Just like
wood floors, hardwood furniture should also be cleaned and cared for. It can
prolong the life of the furniture as long as cleaning is done properly.
Extending the life of furniture can save tons of money as one will not have to
replace anything.
There are
several factors as to why wood furniture gets damaged and ways on how to
prevent them.
Heat and
Humidity
·
Furniture sets that are crafted from wood is carefully dried up.
Doing so will retain the wood's moisture so that the furniture can adapt by
either shrinking or expanding, depending on the humidity level of home.
·
However, if one is not having an air conditioner or dehumidifier,
furniture may absorb too much moisture in the air and it may expand too much.
This may cause furniture doors and drawers to stick, making it hard to open.
·
Remember, constant and abrupt changes to the humidity can cause
damage to the furniture.
To prevent
damage, one needs to remember the following:
·
Use a dehumidifier in the winter and an air conditioner in the
summer.
·
Avoid placing them in direct sunlight. If it cannot be helped, be
sure that there are curtains on the windows to protect the furniture.
·
Do not place them near places where there is a lot of heat, such
as the fireplace and radiators.
Cleaning of
Furniture
·
Before applying any cleaning solutions, check or contact
manufacturer for any recommendations, proper ways of cleaning, and such because
every furniture product and its finish is different.
·
Also, do not use strong chemicals like alcohol to clean the
surface. They can harm the finish of your furniture sets.
·
Repairing small damage can easily be done by oneself. But before
doing it, test cleaning chemicals and such to areas that are hidden or not
easily seen. This is to know whether or not it can damage the finish or
surface.
Tips on
Repairing and Cleaning of furniture:
Scratches
·
To repair them, one simply needs to use a shoe polish, a crayon,
or a felt tipped marker.
·
The color must be the same as your furniture.
Rings and
Water Marks
·
To remove them, one can use mayonnaise or white toothpaste.
·
Rub it on the affected area, and then wipe it dry.
·
After that, wax or polish it.
Milk and
Alcohol
·
One can use liquid or paste wax on the stain.
·
Rub it on the affected area, and then wipe it dry.
·
After that, one can wax or polish it.
Cigarette
Burns
·
If the burn is shallow, one can use a steel pad but rub them
lightly.
·
After use the same method in removing scratches. However, deep
burn marks cannot be repaired through this method.
·
To remove deep burn marks, scrape it using a utility knife or
razor blade.
·
After it either uses a wood-type body filler, shellac stick, or
wax.
Wax and Gum
·
Use an ice cube wrapped with a cloth on the surface of the
affected area.
·
When the wax or gum hardens, scrape it off gently.
·
After that, one can wax or polish it.
·
Remember, if there is a liquid spill; wipe it immediately to avoid
any inconvenience.
·
Wood has always been the preferred material when making furniture
products. However, many customers fail to recognize good wood furniture from
the not so good ones. This article, however, hopes to help inform you on how to
make good decisions when buying wood furniture.
