5 Expert Tips For Wood Furniture Care

Good-quality, solid-wood furniture is an investment, one that you want to use and enjoy while also keeping it in good shape. To do that, it’s important that you follow a few easy tips for wood care. When you take care of your wood furniture properly, there’s a very good chance it will last long enough to become a family heirloom. The good news is, wood furniture care isn’t hard once you know how to do it. Here are our 5 expert tips for wood furniture care.

1) Be Careful Where You Put It

The natural woods used in solid wood furniture are sensitive to temperature changes. If you place your furniture in a cold draft, right by a heating vent, or in direct sunlight it can warp the wood. To keep the wood in good shape, locate your furniture away from heating and cooling vents. If there are lots of windows in the room, put up curtains to shade the wood from direct sunlight.

2) Clean It Regularly

Did you know dust can actually scratch wood furniture? If you let the dust particles build up, they can leave little scratches and marks in the wood finish. To keep this from happening, all you have to do is wipe down the furniture with a soft cloth about once a week. You can use a damp or dry cloth. Just make sure that you wipe in the direction of the wood grain and that you dry it off afterward if you use a damp cloth.

3) Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals

Most of the time when you need to clean your wood furniture, a soft dry cloth will do the trick. You can also use a cloth damp with clean water or a mild solution of dish soap. You’ll want to avoid most wood-cleaners, especial if they’re silicone- or ammonia-based. Instead, invest in a high-quality wax-based furniture polish. We recommend using Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner about once a month.

4) Protect The Surface

You don’t have to keep the table’s surface covered all the time. After all – one reason you probably bought this furniture is that you like the look of the wood. But you should use coasters, hot pads, trivets, mats, etc. to protect the wood’s surface from hot pots and pans or cold drinks. You don’t want the wood damaged by temperature changes, moisture, or with scratches.

5) Manage Humidity

Much like temperature changes can warp wood, so can extremes in humidity. A humidity level of 40 to 45 percent is ideal. Running a humidifier when the air is dry will keep the wood from drying out and shrinking. In some climates, you might need to run a dehumidifier or air conditioner during the warm, humid months to keep the wood from swelling and warping.

If you’re looking to purchase a high-quality wood furniture piece, Rustic+Modern is the place to go. We’ll work with you to create the perfect custom piece that’s the right size, wood, and style for what you want. Contact us today to learn more or get started with an order.