Where Do You Store A Ping Pong Table?

Ping pong is fantastic fun for everyone, but owning a ping pong table requires important maintenance to ensure that the table is always in good, playable condition. If you have a ping pong table, it is sure to be kept in storage when not in use, and knowing where to store the table is a critical aspect of maintaining it well.

You should always store a ping pong table out of direct sunlight in an area with very little temperature fluctuation, away from heat, and nowhere near moisture or high humidity. Storing a ping pong table indoors is always best, be it in a garage, shed, inside your house, or in a finished basement.

Learning where to store your table tennis table safely when you are not using it is among the best ways to keep the table in good condition and to ensure that every game you play on it is frustration-free. Let’s explore the best places to store your ping pong table, how to keep it well maintained, and what can happen if the table is not stored well.

Where Are The Best Places To Store A Ping Pong Table?

Everyone who owns a ping pong table knows that they are relatively simple to maintain, but the required maintenance is drastically reduced if the table is stored correctly.

If a ping pong table is not stored in the right place, it will require significantly more maintenance and can even become damaged with regular maintenance.

With that in mind, there are some excellent places to store your ping pong table to keep it playing well. Some of these locations are fairly obvious, and some are a little unconventional, but they are all very practical and will help keep your table looking good and playing well for many years.

Let’s identify some of the best places to store your ping pong table.

Inside Your House Or Workspace

The best place to store a ping pong table is within your home or your workspace, where you can find a place for it. Most ping pong tables conveniently fold into a more manageable size and can be easily tucked away under the stairs or in a spare bedroom.

Storing any table tennis table indoors is the best option, especially when stored in a living or working space. This is important because these areas are usually more hospitable than any others and do not experience significant temperature and humidity fluctuations.

Keeping your ping pong table inside out of the rain, humidity, sunlight, heat, cold, wind, and other weather conditions is the very best way to keep it in good condition for as long as possible.

This is especially true for indoor ping pong tables, but it is also beneficial for tables that are designed for the outdoors.

In The Garage

Another good storage location for a ping pong table is the garage, provided the garage is not damp, hot, or humid and is well-sealed from the weather.

Keeping a ping pong table in the garage is a good option because it will keep the table protected from direct sunlight, rain, moisture, excessive heat, and cold. All of these factors can significantly damage a ping pong table over time.

A garage is only a good place for a ping pong table if it is dry and kept at a mostly stable temperature, any garage that experiences very high or low temperatures, a garage that has pipes that cause condensation, or any garage that collects moisture is not ideal for a ping pong table.

However, an outdoor ping pong table that is resistant to dampness and temperature can be stored in any garage very safely and will not sustain any damage when stored in this location. Storing your table in the garage will help it last much longer than keeping it outside.

In A Finished Basement

A finished basement is an ideal storage location for all types of ping pong tables. A finished basement with good insulation and good construction will keep all moisture and humidity under control, will never experience significant temperature fluctuations, and is completely protected from sunlight.

All of these features make a finished basement the perfect location for storing a ping pong table to keep it lasting as long as possible. If you have a basement like this, this is where you should store your ping pong table.

In A Well-Made Shed

Not everyone has space in their home or office for storing a ping pong table, but anyone with a yard can install a well-made shed, which is a good place for storing a ping pong table.

A good shed that is well-sealed and in a location that helps to control internal temperature makes a great place for ping pong table storage. This type of shed will keep a table well-protected from the elements and ensure that the table stays in good condition for a long time.

This is especially helpful if you move your ping pong table outdoors to play, as it is convenient to keep the table stored in the shed, where it is more easily accessible for moving it into the yard.

Under A Good Table Cover

Any ping pong table that is not in use should be stored under a table cover. This is true for both indoor and outdoor tables, regardless of where they are stored.

Ping pong tables collect dirt, grime, and dust very easily, all of which can significantly hinder the playing experience of the table, and make it far slower than it should be, making it difficult and less fun to use.

For this reason, it is critical to store your ping pong table under a good table cover, regardless of where you keep it.

It is essential to use a thick, UV and weather-protected cover for any table that is stored outdoors, and it is good for any table stored indoors to be protected by a lightweight indoor ping pong table cover to protect it from dust and sunlight.

Anywhere Dry And Dark

There are several ideal places to store a ping pong table, but the most important factors to look for in a good storage location for a table like this include locations that are shielded from sunlight and areas that are free of dampness and moisture.

Sunlight and moisture are the two most damaging elements for ping pong tables. If you can keep your table away from these, your table is likely to last much longer and remain in significantly better condition overall.

Anywhere dark ad dry is a good storage location for a ping pong table, especially if the table has a good cover to protect it from grime and dust collection over time.

Why Is It Important To Store A Ping Pong Table Properly?

Now that we have learned some of the very best places to store a ping pong table, it is important to learn why storing a table like this correctly is so important for its longevity.

The simple answer is that standard ping pong tables are not very durable, and they are very easily damaged by external factors such as temperature, moisture, humidity, and sunlight.

A standard ping pong table is nothing more than painted composite wood, which makes it extremely susceptible to damage from these factors.

If the table becomes too wet or is exposed to moisture, the wood will warp, completely ruining the playing surface. If the table is exposed to too much sunlight, the playing finish will tarnish and become rough, which drastically changes the way the ball bounces on the table.

If the table is exposed to high temperatures, the finish on the table will bubble and rupture, which will also completely ruin the playing surface.

Dirt and dust that collects on the table from dirty ping pong balls, dust settling on the table, and even grime from hands placed on the table will all make the table surface sticky. This stickiness will spread to the paddles and balls that you use as well and will ultimately make the table slow and difficult to play.

All of these factors mean that it is critical to keep your ping pong table well maintained and stored correctly to ensure that the table remains fun to use and good for exciting games of ping pong for many years to come.

How To Protect A Ping Pong Table In Storage

Storing your ping pong table in the right location is important, but it is also crucial to know how to protect your table in storage, especially if you intend to store it for long periods.

To protect a ping pong table in storage, always ensure that it is well-cleaned and dry before storing the table, especially when storing the table after using it.

When you are done playing on the ping pong table, perform basic cleaning and maintenance on the table before storing it to be sure that it does not deteriorate over time.

Clean the table by wiping it down with a dry cloth to remove the top layer of grime, and then clean the table with a slightly damp cloth or with a specialized ping pong table cleaning solution.

Dry the table with another dry cloth or with paper towels, and let the table sit out for a few minutes to allow it to dry completely.

Once the table is dry and clean, cover it with a table cover. If no table cover is available, a thin blanket or an old bedsheet can work to keep dust off the table, but it will not protect it from temperature or sunlight.

When the table is clean, dry, and covered, move it to its storage location. Ensure that there is nothing above the table that may fall on it, be sure to stand the table securely to prevent it from falling over, and always remove the net from the table and store it separately to keep it in good condition as well.

Lock the wheels of the table, keep it in a dry, clean, and dark place, and always come back to clean the table of any dust, rust, dirt, grime, cobwebs, and bugs that may settle on that bale during long-term storage.

This will keep your table in good condition and playing well for as long as possible.

What To Be Careful Of When Storing A Ping Pong Table

There are some factors to consider when storing a ping pong table, aside from the direct storage condition. There are some other things to be careful of that can cause damage to your ping pong table in storage, and it is important to look out for these things to prevent harm to your table.

It is important to be careful of mold, rust, pests, termites, material degradation, and wood rot in ping pong tables in storage.

Pests such as spiders and insects like to make their home on unused ping pong tables and can cause serious damage to the table over time.

Termites and wood rot are known to eat away at wooden ping pong tables that are left unattended for too long. Mold can also grow in wooden ping pong tables, especially if they are exposed to moisture and dampness.

Rust can form on the metal components of ping pong tables, including the folding mechanisms, wheels, hinges, and support sections of the table.

Outdoor tables can suffer from material degradation over time as well.

All of this means that it is very important to check on your ping pong table when it is stored, even if it is stored properly in a good location with a good cover.

Conclusion

The best place to store a ping pong table is somewhere dry and dark and under a good ping pong table cover. If you store your table in a location like this, it is sure to last far longer than in any other storage location.

It is critical to store your ping pong table properly, whether you use it every day or only once a year. Without proper storage, not ping pong table will last as long as it should, it will suffer significantly from damage over time, and the experience of playing on the table will be drastically diminished.

Where Do You Store A Ping Pong Table?