Wooden Furniture Care

Nothing feels better than taking delivery of a new piece of Oak or Ash furniture. If this is cared for properly then this will continue to be the centre-piece of your room for many years to come.  Below are some tips and tricks to help you care for that precious piece.

General Care

1.    Follow the Manufacturer’s instructions.
2.    Do not subject the furniture to extremes of heat or cold. This could result in the furniture drying and cracking. Avoid placing the furniture in direct sunlight as this will fade the polished finish. Consider using a table cloth during the summer months and always use coasters for hot drinks. If you have an extension on your Dining room table, extend this as often as you can to ensure the colour remains the same.
3.    Dust as often as you can. Experts recommend using a cloth sprinkled with a few drops of water. The trick is to moisten the cloth such that the dust will stick to the cloth but will not leave traces of water on the wooden surface. Wipe off dust using gentle, oval motions along the grain of the wood. When dusting, don’t forget to lift lamps etc. as sliding will cause scratches.
4.    If you spill anything on your oak furniture clean it up as soon as you can - do not wipe in a circular motion - use a ‘blotting' action to soak up the liquid then use a damp (but not wet) clean cloth.
5.    Avoid using household furniture sprays on your furniture as this can lead to a build-up and can eventually dull the overall finish. Every couple of months your furniture is going to need a thorough waxing, especially in the first few years. This waxing helps prevent splitting, cracking or grazing and will keep your furniture in top condition. Apply the wax with a clean cloth in the same direction as the grain and then remove the wax by buffing with the grain. Ensure that you try this on a small unseen section first to ensure there are no detrimental effects of the wax on the furniture.
6.    Drawers use different types of sliding mechanisms. Some drawers use wood on wood glides and others use metal ball bearings or plastic wheels on rails. If you have wood on wood and you want the glides to not stick or move more smoothly, try getting a piece of wax paper or candle and rub it on the wood rails that touch each other.


 

Help with Common Problems

Moisture Rings and Water Marks or Heat Marks
When moisture from a glass leaves a mark in the furniture, massage butter or margarine into the affected area and leave for several hours or overnight before wiping clean and polishing.



Dents and Scratches
Many surface dents caused by dropped objects can be wholly or partially repaired. Beware, this repair process can also ruin the furniture if you’re not careful.
Drip a few drops of water into the dent and allow about one minute for this to soak into the wood.  Where the furniture has a sealed surface (eg Lacquer), which has not been split by the dropped object, it may be necessary to pierce the surface in the affected area with a pin to allow water ingress - don't worry, re-waxing after the repair will seal the wood. When the wood is moist, place a cotton cloth over the dent and gently iron the area using a normal home iron on a medium setting. The heat causes the wood to expand and as the water dries it creates permanency for your repair. Some dents may need more than one treatment, but take care not to overheat the wood. The success of this method will of course depend upon the nature and severity of the dent.

Most scratches can be treated by using various products including wax crayon and eye-liner! Whatever you decide to use, ensure that it is as close in colour and shade as possible to the colour and shade of the furniture.
Fill the affected area with the chosen product and use a soft, clean cloth to blend over the repair. Try to use a wax product wherever possible, and if in doubt you can experiment on an obscure part of the damaged item (such as the underside of a table), or on a spare piece of wood.

Musty Odour
Place a cotton wool ball soaked in clove or mint oil on a saucer in each drawer or cupboard. How long these will need to be left in place will depend upon the strength of the musty odour.

Burn Marks
For minor burn marks, gently massage toothpaste into the damaged grain, leave overnight before wiping clean and polishing. For more pronounced marks, try a paste mix of powdered pumice and vegetable oil. Treat only the burn area, working along the grain.