How to Clean and Care for an Air Hockey Table

An air hockey table needs very little care, but what it needs matters: the puck can only glide as well as the air holes let it. Here's how to keep the playfield clean, the air flowing, and the puck on the table, game after game.

In this guide: Everyday cleaning · What not to use · Clearing clogged holes · Pucks and pushers · Protecting the table · FAQ

Everyday Cleaning: Motor On, Microfiber Cloth

Dust is the main thing that slows an air hockey table down. It settles on the playfield and works its way into the air holes, where it weakens the airflow and creates slow spots.

1. Turn the motor on first. The air rising through the holes keeps dust from falling into them while you clean.
2. Wipe with a dry microfiber cloth. Work from one end to the other, so the dust moves off the table instead of around it.
3. Wipe the rails and goals. Dust collects along the edges too, and the puck picks it up on every bank shot.
4. Clean regularly. A quick wipe before you play keeps the holes clear and the puck fast.

What Not to Use on the Playfield

• Liquid cleaners. Sprays and wet cloths can carry dirt into the air holes and clog them.
• Wax. Wax can build up in the holes and slow the puck.
• Spraying anything directly onto the table. If you want to slick the surface with a silicone spray, spray it onto a microfiber towel first, then wipe the towel across the playfield.

Our tables have a UV scratch-resistant or high-gloss playfield, which already keeps friction low. For everyday care, a dry microfiber cloth is all they need.

How to Clear Clogged Air Holes

If the puck slows or stalls in one spot, a hole is probably blocked. You can usually feel it: hold your palm just above the playfield with the motor on, and move it slowly across the slow area until you find a spot with little or no air.

1. Leave the motor running. The airflow is what pushes the debris out.
2. Gently push a toothpick or pin into the hole. Loosen whatever is stuck, then let the air blow it free.
3. Wipe the area with a microfiber cloth to pick up anything that came out.
4. Test with the puck. If it glides through the spot again, you're done.

Clear holes, even glide. The Urban 7 ft

A clean playfield. The Camden 7.5 ft

Pucks and Pushers: When to Replace Them

A puck that keeps flying off the table is usually worn out or the wrong size. Pucks that are chipped, warped, or damaged don't sit flat on the air, so they lift and leave the table. A puck that's too light for the airflow will do the same, which is why pucks are sized to the table.

• Replace a puck when it's chipped, warped, or no longer sits flat.
• Replace the pusher pads when they wear thin. Smooth pads glide cleanly and protect the playfield.
• Use the right size. Our 60 to 72 in tables take 2.5 in pucks, and our 84 to 96 in tables take 3 in pucks.

Every Barrington table comes with two pushers and two pucks. For spares, our replacement kits are sized to the table, with soft-covered handles for a better grip and extra pads.

Kit contents and sizes from our product specifications.

Medium tables, 60 to 72 in. The medium table kit

Full-size tables, 84 to 96 in. The full-size table kit

Protecting the Table Between Games

• Cover it. Our 8 ft x 6 ft air hockey table cover drapes over most full-size tables and keeps dust, spills, and sunlight off the playfield, so it stays fast and bright.
• Keep it level. If the puck starts drifting to one side, check the playfield with a level and adjust the leg levelers. Every Barrington table has 1.5 in levelers built into the legs.
• Keep spare batteries. The inlaid electronic scorer runs on 3 AA batteries.
• Don't drag the table. To move it, lift it with enough helpers, so the legs and levelers stay square.

Shop Air Hockey Accessories

Pushers and PucksKits for 60 to 72 in and 84 to 96 in tables. Air Hockey Table Cover8 ft x 6 ft, for most full-size tables. Air Hockey TablesUrban, Grant, and Camden, from 5 to 7.5 ft.

Frequently Asked Questions