Wooden furniture is classy. It’s durable, looks nice, and, best of all, it’s timeless: older styles of wooden furniture are considered vintage, whereas newer styles are trendy and modern. The flip side? In a lot of cases, your wooden tables, chairs, and dressers are expensive or irreplaceable.
So, how can you keep them from sustaining long-term wear-and-tear?
Furniture
Sometimes, damage to your wooden furniture is inevitable. If your furniture is anywhere except in storage (and especially if you have children and pets) corners get chipped; surfaces get scratched; burn marks mysteriously appear.
Contrary to popular belief, wood is yielding and can easily be damaged – especially softer woods like redwood, spruce, and cedar. Even hardwoods, like maple, oak, and mahogany, are not immune to collisions and careless accidents in a busy household. But even if your household isn’t hectic, wooden furniture can still sustain long-term damage over time: lack of cleaning, environmental factors, and aging can all be extremely detrimental to any wood surface.
So, whether is made out of soft pine, exotic basswood, or inexpensive particle board, here are 5 easy tips for you to help keep your wooden furniture clean and undamaged.
- Dust your wooden furniture regularly
Many people don’t realize how important dusting can be when considering the preservation of their prized furniture. Dust particles, when they settle in a thick enough layer, can easily scratch the surface of the wood. So, get yourself a feather duster, and dust everything once or twice a month. Yes, even the hard to reach corners on the top of the bookshelves.
2. Clean regularly, too
Cleaning your wooden furniture is an extremely important step to maintaining its long-term health. However, different types of woods and finishes require different types of maintenance: therefore, make sure you research good cleaning practices based on the type of wood/varnish that adorns your furniture.
Here are some general tips:
- Use minimal amounts of water; immediately wipe away any wet spots
- Avoid all-purpose sprays and acidic cleaning products
- Use only mild soaps and detergents
3. Protect your Wood
Most articles of wooden furniture come with a protective layer of polish or varnish that protects from surface scratches and spills. However, this layer should by re-applied once per year in order to keep surfaces shiny. Re-adding oil or finishes to dry wood is a simple and easy way to protect any type of wood.
4. Keep your furniture out of direct sun and heat
Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid leaving and wooden furniture in direct sunlight beneath uncovered windows to prevent wood from warping or fading in the light. You should also keep furniture away from heaters wherever possible.
5. If your furniture gets damaged, fix it quickly!
Drink rings? Wipe it up right away to prevent long-term staining. Water damage? Gently blot the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Chips or damage? We recommend calling in a restoration company to fix it up before it worsens.
Can We Help?
Significant physical damage to your wooden furniture creates a weak point. Left unfixed, the damage can grow significantly and begin to undermine the structural integrity of your furniture. This is especially true for older items, which are more likely to succumb to the hardships of time and aging if left unfixed!
Before After
Before After
If your furniture has sustained any damage that you’re unable to deal with for one reason or another, we’d love to help. Whether your furniture is made from hardwood, soft wood, or particle board, New Creations specializes in restoration jobs – matter how small, or large, the damage is. Get in touch for more details!
