How To Keep A Glass Tabletop From Sliding

Things Needed

  • White vinegar or rubbing alcohol

  • Soft lint-free cloth

  • Clear rubber bumpers or pads

Tip

If you prefer to stick the rubber pads or bumpers on the table base instead of the glass top, clean the top of the base with an appropriate household cleaner, then stick the pads in the desired location once the base dries. If the table is a square or rectangle, one pad in each corner may suffice. For a long, narrow table, place an extra set of pads along the center edges on either side of the table. Large round or oval tabletops may need rubber pads every 2 to 3 feet around the perimeter of the top for optimal support for the glass.

Many glass-topped tables have rubber bumpers or pads to keep the top from sliding once it is in place on the frame. If yours does not, keeping that tabletop where it belongs may seem a bit aggravating when you use the table. Small rubber pads or bumpers that adhere to either the glass or the table itself allow you to fix that pesky wandering tabletop yourself with little effort.

Step 1

Lift the glass tabletop off the base and lean it against a wall so the bottom of the tabletop faces out.

Step 2

Pour some white vinegar or rubbing alcohol onto a soft, lint-free cloth. Wipe down the bottom side of the tabletop with the damp cloth, especially in areas where the rubber bumpers or pads belong, to remove dust and greasy residue that may prevent the pads from adhering. Once the glass dries, set the top back on the table but with the bottom side of the glass facing up. Align the glass so it is in the proper position in relation to the base; for instance, if the table glass is round and larger than the table base, center the top as much as possible.

Step 3

Peel one rubber bumper away from the backing paper and stick the bumper to the glass in a place where the glass rests on the base, looking through the glass as a guideline. Repeat the process with several more bumpers, spacing them equally apart from the first on a round tabletop. If the base is square or rectangular, each pad goes along a flat corner of the table frame. Press the pads down firmly to ensure they stick to the glass.

Step 4

Flip the tabletop over and place it on the base, aligning the pads with the top of the base. Enlist a friend's help if the tabletop is large, awkward or heavy.

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