FURNITURE CARE

FURNITURE CARE - For the most part, maintaining furniture simply

means keeping it clean, carefully. Furniture usually needs to be cleaned only when
there is a build-up of wax or dirt. Only unfinished furniture, painted furniture, or
furniture with a sturdy finish should be cleaned.
- maintaining furniture is important for preserving its
condition, enhancing its appearance, promoting better air quality, and improving its
functionality.
WOODEN FURNITURE
- Wood furniture means room
furnishings, including cabinets
(kitchen, bath and vanity), tables,
chairs, beds, sofas, shutters, art objects, wood paneling
other than flat wood paneling, wood flooring
and any other coated furnishings made of
wood, wood composition or fabricated wood
materials.
 TYPES OF WOOD USED IN FURNITURE

1. Solid Wood - is lumber that has been milled directly from trees. Types of
solid woods are Maple Oak, Redwood, Mahogany, Ash, Beech, Teak,
Rosewood, and Cherry which differ in their color, texture and thickness.

2. Particle Wood - also known as chipboard or low-density fiberboard,

is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips and
a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded.

3. Plywood - is a composite material manufactured from thin layers,

or “plies” of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent
layers, having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to another.
 WHAT DAMAGED WOODEN FURNITURE?
In extreme changes, the wood can swell (high humidity) and shrink (low humidity).
Excessively high moisture conditions can cause swelling of wood which can result in crushed
components, and finish and glue failure. Excessively low moisture conditions can cause damage to
wood such as splitting.
• Dry rot - (also known as "brown rot") damages wood by
reducing it to small, rectangular pieces that easily
crumble away from the main body of wood. While it is
less common than types of mold damage, dry rot can
lead to serious structural damage in your home.

• Fungi damage wood - which makes it more inviting to

insects. Insects which completely consume wood include
termites and beetle larvae. These insects can nearly
completely consume an object or historic structure before
they are detected.
 3 COMMON TYPES OF DAMAGE TO WOODEN FURNITURE

1. Scratches - From dog claw marks to contact with knives, wooden

furniture can sustain scratches from sharp objects. Depending on
the level of impact, the scratches can be minor or deep. Even
abrasive cleaning products can leave noticeable marks; repeated
contact will ultimately expose the wood underneath painted surfaces.

2. Cracks & Chips - Heavy objects that fall on a wooden piece can
leave deep cracks or chips. Colliding with walls or being dragged
up stairs or across floors may also create jagged areas. These types
of imperfections will typically need specialized furniture restoration
to fill in the damaged areas.

3. Discoloration - Water, grease, and bleach can alter the natural

grains of wood, resulting in discoloration and stains. Direct exposure
to sunlight might also lead to fading.
 CARING FOR WOODEN FURNITURE
10 TIPS FOR CARING FOR WOOD FURNITURE:
1. Clean with warm water and mild dish washing soap
To clean the finish on your wood furniture just use warm water and mild dish soap. Cleaning
furniture with water won’t hurt it — just be careful not to soak it. Use an old toothbrush for hard-to-get areas.
Wipe the dirt off the surface with soft cloths or paper towels until they come up fairly clean. Then dry off any
residual moisture with a soft cloth.
2. Apply soft paste wax
After a good cleaning, the best way to protect the finish is to use a good-quality soft paste wax. Apply a thin coat
as directed on the label. Wait five minutes and buff lightly with a soft (shoe) brush or cloth. Wait another 30 to
60 minutes and buff/brush again with a bit more vigor. You’ll see a beautiful shine return to the finish that will
last for many months.
3. Keep your furniture out of the sun
The temperature of the summer sun coming through a window can go above 140 degrees. It will cook fine
finishes, fading and destroying them over time, and dry out and shrink the wood, which will cause cracks.
4. Don’t place wood furniture near heating units or vents
Dry heat will cause the wood to dry and shrink, leaving cracks. Use a humidifier in the drier months to bring the
moisture up to the 40 to 45 percent level.
5. Touch up with appropriate shoe polish
For a quick-fix touch up, use the appropriate color shoe polish on scratches and chips, especially
to make them less visible on the feet of furniture. Carefully using a matching-color felt-tip marker
first will hide it even better.
6. When polishing metal hardware, take it off the furniture first
Take your time and make a note to remember what piece goes back where. Use a quality metal
polish to get it shining again. Once it’s buffed, put it back on, being careful not to scratch the wood
surfaces.
7. Wood isn’t hungry!
You cannot feed furniture. No matter what the advertising says, wood cannot be fed or nourished
or enriched with polishes or oils. Once it has a protective finish over it for beauty and protection, the
wood is sealed. Polishes and oils will not penetrate it.
8. Remove stains with mild abrasive
There are several ways to remove the white hazy ring or spot that the hot coffee mug or hot pizza
box made on your table. The least invasive way is to rub it with a mild abrasive, such as non-gel
toothpaste mixed with baking soda or cooking oil mixed with ashes.
9. Look for quality
When shopping for new or antique furniture, look at the back, inside and undersides of
furniture and drawers. Many times it tells you more about quality than looking at the “show”
side. The so-called “secondary” woods can speak volumes about the age of the item and the
quality of construction.
10. Leave it with the Pros
Restoring or refinishing an older or antique piece of furniture to its original glory
might seem like a good idea, and many times it is. But it’s important to get advice from
someone who is knowledgeable about the item you are considering. You may find that your piece
is valuable and just needs a proper cleaning. Any more extensive work should be left to a
professional.