Caring for wooden furniture

General maintenance instructions

To help prolong the life of your wooden furniture, we advise the following:

Cleaning

  •  Spills should be removed immediately using a clean cloth.
  •  Be gentle with your furniture. Never use cream cleaners, vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids or scouring powders, which may be abrasive.
  •  Some furniture polishes are unsuitable for use on certain surfaces and can degrade the item’s protective layer.
  •  The repeated use of a silicone-based polish is not recommended as this will lead to the buildup of a silicone film, which will alter the appearance of the piece.
  •  If your furniture becomes stained, scratched or chipped, or suffers other damage, we recommend that professional help is sought to restore it.
  •  Be aware that some clothing, such as blue jeans, contains transferable dye that could stain light furniture.

Care

  •  If your wooden furniture has a natural finish (e.g. oak, untreated elm), use a good quality, natural beeswax polish. Every three months polish along the grain and then buff with a clean duster.
  • If your wooden furniture has an oiled finish, you will need to polish it with linseed oil every three to four months to prevent the wood drying out. Make sure you safely dispose of the cloths used.
  •  Wooden products change colour with exposure to both natural and artificial light. Rotate any ornaments to avoid patches of colour where an object has been placed. If you have an extendable dining table, leave it fully extended where possible or expose the leaves to light so that there are no obvious colour differences between them and the rest of the table.
  •  Wooden furniture is not waterproof, heat resistant or immune to chemicals. Do not put hot dishes or cups on any surface, always use an insulated placemat for protection. Don’t use a protective cover containing rubber derivatives – it could react with the finish.
  •  Sharp objects, such as cutlery and pens can scratch the surface of your furniture, as can crockery being dragged across the top.
  •  Leaning backwards on two legs of a chair will weaken its joints.