Solid Wood Furniture Care

Quality wood furnishings are an investment that you expect to last a life time. To maintain its natural beauty and protect your investment, wood furniture needs the right care.
 
Wood furniture is coated with a plasticized film that's referred to as finish. Besides enriching the grain and adding luster to solid wood furniture, the finish seals and protects the wood from moisture, dirt and regular use.

These finishes are diverse and vary from simple nitrocellulose lacquers to more complex polyester resins. All modern wood furniture finishes are long lasting and provide the protection your furniture needs.

Wood expands and contracts with the variations in temperature and humidity. Expect each piece of solid wood furniture to react differently depending on the type or species of wood used. Laminated woods and veneers are more stable than solid wood planks.




Use and Care
There are some simple things you can do to protect your fine furniture during everyday use. Following some of these tips can extend the life of the finish and the furniture itself.

Tablecloths, runners and table pads are available and provide the most protection during regular and heavy use of your dining table.

Hot pads should always be used when placing warm serving dishes on a tabletop. Very hot items such as a sauce pan or baking dish should never be placed on a tabletop, even with a hot pad.

Placemats will help to protect the finish from dishes and silverware, and coasters will help protect your furniture from moisture.

Tablecloths and table pads provide the most protection from UV (ultra-violet) light, which causes the finish to fade and deteriorate and may even bleach the wood.

Always use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen on the furniture surface.

Placing your furniture away from windows or blocking direct sunlight will help to protect your furniture from the damaging UV rays. Tinting your windows is another consideration and sometimes even recommended to help protect fine furniture from UV damage.

Felt will protect your tabletops from scratches when used on the bottom of lamps, vases and other accessories. Always lift items from a tabletop, avoid sliding items across a table top as this can abrade and scratch the finish and in extreme cases, the wood surface below.

When enjoying the warm glow from a candle, be sure to place a candle stand or tray underneath the candle to collect any melted wax that may drip or run down the candle.

Never place burning candles on a finished wood surface. As the candle burns down and the wax melts, it can generate and transfer enough heat to damage the finish and wooden surface.

Avoid using household solvent-based products such as fingernail polish and polish removers around an unprotected finished surface. In case of spills, blot the spill immediately, do not wipe as this will spread the spill and may cause further damage. If the surface has not been damaged, clean and polish the tabletop.

If the finish has been damaged, call a professional for an evaluation. You’ll find them listed in the Yellow pages under Antique Repair or Furniture Repair and Refinishing, and it’s not uncommon for them to give free estimates.


Cleaning and Polishing
Cleaning your wood furniture regularly will help in maintaining the value your fine furnishings. Dusting and cleaning removes the build up of grease, lint and dust that can get ground into or soften the finish.

Cleaning your furniture should be done with a soft lint free cotton cloth dampened with water or furniture polish following the pattern of the grain. Cleaning your furniture with a dry rag can cause scratches to the finish. Use a light touch and rotate your cleaning cloth frequently.

Follow by using a quality furniture polish to protect the cleaned surface per the manufacturers instructions. Furniture dealers will gladly make recommendations on which products are best to protect your investment.