Wooden furniture can add a classic homely feel to any room – from centrepiece tables in your dining room to the all-important coffee tables for visiting guests, and bedroom wardrobes to office bookshelves heaving with your favourite literature and ornaments. From vintage and farmhouse décor to minimalist and contemporary styles, wooden furniture can be found in any home, but over time will become worn from daily use, so just how do you keep them looking their best?
Here are 6 important tips to help maintain the longevity of your wooden furniture and improve their appearance so they are as attractive as the day you bought them:
Manufacturer guidance
Always check any documentation you received upon purchasing the item to determine if any specific maintenance advice was given, and more importantly, instructions on which chemical products you should not use on them. For example, using abrasive or domestic chemicals on oak furniture can cause it to dry out, leading to splitting.
Avoid heat damage
A really easy way to help prevent unnecessary damage to wood is to use coasters, placemats and/or tablecloths to provide a barrier between the wood and hot item to avoid ring marks.
Beware windows
Sunlight through windows can fade wood, whilst changes in temperature and humidity can cause the wood to warp or split.
Cleaning made simple
Regular dusting is important to prevent a filmy layer forming on the surface, which can become more problematic to remove over time. Skip traditional feather dusters that will only blow dust around rather than capture it, instead using slightly damp lint-free cloths.
Restore lustre
Manufacturers will add furniture wax to the surface of a wooden item as a final step to lock in the finish and help reduce surface scratches. It provides a longer-lasting finish than sprays or polishes, but takes a little more effort to ensure a streak-free appearance. For best results, a 100% cotton cloth should be used to lightly rub the wax into the grain, and you should avoid using liquid or aerosol furniture polishes after as this will strip the wax layer off.
Repairing surface scratches
Despite wax polishing, surfaces will undoubtedly become scratched and unsightly. For light scratches, special stain markers pens can be used to quickly cover small marks and are ideal for touch-ups. However, if the scratches are deeper and require more repair work, then paste wax or wood filler can be colour-matched and used to fill in grooves.
A little time and effort on a regular basis can mean your wood furniture is in peak condition to be enjoyed for years to come.