Caring for your Wood Furniture By BatSheva Vaknin
There is nothing like wood furniture to add elegance and beauty
to a home. Whether it is a thick, all-natural butchers block
table, an Art Deco wooden dresser, a simple mahogany dining room
table or a sleek, modern coffee table, wood furniture is a
staple in homes across America and the world. Make sure your
wood tables, vanities and dressers stay gorgeous for generations
to come with these simple solutions and guidelines. Stain,
Stain, Go Away! Ever gasped after a child inadvertently left a
giant scratch in the surface of your dining room table? Or
cringed when a well-meaning adult accidentally knocked over a
drink onto your beautiful wood coffee table? Well, fear not. One
of the best attributes of wood furniture is that it is simple to
touch up or renew its original luster.
Small nicks and scratches can usually be disguised with the help
of a store-bought scratch cover product. For larger scratches,
try using a felt tip pen or shoe polish in a color closely
matched to the finish of the furniture piece. Shoe polish
applicator bottles filled with the stain work well for the
cover-up job, as do Sharpie markers. Coloring in the scratch is
easy and surprisingly effective.
Get rid of pesky water spots on your wood furniture by allowing
the spots to dry completely, then rubbing real mayonnaise onto
it with a soft cloth, until the spots disappear. Erase color
rings left on tables by cups and glasses with a homemade mixture
of cigarette ashes and cooking oil. Prep the stain first by
scrubbing it with an abrasive pad or sandpaper. Then, rub the
oil and ash concoction into the wood.
And what about candle wax, marring the beautiful finish of your
wood dining room table? Wait until the wax cools, then apply
ice. Once the wax becomes extremely hard and brittle, gently
scrape it off with a plastic spatula. Finally, polish the table
with a rich cream polish, and buff away any residue.
Remove or Disguise Scratches and Stains
Problem: Solution: Nicks, Scratches Magic Marker or Shoe
Polish Water Spots Mayonnaise Color Rings Sandpaper, Ashes and
Oil Wax Ice An Ounce of Prevention, a Lifetime of Protection
Prevent serious damage to your wood furniture by taking care not
to position it in direct sunlight. Unless you are going for the
weathered picnic table look, shield all wood furniture from the
drying influence of the sun. Also, protect your dining room
table's finish using an inexpensive table pad when the table is
not in use.
When eating a meal or entertaining guests, use a tablecloth or
placemats to protect the finish of a wood table, especially when
serving hot food. Place hot serving dishes atop a hot pad and
candle holders over a large felt protector with a plastic top,
since plastic prevents wax from running.
Use coasters beneath all glasses and mugs to protect your coffee
table, dining room table and wood dressers from unsightly rings
and water spots. Beware, because not all coasters are created
equal. Metal coasters can sweat onto the wood, and plastic
coasters can react with certain finishes on some wood furniture
pieces. So consider choosing wooden coasters with felt backing
and a waterproof material on top to further ensure the longevity
of your wood table tops. The best coasters are those that taper
up on the sides, preventing leakage.
Protect Your Wood Tables from Damage
Protect From: With: General Harm Table Pad (when not in use)
Sun Damage Location out of Direct line of Sun Heat Damage
Tablecloths, Placemats, Hot Pads Wax Felt Protector with
Plastic Top Water Damage Wood Coasters with Felt Bottom and
Waterproof top Proper Care and Cleaning Polishing wood furniture
every week goes a long way toward protecting the finish from
damage and helping your wood tables, chairs and dressers look
their best. Beware, though, of cheap polishes, or any polish
that contains silicone or alcohol. Alcohol can do permanent
damage to a wood surface, as can any household cleaner that
contains ammonia. An excellent polish can be easily made at
home, by combining lemon oil with 3 parts olive oil.
Now that you know about polishes, don't forget to clean your
wood furniture as well. Regular cleaning is especially important
for coffee tables and dining room tables where food and drink
are daily staples. Use a very mild soap, such as a diluted
mixture of hand soap and water, as a cleaning agent for your
wood furniture. And if you really want to ensure your dining
room table or heirloom wood desk stays beautiful, have your wood
furniture buffed and polished by a professional service once or
twice a year.
Make Your Own Polish and Cleaning Agents
Type: Mixture: Homemade Wood Furniture Polish = 1 part
Lemon Oil + 3 parts Olive Oil Homemade Wood Furniture Cleaner
= Hand Soap + Water *Stay away from Alcohols and Ammonias
Now you are fully armed to properly care for your wood
furniture. And don't be disheartened if you are unable to make a
nick or small stain disappear completely. Signs of use can add
character to a piece of wood furniture, and are often barely
noticeable. Whether it is a dresser, coffee table, bookshelf,
desk, or dining room table, wood furniture is the perfect
addition to any home. Please find the original article and more
information about this subject at
http://www.homeandliving.com/DesignAdvice.aspx?Category=WoodCare
When Yale graduate, BatSheva Vaknin is not writing helpful and
insightful articles like the one you just read for
www.homeandliving.com, she writes plays, screenplays and short
stories. In fact, she has just completed her first novel.
If you would like to publish this article on your own site,
please feel free to do so. Please let us know the URL of the
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author information, this disclaimer and the following link. Find
great home furniture online at www.homeandliving.com...
About the author:
When Yale graduate, BatSheva Vaknin is not writing helpful and
insightful articles like the one you just read for
www.homeandliving.com, she writes plays, screenplays and short
stories. In fact, she has just completed her first novel.
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