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Keith Reding Designs, Inc.
Wood Furniture Care Guide
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Courtesy of Blackwelder's On-Line
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With just a little TLC, genuine
hardwood furniture will last a lifetime - several lifetimes, in fact.
Consider grandfather's roll-top desk: a valued treasure passed on from
generation to generation. Taking good care of your solid hardwood
furniture ensures its longevity. It's easy and largely a matter of
common sense.
Heat, Humidity and
Hardwoods
Did you know that up to half
the weight of freshly sawn wood is water? Furniture is crafted
from wood that is carefully dried, retaining just enough moisture
for the furniture to properly acclimate to the relative humidity
in your home. The wood in furniture continues to exchange moisture
with the air, shrinking and expanding in response to changes in
relative humidity.
Like your own skin, solid
hardwood furniture's natural response to extremely dry air is to
lose moisture and shrink a bit The halves of an extension table
may part slightly or a few tiny openings may appear on a solid
wood surface. This will correct itself as the relative humidity
rises, and the wood absorbs enough moisture to expand slightly.
On the other hand, if you
don't have an air conditioner or dehumidifier, your home's
relative humidity may get too high. Parts of your wood furniture
may absorb excess moisture from the air and expand, perhaps
causing drawers to stick. Once again, this will correct itself as
your home's relative humidity decreases. The furniture's quality
and sturdiness are not affected by these natural changes.
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Here are some
ways to ensure your solid hardwood furniture's longevity: For your comfort, as
well as to protect your furniture, use a humidifier in the winter
and an air conditioner in the summer to keep the relative humidity
at 25 to 35 percent.
Avoid placing furniture directly in front of radiators, heat runs
or fireplaces.
Don't expose hardwood furniture to continuous direct sunlight.
Draw the curtains occasionally.
Store table leaves as close as possible to the table. Keep them in
an upstairs closet rather than in a damp basement, so that the
table leaves are adjusting to the same relative humidity. |
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Tender Loving Care
It's surprisingly simple to
protect and enhance hardwood's natural beauty. All that's needed
is some tender loving care. Here are a few tips from the experts:
Read the manufacturer's care
directions carefully and keep them handy for future reference.
Dust with a soft cloth by following the grain pattern of the wood.
Use an old T-shirt, baby diaper or cheesecloth that's been
laundered to remove the sizing.
Dust often to remove everyday abrasive particles from wood
surfaces. Before dusting, moisten cloth lightly with a spray
product. A dry cloth can leave hairline scratches on the finish.
Surfaces also can be cleaned with a mild non-alkaline soap and
water. Use the suds on a damp sponge or cloth, but be sure to
pretest the solution on an out-of-sight-section to make sure it
doesn't damage the finish. Dry immediately with a soft cloth and
buff lightly, following the grain.
Wood finishes benefit from an occasional waxing or polishing. A
paste wax can be applied every six to twelve months. Remove old
wax first with a mild non-alkaline soap and water solution.
Avoid waxing urethane-finished furniture. Waxing these surfaces
causes them to gather dust and dirt rather than repel it. |
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Minor damage to solid
hardwood furniture can be repaired quickly and effectively with
the right materials, a bit of elbow grease, and some careful
attention to detail. More complex repair or refinishing jobs are
best left to professionals, especially if the piece has one of
todays "super finishes". |
Scratch and Nick First Aid
When preparing to repair
small nicks or scratches, always test an inconspicuous area of the
furniture first to make certain the mixture won't damage the
finish. |
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Finish |
Treatment |
| Dark Wood or Stain |
Fill scratches
with shoe polish that matches the lightest shade of the finish, or
rub with walnut or Brazil nut meat in the direction of the
scratch. A child's crayon or felt-tipped marker can also be used. |
| Cherry |
Fill the scratches with
cordovan or reddish shoe polish that matches the wood, or apply
darkened iodine with a cotton swab or thin artist's brush. |
| Light Wood or Stain |
Fill scratches with a tan
or natural shoe polish, or apply darkened iodine diluted 50
percent with denatured alcohol. |
Stain Removal
Today's
high-performance finishes demand special and careful attention
when it comes to stain removal. While there are countless
remedies for stains, some may damage the furniture's finish. If
you're at all unsure, you should call a professional
refinisher.
These common stains often
can be treated with do-it-yourself furniture first aid. But bear
in mind: always test your remedy on a small area to see if it
removes the stain without disturbing or damaging the finish. |
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| Stain |
Treatment |
| Water Marks &
Rings |
Often, rings
are in the wax, not the finish. Cover the stain with a clean,
thick blotter, press down with a warm iron, and repeat. Or rub
with salad oil, mayonnaise or white toothpaste. Wipe dry and wax
or polish. |
| White Marks |
Rub with a
cloth dipped in a mixture of cigarette ashes and lemon juice or
salad oil. Or rub with a cloth dipped in lighter fluid, followed
by a mixture of rottenstone and salad oil. Wipe dry and wax or
polish. |
| Milk or Alcohol |
Use your
fingers to rub liquid or paste wax into the stain. Or rub in a
paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone with the grain,
substituting pumice for dull finishes. Or rub with ammonia on a
dampened cloth. Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
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During everyday use, your
hardwood furniture may be subjected to mishaps and spills which
temporarily mar its finish. |
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Problem |
Treatment |
| Cigarette Burns
(light) |
Rub with
scratch-concealing polish, or with a paste of linseed oil and
rottenstone, working with the grain until the burn mark
disappears. |
| Heat Marks |
Rub gently
along the grain, using a dry steel wool soap pad or a cloth
dampened with camphorated oil or mineral spirits, or rub gently
along the grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe clean and
wax or polish. |
| Nail Polish |
Blot the spill
immediately, then rub with fine steel wool (0) dipped in wax. Wipe
dry and wax or polish. |
| Paint Marks |
If fresh,
remove latex paint with water and oil-based paint with mineral
spirits. If dry, soak spot in boiled linseed oil, wait until paint
softens and lift carefully with a putty knife or wipe with cloth
dampened with boiled linseed oil. Residue can be removed by
rubbing along the grain with a paste of boiled linseed oil and
rottenstone. Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
| Sticking Paper |
Dampen the
paper thoroughly with salad oil, wait five minutes and rub along
the grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe dry and wax or
polish. |
| Wax or Gum |
Harden the
substance by holding an ice cube wrapped in cloth against it, then
use your fingernail or plastic credit card to remove it. Rub the
area with extra-fine (0000) steel wool dipped in mineral spirits.
Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
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Keep Your
Furniture Looking Great
Furniture is made to be used
and enjoyed and accidents happen, especially when there are small
children at home. Take these steps to keep damage from everyday
life to a minimum:
Unless your furniture has a
new "super finish" to protect it, use coasters to prevent spills,
stains and damage from hot dishes. Blot all spills immediately.
Keep solvents, alcohol, nail polish and polish removers away from
your furniture surfaces.
When dusting, always lift lamps and other objects - don't slide
then across the furniture's surface.
Always lift furniture to move it - don't drag it.
Open and close doors, drawers and lids gently.
This information provided
compliments of
The Hardwood Manufacturers Association
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