How To Maintain Wooden Furniture - 8 Awesome Tips

Wooden furniture always brings a certain charm to the home, but it also requires good handling and proper maintenance if you want it to last for many years.

Wooden furniture can be of various shapes and sizes - chairs, sofas, coffee tables, dining tables, bookshelves, etc. The purpose and usage of wooden furniture differ from home to home, but one thing common to all kinds of wooden furniture is handling it with care to prevent it from damage. For any wooden furniture to last for years it is important to have an understanding of the maintenance of wooden furniture.

Here are six wooden furniture care tips that are simple but effective.

Wooden Furniture Care Tips

Regular Dusting

Removal of loose dust is an important thing for the protection of wooden furniture. When you don’t dust regularly, the particles begin to form a layer which could result in scratches on the surface. To prevent these scratches it is highly recommended to dust regularly. If the dust accumulation is tough, try using warm water with mild soap to wipe it clean. Always make sure that once cleaned with water, it must be wiped well with a dry cloth to avoid the formation of moisture.

Materials you can use for dusting wooden furniture are: cotton cloth, microfiber towels, feather duster, etc.

Humidity is an enemy of wooden furniture

Humid weather could cause more damage to the wooden furniture than you imagine. The reason behind this is wood absorbs moisture in the humid atmosphere. Humidity causes wood to expand in different directions and as a result, the furniture parts may no longer fit together or become distorted. Hence, be aware of the rise and fall of humidity.

What to do to take care of wooden furniture?

There are a few ways to prevent wooden furniture from getting damaged due to humidity. They are: 

• A humidifier with humidistats will greatly help maintain the relative humid levels

• Keep the windows open and maintain good ventilation

• Use naphthalene and camphor balls

Avoid Exposure To Sunlight

Too much light can discolor wood furniture polish and make it look patchy. One should also be aware that any kind of bright light with great intensity can cause light damage. This damage could be permanent, and restoring the furniture to its original form could be difficult. Hence, always make sure that your wooden furniture is not exposed to bright light.

Here’s what you can do:

• Draw your curtains to protect from direct sunlight exposure

• If you are not using the furniture then keep them in the dak

• Using dim light instead of bright light minimizes the damage

Use Coasters and Placemats

One of the best ways to protect wooden furniture is to take care of it very well. Handling your wooden furniture with utmost care will improve its lifetime. So, don’t do any kind of mishandling.

Remove Tough Stains

Preventing the furniture from getting stained may be inevitable. However, we can take a few steps to fix this problem. But there is a condition, which makes sure that the stain does not be there for long. 

A good wood furniture cleaner works better:

• From dark spots to water damage, use vinegar. Soal a cloth in vinegar and gently blot the stain till the mark disappears

• When removing tough stains like white rings, white toothpaste, and baking soda make an incredible restorer. Take equal parts of toothpaste and baking soda to make a paste. Rub this paste on the stain until it disappears. After that, wipe it off and then buff it with a soft dry cloth

Wax and Oil Regularly

When the wooden furniture ages, it may begin to lose its shine. Regular waxing and oiling of your wooden furniture helps retain its charm and also prevents it from getting damaged. However, if you are doing it yourself then it is important to do it correctly.

How to polish your wooden furniture correctly?

• Make sure your furniture is dust-free

• Avoid using too much product as it can result in build-up

• After applying the product, buff it well for sure

• Be patient, polishing may take time

Furniture lovers struggle to maintain wooden furniture. The more regular you are with your routine wooden furniture maintenance, the more it becomes easier to maintain it in the long term. If you are planning to purchase wooden furniture, ensure you ask for maintenance tips.