These days it’s almost impossible to find children’s furniture that’s made out of anything other than plastic. But then, wooden furniture isn’t everybody’s cup of tea.
Even though it comes in many wonderful finishes, styles and designs, giving you plenty of choices when it comes to finding that one perfect piece you’ve always wanted – wooden furniture also involves a lot of maintenance, some of it on a daily basis. It needs to be kept clean; protected from water, heat and dust, and polished regularly.
Does this mean you shouldn’t go ahead and buy that gorgeous TV cabinet, bookshelf or bed? Of course not! But it does mean you need to know how to treat your furniture so it’s around for you, your kids, and maybe even your grandkids to enjoy.
So here’s a basic guide to treating that wooden furniture the way it deserves, and we assure you, it’s well worth the effort.
Do’s of Wooden Furniture
Keeping your furniture looking good and in great condition isn’t all that hard actually, it’s just about setting a system in place, and sticking to it. If you have time to go get a manicure, baby your car or watch a three-hour-long Bollywood movie, you definitely have the time to give that furniture a little TLC.
- Firstly, and a little bit obviously, use your furniture carefully and keep it clean.
- Dust it regularly with a lint-free, soft, damp cloth. Be careful and gentle, rubbing the dust into the surface will cause scratches.
- To dust carved surfaces, use a soft natural bristle brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft bristle attachment (don’t let the plastic or metal part of the vacuum touch the wood though).
- Find out what the surface finish of your furniture is before you try to clean or polish it. Certain finishes should only be polished by professionals.
- Use coasters and protective mats to prevent damaging or staining the wood surface with hot or wet things.
- If you live in a hot, dry climate, remember to wipe down your furniture with a damp cloth regularly. This will help prevent it from cracking.
- Polish your furniture a couple of times a month with a good quality wood polish, and get all your pieces polished professionally at least once or twice a year.
Don’ts of Wooden Furniture
‘What not to do’ is a pretty simple list, some of these tips could even be categorised as basic common sense, you’ll see what I mean as you read on.
- Don’t expose your wooden furniture to excessive heat or direct sunlight, this can cause cracking and may also change the colour of the finish.
- Unless your furniture is specifically crafted for outdoor use, don’t use it outdoors. Indoor furniture and outdoor furniture have different finishes and are made to withstand different climatic changes.
- Don’t place anything hot or wet directly onto your wooden surfaces as this may stain them.
- Don’t wait for spills to dry up on their own, wipe them up immediately with a damp cloth to prevent liquid from seeping through the pores in the varnish coating to stain the wood.
- Never use harsh chemicals or rough scrubbers to clean your wood furniture. The only reason to ever do this is if you’re actually going for a distressed finish.
- Don’t drag your furniture across the floor when you’re moving it. Not only can this damage your floors, but it’s also likely to damage the joints of your furniture too.
And that’s pretty much it! Just a few simple things that, if kept in mind and implemented, will leave your wooden furniture looking wonderfully lustrous and new, all its life. Get in touch with the experts at HomeLane for solutions to all your interior related problems, and much more.
