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| Caring for
wood care |
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Protect wood
furniture from excessive sunlight; too much can dry and
even bleach the wood. |
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Keep the furniture
in a place that is neither too humid nor too dry. Use
a humidifier or dehumidifier, if necessary, to make a
neutral condition. Too-humid environments can cause the
wood to warp, while too-dry environments can dry out the
wood. |
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Don’t
place your wood furniture near air vents. |
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If you’re
going to put decorative items on top of the wood, cover
the bottoms with felt to prevent scratching. |
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Always use coasters
under glasses, and protective plates under your plants.
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Clean up spills
immediately, especially if they’re alcoholic or
acidic. Wipe them with a clean cloth that’s either
dry or only slightly damp. If you use a dampened cloth,
be sure to swipe over the area with a dry cloth once you’re
done cleaning. |
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Dust your wood
furniture regularly using a soft rag. Cloth diapers –
clean ones, of course! – are actually ideal for
this purpose, as are old cloth napkins and terry towels.
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For an extra
shine, forgo the cotton dusting rags for a commercial
polishing cloth. These are soft and have a flannel-like
nap. They’re usually yellow and can be found with
the cleaning supplies in most stores. |
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When cleaning
and polishing, always wipe with the grain of the wood.
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When you polish
your wood furniture, be sure to select a product that’s
appropriate for the finish. It will tell you on the label.
Some polishes are labeled “multi-finish” and
can be used on any type of wood. |
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Always use the
same brand of polish; different brands, when applied over
the top of one another, can cause a dull or cloudy look.
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An oil finish
should be protected only with an oil-based polish. |
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If layer upon
layer of polish has dulled the shine of your wood furniture,
the buildup can be removed by using a commercial wood
cleaner (make sure you don’t confuse this with a
wood stripper). Wood cleaners are simply a mild solvent
combined with oil, and will dissolve built-up polish and
dirt. You can make your own by mixing two parts olive
or lemon oil with one part vinegar or lemon juice; apply
it with a soft cloth, and then wipe it clean. |
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To remove alcohol
spots, you can rub the spot with paste wax, silver polish,
or boiled linseed oil, and then re-wax. A dab of household
ammonia on the spot will work on some finishes; put a
few drops of the ammonia onto a damp cloth, rub the spot,
and then wax immediately afterward. |
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To remove minor
surface burns, you can use the same treatment described
for alcohol stains. You can also dip a cotton swab into
some paint remover and gently rub the affected area to
remove any charring (you may even have to scrape the surface
a little bit). Use one or two drops of clear fingernail
polish to fill in the depressed area. |
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To remove candle
wax or gum, chill and harden the substance by holding
an ice cube over it for a few seconds (make sure that
you immediately wipe up the water droplets left behind
by the melting ice). With your fingers, gently remove
as much of the gum or wax as you can, and scrape off what’s
left with the dull edge of a butter knife. Saturate a
cloth with cream wax, and rub the spot. |
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Grease stains
can be removed by a couple of different methods. One is
to place a blotter over the spot and press it lightly
with a warm iron until the blotter absorbs the grease.
Or you can saturate the spot with mineral spirits, and
place talcum powder, sawdust, or a cloth over it to absorb
the grease as it’s drawn out. |
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If ink is spilled
on unsealed wood furniture, the stain can be impossible
to remove. However, if your furniture is sealed, you can
usually get the ink off without it leaving a lasting stain.
Use an absorbent cloth and blot – don’t rub
– consistently turning the cloth to a “fresh”
spot to prevent smearing. Then, clean the surface using
a damp cloth (don’t forget to dry!) or a cream wax.
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To remove nail
polish, soften it by rubbing with a cloth saturated in
mineral spirits. If the furniture has a hard finish, apply
paste wax with a piece of very fine steel wool in the
direction of the wood grain. If it’s an oil finish,
simply apply a little bit of oil. Do not use nail polish
remover – it can quickly damage the surface. |
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