner to the cloth and never directly to the surface of the table itself.If you use very little liquid on the cloth, it will assist the table dry out in a very short amount of time, which is another key piece of advice that you should keep in mind.
It is necessary to scrub the surface of the table vigorously enough to remove the dirt that is attached to the surface of the table. In addition to that, you can wipe the table legs and the sides that are on the outside of the table.
Regarding the interior sides, it is entirely up to your own discretion which material you use. There are some players who believe that the inner sides of the table should not be cleaned because the accumulated dirt makes it easier to make a bank shot.
Step 4: Clean the Air Holes
If you find that vacuuming the air holes does not entirely remove the dirt from the air holes and you are still asking how to clean air hockey table holes, you may need to put in some further work and you may need to clean them using toothpicks or pipe cleaners. Just in case you are wondering how to clean air hockey table holes, just in case you see that cleaning the air holes does not completely remove the dirt from the air holes, we will explain.
However, when you are attempting to pull the dirt out of the holes with a toothpick, you also need to be sure that you are not pushing the dirt any deeper down into the hole. In addition, it is always suggested that you keep the fan on so that the dirt that you dislodge from the holes right away is blasted out. This will ensure that the holes remain clean.
Step 5: Polish the Air Hockey Table Surface
After you have completed this step, you are ready to move on to the next step, which is to apply air hockey table wax (link to Amazon >>) to the top of the table. The longevity of the table can typically be increased by doing this one thing, despite the fact that it is not required.
However, you need to make sure that you just apply a thin and even coat of polish because using too much of it can prevent the air holes from functioning properly.
After the table top has had time to dry, you may polish it to a shiny gloss by wiping it down with a soft cloth. This will help the table surface look more polished overall.
Step 6: Sand the Pucks and Mallets
When used for an extended period of time, both the puck and the mallet experience a certain amount of wear and tear. Because of this, the gameplay can become more sluggish and less engaging.
One quick workaround is to use fine sanding paper to sand the puck as well as the bottom of the mallet. You will eventually be able to strike the puck more quickly and for a greater distance if you do this.
However, this is not going to work very well with mallets that have a felt bottom. If you have a mallet with a felt bottom and you see that the quality of the mallet is deteriorating, the best thing you can do is change the felt pads on the bottom of the mallet.
Wrapping Up
If you want to have a nice time playing air hockey, it is essential that you take good care of every component of the game, and one of the most crucial aspects is undoubtedly maintaining a clean table on a consistent basis.
Should you fail to do so, the overall quality of the gameplay may be significantly diminished as a result. When it comes to clearing the table, doing so is not particularly challenging, and on top of that, it does not require a significant amount of your time.
We put forth a lot of effort to ensure that you have a complete understanding of how to clean an air hockey table. If you have been paying attention to this guide thus far, you shouldn’t have any trouble keeping your air hockey table clean from this point on.
Can You Resurface an Air Hockey Table?
Yes, there are a few different ways in which you can resurface your air hockey table. Nevertheless, it is contingent upon the degree to which it has deteriorated.
If your table has a dent in it, you can fix it by filling the dent with clear epoxy up to the surface of the table, letting it dry, and then sanding it smooth with fine sandpaper.
One more technique is the manner in which you deal with your table in the event that any liquid spills over onto it. If this is the case, you have no choice but to keep using the air blower until it is absolutely bone dry. You are not allowed to turn your table till then because liquid could potentially enter into the air holes.
You can also resurface the air hockey table by measuring and drilling your air holes into fiber, plywood, or pegboard. This is another option.
If none of these solutions work for you, however, you might want to look into purchasing one of the many various types of playing surfaces that are currently on the market. You may, in point of fact, make an order for one online with any of the websites that produce air hockey equipment.
How Can I Make Air Hockey Table Slide Better?
To improve the sliding ability of your air hockey table, you can polish the top of the table with air hockey polish, use a soft cloth that has a little bit of alcohol-based cleaner on it, or wash the top of the table with a cloth that has a little bit of alcohol-based cleanser on it. Sanding the puck and the mallet is another option. When you are not using your air hockey table, you should make it a routine to cover it in the appropriate manner.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks
Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals, let’s have a look at some advanced strategies that will make the process run more efficiently:
- On your air hockey tabletop, you should never use harsh chemicals, cleansers, or alcohol because doing so might cause the surface to become irrevocably damaged.
- When cleaning the tabletop, you should only ever use soft towels like those made of microfiber. Under no circumstances should you use anything abrasive, such as a dish sponge.
- You should never clean an air hockey table with the blowers turned off since doing so will increase the likelihood that you may clog the holes while you are cleaning the table.
- When cleaning out the holes with a long and thin instrument, begin at the edge of the holes, and then try to tilt the needle (or whatever you are using) slightly sideways to pull and lift the dirt out of the holes. This will allow you to clean out the holes more thoroughly. The only thing that will be accomplished by merely shoving a needle directly into the middle of the hole is that the debris will be driven deeper down into the holes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Way to Unclog Air Hockey Table Holes?
The most effective method for unclogging the holes in an air hockey table is to begin by turning on the blowers, followed by vacuuming the holes (trying to avoid touching the hose to the table as much as possible), and finally using anything that is both long and thin to pull the dirt out of the holes.
What is the Best Way to Remove Scuff Marks from an Air Hockey Table?
Scuff marks can be removed from your air hockey table by first obtaining a rag or a microfiber cloth, and then soaking it in an alcohol- and ammonia-free cleaner, such as a light window cleaner, before cleaning it. This is the most effective method for removing scuff marks.
You are not permitted to use abrasive sponges or strong chemicals since the finish of your table will be destroyed. Scrubbing is therefore the only option you have at this point other than to spend some time doing it. It is not necessary to worry about applying an excessive amount of pressure so long as you are not working with anything that is abrasive. In this case, it’s all about the muscle training.
How to Fix Bubbles on an Air Hockey Table?
You may pop any bubbles that may be growing on your air hockey table by using an object that is both very thin and very pointed. This will allow you to address any problems caused by the bubbles. Some people resort to using specialist super glue in order to adhere the bubbles back down to the surface in a flat position.
If the bubbles are particularly large or severe, or there are a great number of them, you might need to replace the air hockey tabletop entirely.
Can You Wax an Air Hockey Table?
It is feasible to wax an air hockey table in order to make it significantly smoother and less prone to friction, but you will need to be sure to select a type of wax that has been developed specifically for use on air hockey tables.
Can You Resurface an Air Hockey Table?
It is feasible to resurface an air hockey table, but in all honesty, if the damage is significant enough to merit doing so, you might as well just replace the tabletop entirely, as this will probably be easier and less expensive to do. Resurfacing an air hockey table is technically doable.