Caring for wood furniture is a simple task but worth the effort. High-quality wood furniture can last a lifetime and often become heirlooms being passed down through the generations. Still, even the highest quality furniture is susceptible to scratches and marks if not properly cared for.

It is always a good idea to ask the retailer for any specific cleaning and care instructions and to follow them diligently. For any furnishings already in your home, we have compiled the Top 10 tips to keep your furniture looking its best for many years to come.

1. Don’t Abuse Furniture

Use coasters and placemats to avoid rings and heat damage. Plate bottoms are often unglazed and can scratch your wooden furniture. Avoid placing hot dishes directly on the wood, use a protective heat resistant placement or trivet. Remember you can use decorative tablecloths to protect your dining room table from food and drink spills.

2. Avoid Environmental Damage

Environmental factors such as sunlight, heat, humidity and others can create havoc with your fine furniture. Never place valuable furniture in direct sunlight from uncovered windows, air vents or fireplaces. The light and heat can easily damage and fade even the highest quality wood.

3. Dust Often

Even if you find dusting a real chore, it is one of the best ways to take care of your furniture. Particles in the air can build a transparent layer on wood that scratches the surface. By dusting frequently you can keep this build-up from happening. Make sure you use the correct type of cloth for dusting, soft cotton or microfiber is best to avoid damage. If your furniture has ornate carvings or hard to reach places, then a specialist washable antistatic feather style duster is best as they effectively attract and hold dust.

4. Keep Your Furniture Clean

Even if you dust thoroughly and regularly, it is sometimes necessary to clean your wood furniture. To avoid damage to the finish you should only use mild dishwashing detergent and not an all-purpose cleaner. If you have an area that is soiled or sticky, dip a cloth in warm water that contains a little mild dish detergent. The cloth needs to be wrung out as much as possible and the area gently wiped. Follow this with a rinse from a damp cloth containing just water, then immediately wipe dry with a soft dry cloth.

5. Protect Your Furniture

Use a specialist commercial product. Modern polish and sprays contain either petroleum distillates or silicone-based oil to produce a shiny finish. These products also offer some protection for your wood. Do be careful not to use too much as this can lead to sticky build-up when it combines with airborne dirt and dust. Wax protectants should be used in exclusivity and never used in combination with any other product as this will result in a dull finish and a bit of a mess.

6. Treat Wear and Tear

Wooden furniture can sustain damage, even with the best of care. When this happens, weigh up your options.

If the damage is minor, a nick or scratch, there are commercially available scratch cover products.

If the damage is more severe and it cannot be fixed with a scratch cover polish you need to consider whether you wish to keep your treasured piece or replace it. If you intend to replace it there are online furniture retailers who can advise you.

Your options are to have the wood professionally repaired or even professionally painted or even upcycled by yourself.  The furniture repair market is booming with over £250 million predicted to be spent on furniture repair by 2025.

7. Re-Oil Dry Wood

Furniture that has been stored and has not been part of a care regime has often dried out. If this is the case it can be re-oiled to “feed” the wood. Find a suitable specialist cleaner and thoroughly clean the piece first. Prepare the surfaces with very fine grade steel wool, working with the grain. Clean off any residue and allow it to dry. Next, you will need to liberally apply your chosen furniture oil. There are specialist restoring oils available online.

Allow the oil to soak in for 15 minutes and re-apply if necessary. If you plan to apply a protective coating you must let the furniture stand for at least 24 hours before proceeding. 

8. Re-Wax as Needed

Many types of quality furniture have a wax protective coating. For continued protection, it may be necessary to re-wax the surface. The surface should be prepared with fine steel wool and then wiped clean with a soft cloth. Apply a liberal coating of wax and spread it using a green Scotch Brite style pad with light pressure and, as always, in the direction of the grain.

Don’t allow the wax to set, no more than 20 minutes. With a new Scotch Brite pad, clean off any excess wax, and buff with a soft cloth until the surface feels smooth to the touch.

9. Keep Wood Smelling Fresh

Older pieces of furniture, especially ones that have been stored, can sometimes develop an unpleasant odour. An easy fix is to sprinkle the surface with baking soda which will freshen it up. Charcoal placed inside drawers will absorb smells that emanate from inside. If you have the opportunity, putting the offending furniture outside in a shaded area on a warm, dry day will relieve the piece of the fetid stench and make your furniture good as new.

10. Remove Tough Stains

Sometimes the inevitable happens despite your best efforts. Your beautiful wood furniture has got stained. The longer the stain goes untreated the harder it will be to remove, so jump into action immediately.

A quick cleaning guide:-

White rings – mix equal amounts of baking powder and toothpaste and rub into the stain until it goes. Wipe off the stained area and buff with a dry cloth.

Dark Spots – These are produced by water damage and it is best to blot the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar.

Wipe off the stained area and buff with a dry cloth

Crayon – Smear mayonnaise over the offending marks and let sit for a few minutes. Rub clean with a soft damp cloth, then buff with a dry cloth.

Wood furniture isn’t hard or even that time-consuming to care for. The reward for caring will be a home filled with beautiful wood furniture that looks and feels as good as the day you got it.

If you are eyeing granite countertops to add to your home, you are making the right choice. They can not only beautify your home but are durable and strong and boost your home’s value significantly. However, it is important to do your homework on material first before investing in it. 

Before moving ahead with your purchase, you should learn all the important facts about granite countertops. Clearing out any myths and shedding light on the truths can help you make an informed choice. For more information on materials for your countertops, you can consult with experts at Granite au Sommet quartz calacatta. 

FAQs about granite countertops 

• Does a granite slab with cracks mean it is going to break soon?

This is one of the most common inquiries related to granite slabs, and the answer is no. Granite is a naturally occurring stone composed of various minerals and rocks. These components make it a durable and strong material, but hairline separations can form during underground formation. The process of heating and cooling can give birth to these imperfections. However, cracks do not weaken the stone at all. 

• Are granite and marble the same?

Although both granite and marble are naturally occurring, they differ from each other. Granite is a hard material made of minerals found under the earth’s surface, whereas marbles are composed of plant matter, shells, and other things found at the bottom of the water. Also, marble is softer than granite. 

• Are granite or marble countertops good choices for kitchens?

When it comes to kitchen countertops, granite is better than marble. Marble is mostly used in bathrooms because it is more vulnerable to scratches and sensitive to acidic substances. On the other hand, granite is a hard, scratch-resistant substance. It is not subject to etching, scratching, and warping, making it a good choice for kitchen countertops. 

• Is it safe to cut vegetables on granite if it is so strong?

Although it won’t damage your granite if you cut vegetables directly on it, it is not recommended to do so. Granite is one of the strongest and most durable rocks in the world, and the only stone that can cut through it is diamond. 

Therefore, unless you cut your vegetables with jewelry, the chances of damage are rare. However, granite can still chip or break if you continuously use knives on it. Usually, this does not happen the first time but results from continuous abuse. 

These are some of the most common questions asked by prospective granite buyers. 

When it comes to maintaining the kitchen, there are many elements that you have to consider. This includes whether to do the hacks that you have seen on the internet or not.

Sometimes being stuck in the middle of things can make you feel clueless. This is why an article like this exists. This is to help you how you can manage and maintain a busy kitchen.

At first, you can opt for a functional kitchen cabinet that will serve as your storage. This is because you should also consider how easy it is to grab items while you are busy cooking. Open shelving is a good option, but it’s also possible to have closed storage. This will ensure a clutter-free kitchen.

You don’t have to buy or replace your existing things with something new. For instance, you can opt for a kitchen cabinet refacing Rancho Palos Verde if you still have cabinets. In this way, you will not have to replace your cubbies, but you can update them. The kitchen cabinet refacing Pasadena experts will help you choose the right design for your cubbies. This can be an advantage when you have a busy kitchen.Since you will have more practical storage at the same time; you can also ensure that you will no longer need to deal with too many things on your countertop.

A busy kitchen can become bothersome sometimes when things are not in order. You can keep it simple by preparing what you only need for a day. You don’t have to showcase all your cookware and display them for others to see how busy your kitchen can be.

For more details about how you can maintain a busy kitchen, see this infographic brought to you by Kitchen Cabinet Refacing.