Woodcare - Oak and Real Wood Furniture
Sorry Folks ....!
First we have to warn you that the following hints and tips are 'as is' and do not carry any guarantee of success. Whilst to the best of our knowlege and belief these are all tried and tested methods, we cannot accept any liability for any problems which you may encounter
as a result of using any of the processes described.
General Furniture Care :
There are only a few simple steps that need to be taken to ensure that solid
wood furniture, such as our own, will last for generations to come.
Solid wood furniture is commonly known as 'living' wood, and as such it is much the same as we are, in that extremes of heat or cold, dryness or damp, are
likely to have an adverse effect. Avoid such extremes as much as possible and
avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight, as this will fade the polished finish.
Much of todays furniture, including our own, is finished with a soft-sheen protective wood lacquer and does not need waxing. Many people however enjoy the smell and feel of waxed furniture. If you wish to apply polish then we recommend that this be done two or three times per year, using the polish sparingly on soft cloths. Always apply and buff off the wax in the direction of the grain for best effect, and use only a good quality furniture wax polish.
Moisture Rings, Water Marks, and Heat Marks :
Massage butter or margarine into the effected area and leave for several hours
or overnight before wiping clean and polishing.
More stubborn stains can be treated by mixing cigarette ash and olive oil into a
paste and then massaging this into the effected area. Once the stain has gone
the paste can be wiped off and polish applied to bring back the shine.
Dents and Scratches :
Many surface dents caused by dropped objects can be wholly or partially repaired.
Drip a few drops of water into the dent and allow about one minute for this to soak into the wood. (Where the furniture has a sealed surface (eg Lacquer) which has not been split by the dropped object it may be necessary to pierce the surface in several places in the effected area with a pin to allow water ingress - don't worry, re-waxing after the repair will seal the wood). Place a cotton cloth over the dent and gently iron the area useing a normal home iron on a medium setting. The steam caused by warming the soaked-in water will cause the wood grain to expand back toward its' normal shape. Some dents may need more than one treatment, but take care not to overheat the wood. The success of this method will of course depend upon the nature and severity of the dent.
Most scratches can be treated by useing wax crayon and various other products, including such items as eye-liner! Whatever you decide to use, ensure that it is as close in colour and shade as possible to the colour and shade of the furniture. Fill the effected area with the chosen product and use a soft, clean cloth to blend over the repair. Try to use a wax product wherever possible, and if in doubt you can experiment on an obscure part of the damaged item (such as the underside of a table), or on a spare piece of wood.
Musty Odour :
Place a cotton wool ball soaked in clove or mint oil on a saucer in each drawer or cupboard. How long these will need to be left in place will depend upon the strength of the musty odour.
Burn Marks :
For minor burn marks gently massage toothpaste into the damaged grain before wiping clean and polishing. For more pronounced marks try a paste mix of powdered pumice and vegetable oil. Treat only the burn area, working along the grain.
If you know of any furniture care tips then please E-Mail us using the e-mail link.
