Q and A... Wood Furniture Maintenance.
Two of the most frequently asked questions from clients are, “what kind of finish will protect my furniture the best?”, and “how do I take care of my furniture?”
The answer to both depends on a whole host of variables, but I’ll try my best to answer these and a few other questions.
First and foremost custom wood furniture is, for the most part, a delicate item. At the end of the day if you wanted something that wouldn't scratch or dent or stain, you would use stone or metal or some kind of composite material. But, you wanted wood, and for good reason. Wood is warm, and beautiful, it comes in so many different colors and textures. It can be used in every part of your home. So, how do we compromise? Well…..
Prevention is key
Like they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Those words ring true when talking about caring for your furniture. It’s a lot easier to put down a coaster than clean a water ring. Or use a trivet instead of sanding out a burn mark. Always take the time to prevent accidents from happening.
Use coasters/trivets and placemats to protect your investment
Tablecloths and placemats are also a good idea if you are worried about messy eaters.
Understand the Environment
Where your furniture lives plays a big role in how long it will last. Wood is “alive”, it expands and contracts, it breathes. You may think temperature change plays a big part in this, and you would be right, but the biggest part is changes in humidity. The moisture in the wood always wants to be equal to moisture in the air, and as the wood absorbs or sheds its moisture, it expands and contracts in the process. As custom builders with years of experience, we understand how to make sure we build to accommodate these changes, but minimizing them is the real key.
Keep your environment temperature and humidity controlled. Humidifiers in the winter, dehumidifiers in the summer.
Keep your furniture away from direct sunlight, the sun's harsh heat and UV will degrade the finish over time.
Cleaning
Keeping furniture clean is another part of preventing future issues. Dust, grease, spills, stains, and everything else your furniture is exposed to will eventually cause a breakdown in the finish. Once the finish is removed or worn away it exposes the raw wood which leads to even further and more difficult to resolve issues.
Dust often, the accumulation of dust will eventually cause scratches when something is run across the surface.
Use non abrasive cleaners and rags. Don't use anything that can cause surface scratching. Slightly damp microfiber cloths are all you need to wipe down your wood surfaces.
Stains can be cleaned with a mild detergent. Never use ammonia or silicone based products.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite thoughts on living with wood furniture. Enjoy it! Use it! Nothing we, or you, can do will keep you furniture in pristine condition its whole life. In fact, look at some of the most beautiful examples of historical furniture. It is often revered for its “patina”, “aging” and “signs of wear” that point to something that has lived a wonderful life. That wine stain will remind you of a great holiday party, and the chip on the end of the table will bring back memories of the day you moved into your dream home. Not to mention all the scratches caused by kids, grand kids, nieces and nephews that come and go over the years.