Hardwood Furniture Care
Damage to your hardwood furniture can arise in many different ways from physical scratches and knocks to water and food stains, even damage through sunlight. There are many ways in which to care for the hardwood furniture in your home and in this article we hope to provide you with a number of ways in which to keep your furniture looking its best.
Moisture – The most frequent cause of damage to hardwood furniture is from moisture in the air. More specifically it is changes in the relative humidity of the room in which furniture is stored which causes the damage. As the humidity rises, the grain of the wood expands. If the rise in humidity is too quick, the wood can expand too quickly causing joints to become loose and cracks to appear. Try to keep your home at a near constant temperature to keep the humidity consistent.
Sunlight is another major cause of damage to furniture. The sunlight can cause finishes to crack in a “crocodile skin” pattern and can bleach the wood underneath causing the colour to fade. This is especially noticeable on extending tables where the extensions are kept covered until required for use. Where practical, always keep your furniture out of direct sunlight, using curtains or blinds if required. If you must keep your furniture in direct sunlight, be sure to rotate the piece that it may discolour evenly and refinish more often than normal.
Cleaning – Cleaning hardwood furniture is simple provided you adhere to one rule: No water! All spills should be cleaned up immediately using a clean dry cloth. For stubborn food spills, use a lightly dampened but not wet cloth. When dusting, again use a clean dry cloth or apply a specially developed furniture polish, avoiding silicone based polishes where possible as these can dry the wood.
Finishing – There is a whole host of finishes available providing a huge array of options. If your furniture was supplied with a wax or oil finish already applied, it is usually best to re-apply the same finish coat every 3-6 months to ensure the wood is protected at all times. For varnished or lacquer finishes, reapply as required, following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Bare or unfinished furniture should always be given a finishing coat before use to preserve the face of the timber and stop the wood from drying out.
Objects placed on top of furniture should be moved carefully, always being careful to lift the item rather than sliding as this will cause scratches to the surface finish. Avoid over-filling drawers and cupboards as this can damage the drawers, shelves and doors of the piece, often working them loose and causing a poor fit. Heavy pieces of furniture should always be moved by at least two people, again ensuring the item is lifted off the floor to avoid damage to the floor and legs of the piece.
Looking after your hardwood furniture is easy and if done properly will ensure your furniture will last a lifetime of use. We hope you have enjoyed this article and hope it has provided some useful tips for caring for your hardwood furniture.
If you enjoyed reading this article, and would like to read more from the author please visit Walnut Furniture. This article was written by James, who is passionate about interior design and writes regularly for sites such as Fatboy Bean Bags amongst others.
