Pierce Gallery Furniture

Tips on How to Care for Your Wood Furniture

Furniture, including wood pieces, are a part of our daily lives. Some of these pieces have an emotional or symbolic importance to us. No matter their importance, they deserve the best care we can give them. Wood furniture can become a treasured possession in your home, and with the proper care, your precious piece can last for generations. Quality wood furniture is a significant investment that needs to be maintained and understanding proper care and preventing damage are well in your hands.
You may be wondering what type of cleaner or polisher is right for your piece. You also might be torn between cleaning vs. dusting and polishing vs. waxing wood furniture. Over time, furniture will accumulate dust, dirt, and even grease. It will also have a tendency of losing its sheen or polish which can cause it to absorb oils and water.
Damage and destruction of your piece can come in many forms. Here are some useful tips to keep your wooden furniture clean and last for years thanks to newstimes.

Tips on How to Care for that Special Piece

1. 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. 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 for 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. 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. I recommend that you don't try to do this all at one time. It can be a lot of work, so take a few days, doing a few pieces at a time, instead of getting tired and frustrated with trying to do too much.

There you have it; it is not as difficult as it may seem. Proper care using the right tools and cleaning products can keep any piece looking fabulous. newstimes has a few more tips on how to shop for new or antique furniture, restore or refinishing a piece, and how to remove white hazy marks or spots, all very useful.