With a little bit of care, your wooden furniture can avoid repairs and last for years to come.
We all have that one piece of wooden furniture that’s special to us. Maybe it’s a desk that your grandfather built, or the bookshelves that house your antique and delicate books. Whatever that piece is, you want to keep it in beautiful condition. With regular care and attention, your wooden furniture can avoid the need for repairs and look its best for years of enjoyment and usefulness.
To protect for your favorite pieces, follow these helpful wooden furniture cleaning and care tips.
1. Clean with soap and water.
A damp washcloth and mild dish soap are usually all you need to clean your furniture. After cleaning, rinse with a soap-free, damp cloth; then dry the surface with a third washcloth. Avoid all cleaners containing ammonia; ammonia can damage wooden furniture.
2. Polish furniture after cleaning.
Every time you clean wooden furniture, some of the polish will come off. Polishing can help bring back the shine and protect the surface. Make sure that you use a furniture polish that does not contain a high amount of alcohol. Polishes that contain alcohol can damage wood finishes.
3. Dust your furniture.
Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth or brush to dust your furniture. Frequent dusting helps protect the finish from unwanted grit and dirt build-up.
4. Use coasters for glasses.
Always use coasters with felt or cork bottoms to reduce unsightly water rings. Never let water stand on the surface of your wooden furniture.
5. Use trivets for hot dishes.
Protect furniture from hot serving dishes with a natural fiber table cloth, oven mitt or trivet. Placing hot plates and dishes directly on a wooden surface can result in unwanted burn marks and stains.
6. Keep furniture out of direct sunlight.
Sunlight can dry out furniture and fade wood surfaces. The heat from the sun can melt finishes and create hard-to-repair cracks.
(Our thanks to Furniture Medic for this information)
