If you have a white desktop, how do you keep it pristinely clean?

[Ching]

I look at my current desk top (I'm using a card table at the moment). There's metallic gold something smeared all over it. I "thought" I was a relatively neat person, but apparently not when in the throes of creating.

My dream is to set up a craft room where all the furniture/cupboards, etc are white. I see all these craftrooms featuring white furniture, fluffy white rugs, etc.

How the heck do you all keep it pristinely white?

[fionna51]

Put a sheet of plate glass on top of your desk.

An advantage (above keeping the white desktop clean) is that you have a perfectly level and smooth desktop!

[Ching]

So true. Good idea Diane. I guess I'll have to do eyelets somewhere else if I do it.

[stamphappy1650]

I use one of the large Martha Stewart self healing mats that covers most of my work area. Another thought is a clear desk pad and it won't break but it's not self healing if you cut into it.

I have a lot of the white cubes and I get ink on them so they are no longer "pristine".

[gregzgurl]

Does Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser take ink off of white cubes? I sold all of my cubes when we moved last fall, so I can't test it, but it occurred to me to wonder when this question was asked...

[ceramicat1]

I do have a plexiglass sheet on my desktop, it keeps the worst off. I don't really worry too much about it. Stamping for me is messy. My desktop is white also, mostly. :lol:

Plexiglass, however, isn't good with heat guns. I will be replacing the sheet I have now next time we are in Lowes.

[Illinois Marge]

I must ask, why does it have to be pristinely clean?
Creative places get messy -- shows they are being used :-)

[uncbballfan]

My desk top is white, and the reason I know is that there's about a 2"-square space where I can actually see it!

[punch-crazy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncbballfan

My desk top is white, and the reason I know is that there's about a 2"-square space where I can actually see it!

Glad I'm not the only one with a cluttered desk.
Mine iscehite as well. I use a clear desk mat fromnikea to keep it mostly white.

[stamphappy1650]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzgurl

Does Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser take ink off of white cubes? I sold all of my cubes when we moved last fall, so I can't test it, but it occurred to me to wonder when this question was asked...

My sister says they work but I tried and didn't see where they were any better than 409 but then I have a host of gunk on my cubes (ink, mists, whatever) :p:p

[JBgreendawn]

mine is kinda whiteish grey flecks ( plastic folding table from costco) it is NOT pristine :mrgreen: but, another thought until you find some glass or something what if you tape some freezer paper down to catch drips while you play?

[RJP111]

My "desk" is actually a 6 ft folding table that has a white top. Or, it's supposed to have a white top!

It has spray ink all over it, but I don't worry about cleaning it up as I do most of my stamping on top of my guillotine cutter. That gives me a solid stamping surface and I use the grid lines to keep my paper straight.

[Denverkat276]

I'm with Fionna. I actually do place a piece of glass on the desk I use for Polymer clay or any painting. It's so much easier to clean up. I will use my other mats on top of it as well. The new desk that is going into my new room is actually a completely glass table top. I'm excited for it. It use to be my sister's desk and she wasn't going to use it anymore, so now it's going to be mine!! Yeah.

Glass will keep any top nice underneath.

Goodluck.

[Hoosier]

I stamp on a large desk calendar. When it gets dirty and gunky, I just tear off the top sheet and begin again.

[Illinois Marge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoosier

I stamp on a large desk calendar. When it gets dirty and gunky, I just tear off the top sheet and begin again.

This is what I do too. I have a friend who works at a mortgage company and she saves the old desk calendars for me. If I do something very messy, like spray inks, I have an old plastic tablecloth (thin, like people use on picnic tables and then throw away) that I use. Otherwise, I don't worry about getting my table a little messy, beyond these basic precautions.

[wavejumper]

The simple answer is: I dont. My workspace is horrible right now and even at it's best it's crowded b/c it isnt huge. I am using a drafting table-with a white formica surface.*

Formica is a blessing. It cleans up very easily. So get the work top in that imho. People might say get a dark color but I dont like that choice because then you might not know you have ink on it and smudge your projects. I'd rather work with a stained top I know is clean. Also-while a heat gun should not bother it-a heating tool like a fuser/wood burning tool/etc certainly would if left on long enough. Which would not happen to tempered glass.

I just drop stuff way too often to trust myself with glass. I have a very large self healing gridded mat on the surface. Then I use the typical craft mat over that.

*I am not advocating drafting tables. I never tilt it, which is it's main feature. I just had one from before.

[Rosestamping]

I have several sheets of the SU paper sheets with measurements on it laminated at Office Depot. It just wipes off.

[Bohodiva]

Ikea sells clear desk mats. My work surfaces are Ikea black table tops but I still use the over sized plastic desk mats.
PR�JS Desk pad - IKEA

[jeanne3579]

My cutting/sewing table is white formica. Sometimes I end up stamping there too, so I use several layers of old computer paper to stamp on. I have plexiglass on my stamping table, but still use the paper layer to stamp on. However, I don't seem to be able to keep the mess on the paper all the time, so to have an easily cleanable surface is nice. I just use windex, just like it was glass. I opted for the plexiglass over glass for the softer feel. I always hold my piece while embossing, or put it in a box. I have a melt proof pad for wood burning/soldering tools.

[tigerlily55]

I cover my table with a vinyl table cloth in a color to match my room. I stamp on a cutting mat.

[ladyofcards]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bohodiva

Ikea sells clear desk mats. My work surfaces are Ikea black table tops but I still use the over sized plastic desk mats.
PR�JS Desk pad - IKEA

Thanks for this tip!

[lilagrey]

I will put a glass top a new desk I just finished painting. For my white folding table where I do most of my work, I like the idea of using vinyl tablecloths. I like to clean up the table after each project, and I throw a pretty cloth tablecloth on the table when I am done or when not doing anything *too* messy.

[skm330mks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosestamping

I have several sheets of the SU paper sheets with measurements on it laminated at Office Depot. It just wipes off.

What a GREAT idea! I think I'll do this!!!!

[TeeGeeDee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosestamping

I have several sheets of the SU paper sheets with measurements on it laminated at Office Depot. It just wipes off.

I've covered a few sheets with wax paper. Not as durable as lamination but usually lasts for several card-making sessions before I flip to the other side (make sure the grid paper faces correctly). I can lightly clean it with a baby wipe and a soft (Viva) paper towel.


Eventually I'll get a few laminated (1 for each work surface and 1 for crops).

[stampacidal]

I use white contact paper my desk always looks bright white it is easy to wipe off and if it gets to dirty just take off and replace.

[Ching]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bohodiva

Ikea sells clear desk mats. My work surfaces are Ikea black table tops but I still use the over sized plastic desk mats.
PR�JS Desk pad - IKEA

Thanks so much for this and the link. Makes life a bit easier at a reasonable cost. Thank you.

[Ching]

Thank you everyone! LOTS of great ideas!!

[mshatzma]

i used the clear desk mat from Ikea, but kept slipping when i used my Grand Calibur. I am a scribbler - so i use the cheap paper calendar blotters (they go on sale around Feb, so i buy 2). When it gets too yucky, rip off the top sheet. I use a gift shirt box you get for free from the department store that they give to you folded flat, when I need to spray mists or sprays. I put my paper into the box top and spray into the box. I like that it folds back up flat, and i get 2 (top & bottom) - and free

[lindastitches]

I bought yards and yards of clear vinyl with white roses on it from Walmart. Actually I bought what they had so they left it on the cardboard tube. I store it in the corner. It is wide enough to cover the table and drape over the sides. When it gets too many permanent stains, I cut off a new piece off the roll and discard the old one. In between, I get marks and adhesive off with windex, stamp cleaner, or un-du. The roses are perfect for me because my craft room is done in white, pink, and black shabby chic.

[stamp mad denise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illinois Marge

I must ask, why does it have to be pristinely clean?
Creative places get messy -- shows they are being used :-)

Not "used", Well Loved ;)

I have a sheet of thick clear plastic (brought from Spotlight by the meter) on my bench top that works well and is a lot cheaper than glass. It has been there over a year and still looks good.

[mistyje32]

I just purchased a white desk from Ikea and the first thing I did when I got home was purchase a glass top from a local glass shop. It was an additional $80 for the glass, but it was well worth it. It's soo easy to clean and it protects your desk for years to come!!

[Samistic]

My white desk is cluttered with my projects. Working in front of my laptop so only have 7" x 14" to work on. Use a Ranger craft mat when I can find it again. Misplaced it when I went to the CKC in April. It is some where here in my crafting area....
So for now working on scrap copy paper....

[fl_beachbum]

I have a white topped desk as well. I purchased a clear mat for the top. Not only does it protect the work surface but I tucked a grid sheet underneath which has proven to be handy for a variety of reasons (lining things up, cutting ribbon to specific lengths for projects, etc.). I also tucked photos underneath so that I wouldn't need to put frames on my desk and take up space I can use for supplies!
Only downside is that I also have my computer at this table and the mouse doesn't work on the clear glossy surface...

[sarahj60]

I have a white laminate desktop and I use simpe green full strength to keep it clean and alcohol to get rid of the sticky stuff. Simple green even removes stazon ink

[fionna51]

Love that Simple Green! It even removes 95% of the chainsaw oils from my DH's coveralls!

[edie3]

pristine and crafting? Thats an oxymoron in my house! LOL!

[Annecards]

I have a white desk, and keeping it in pristine condition is not a problem. I have so much stuff piled on it, the white surface is totally protected.

[fionna51]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annecards

I have a white desk, and keeping it in pristine condition is not a problem. I have so much stuff piled on it, the white surface is totally protected.

Spew! So glad I had already swallowed my tea!!!

[papercrafter40]

I have a piece of white melamine on top of 2 wire drawer units for my desk. I generally don't worry about cleaning every stain, but on the rare occasions I decide to give the working areas a good cleaning (mostly to get adhesive gunk off), I use Goo Gone. Just squirt some on the gunk, rub with a paper towel (and some elbow grease!), and it's gone. The only downside is that I have to go over it with a damp, soapy towel, to get the Goo Gone residue off. But still, it does the job!

[cmoore2cats]

Clean? ?Que pasa? I've haven't seen the entire top in years. Not sure I could work if it were.

Cindy/CA