Wood furniture normally has a long life if looked after properly and by following some simple but important guidelines you will be able to enjoy your beloved furniture for years to come. First of all, let’s take a look at the more obvious steps to maintaining the wood itself. Cleanliness is crucial in keeping wood in tip-top condition and regularly dusting wooden furniture will prevent a buildup of dirt which over time can resemble a tar-like appearance.
Using a dry cloth to dust or a semi-damp cloth if stains are apparent will ensure that the unit is clean. If the wood is very dirty with stains that are hard to remove, try adding a little mild soap to the water and then dampen your cloth once again and repeat the cleaning process. To help prevent such dirt in the future, a good quality wax will protect the wood from a build-up and dusting alone will usually be enough. It’s wise to consult your supplier to learn what type of wax should be used as there are several types that have to be applied in accordance with the type of wood to be treated.
It goes without saying that wood should be kept in a damp-free environment to help avoid the wood from absorbing moisture. Extreme rises in heat or moisture in the air can cause wood to be permanently damaged by warping and splitting.
The use of lemon oil can be an effective guard against atmospheric damage to wood and this will stop the wood from drying out and eventually splitting. Furniture polish is favored by many and it is readily available in most shops, however, it is best avoided long term due to the fact that it can eventually lead to leaving the wood looking dull. Oils especially suited for the treatment of wooden furniture are always the best option and lemon oil is without a doubt the best choice for this.
The use of a dehumidifier in the damper’s colder months can be of great help in avoiding moisture from attacking the furniture. Likewise, an air con unit in the warmer dryer months can work equally as well to prevent drying out of the wood. Always keep the wooden furniture away from heat sources such as radiators and other heaters. The wood will very soon become warped and not repairable once this happens.
Keeping furniture away from strong and direct sunlight is absolutely essential because this will bleach the surface of the wood over time leaving it looking unattractive.
Some of the most common problems which at some time most wooden furniture owners will encounter are the effects of stains, scratches, and burns from hot appliances or cigarettes among others. All of these can be rectified depending on their severity. Sometimes furniture is too close to the wall which can make scratch and remove the paint from your furniture. That’s why furniture arrangements are also important when you put it in the room or move somewhere.
Most stains can be cleaned using household substances such as toothpaste and even mayonnaise. These can be wiped into the stain and then polished out before finishing off the repair by waxing the whole surface.
Scratches can be dealt with in many ways. The first thing to do is to look at the color of your furniture and then look for something that will match it. Shoe polish, colored pens, wood stain, or just about anything that you can match up to the original color will work, as long as you treat the surface with a good coating of wax.
Cigarette burns can be much more difficult to remove but in general, the same process as used for scratches will work. Deep burns however will first need to be filled using appropriate wood filler.
Most problems with wooden furniture can easily be treated without calling in the experts and what’s more, is that it is rewarding to do this.
