WOOD FINISH CAREYour furniture purchase is an investment. Here are a few tips to maximize the lifetime of your furniture with a minimum amount of effort.
Properly caring for your furniture can help ensure that it looks great year after year.

Caring
for
Wood
Furniture

Wood Furniture Maintenance:

  • Always dust, wipe and clean with the grain of the wood.
  • Dust with a soft cloth. Dust will scratch the furniture surface if not removed properly.
  • Use the same type of polish consistently as interchanging oil-based and wax-based polishes will cause a build-up and result in a foggy or cloudy appearance. If a polished surface becomes foggy, rub it with a cloth dipped in a solution of one tablespoon vinegar to one quart of water. Rub softly with the grain until the surface is completely dry.
  • Soap and water are not advisable for wood surfaces. Water can penetrate the finish and raise the grain on wood, causing damage.
  • Remember to change dusting cloths frequently as dirty cloths may scratch your furniture’s surface.

The Enemies of Wood:

  • Moisture is wood’s worst enemy. Liquid spills should be gently wiped up immediately. Coasters should be used under all beverages.
  • Do not allow rubber or vinyl materials to sit on the furniture.
  • Chemicals in rubber may leave a stain. Put a strip of felt or leather under accessories that have rubber or vinyl
  • Heat creates a chemical change in the furniture’s finish, which results in a white spot. Use protective pads under hot dishes, appliances, etc.
  • Sunlight’s ultraviolet rays can damage the finish of furniture.
  • Do not place furniture directly against a heater or radiator and do not place in the path of hot streams of air from central heating. This will cause extreme localized drying of the wood.

High Gloss Resin Table Maintenance:

  • Resin tabletops have approximately 1/8″ of a resin coat on the top face of the table, which will resist ice, water, wine, liquor, food, cleaning fluids, and warm or hot liquids; however, cups, glasses, etc. containing hot liquids should not be left on the table without a coaster for protection.
  • Resin tabletops will scratch just the same as any other glossy surface and basic precautions should be taken.
    For lasting shine, the resin table should be waxed with a car wax that does not contain silicon. Maintaining this wax build-up will result in a high gloss shine.
  • When wiping down the table, a soft, clean rag should be used. Do not use a heavy paper.

Marble Top Maintenance:

  • Marble may be stone, but it is porous stone and can stain easily. Treating marble surfaces the same as wood surfaces is a great rule of thumb.
  • It is recommended to seal the tops on a regular basis (every 6 to 12 months).
    A good quality stone sealer can be purchased from any tiles/stone store or any homecare store and should be applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
  • When sealed properly, marble tops can be used indoors and outdoors and can withstand any weather conditions except internal freezing. Snow or freezing rain will penetrate the table and cause cracks.

Caring for the Fabric on Upholstered Furniture:

  •  Frequent vacuuming of the entire upholstered area will prevent dust from settling into the fibers.
  • Professional cleaning is always recommended for all upholstered pieces.
  • Always pre-test a small area of fabric in an inconspicuous area when cleaning before proceeding.
  • Do not use cleaning products containing brightening agents.

Caring
for
Upholstered
Furniture

General Upholstery Care

Proper placement of upholstery in a room is important. Avoid placing upholstered furniture in direct sunlight to minimize fading. Position all upholstery a a safe distance from any heat source.
Vaccuum upholstered furniture often. Because dust and dirt cause fabrics to wear faster, cleaning will prevent dust and other debris from becoming embedded in the fabric.

As you settle into your new fabric or leather upholstery, some wrinkles naturally will begin to appear. This is a natural part of the upholstery maturing process. On frames with removeable cushions, you can reduce wrinkles and increase longevity by reversing cushions on a regular basis. This reversal keeps the filling evenly distributed to minimize wrinkles and maximize comfort.

On frames with tight or attached cushions, fabrics will stretch and wrinkle with use. Restore the original appearance by smoothing the surface and tucking excess upholstery into the sides of the seat or back.

General Upholstery Cleaning

For spot cleaning small stains, first blot the stain with a clean, dry, white cloth, working from the outer edge to the center. Use only water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner for spot cleaing Always pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do use solvents or saturate to spot clean. Tor restore the appearance or reset the nap of a pile fabric, use a non-metallic soft bristle bursh. Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered. Frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, soft bristle brush to remove dust and grime will help to prevent soiling. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Do not rub. Evenly clean the entire panel in a seam to seam fashion and not just the spots or stains.

An annual professional cleaning will keep your upholstered furniture looking its best.

Leather Upholstery: Frequent dusting or vacuuming with an upholstery attachment is recommended for preventative maintenance. Do not use furniture polish, saddle soap, oils, varnishes, ammonia water, soaps or dusting agents. To help remove soil or stains, take a lightly dampened cloth and using a mild solution of non-detergent soap and water gently wipe the area of the leather that includes the stain. Avoid dabbing the stained area only. Do not rub. Let dry naturally and repeat if necessary. Avoid using ink pens, nail polish, nail polish remover or other harmful products near your leather furniture to avoid spills and avoid placing newspapers or magazines on the surface, as the inks may transfer onto the leather. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided at all times, as it will cause fading.