Today there are many new materials used in interior design, but still cannot replace wood because of the elegance and class that it brings. But whether it is natural wood or industrial wood or the best level, after a period of use it will still be scratched, moldy …
Therefore, for office furniture and your home furniture to be as durable as new, try applying the following 11 steps in preserving wooden furniture.
1. Clean
How to clean wood furniture properly?
To clean and preserve wood furniture, use a little warm water mixed with soap. Water will not damage wood as long as you do not soak them in water. A soft and old toothbrush can be used to scrub the edges of furniture that soft towels do not clean thoroughly. First, Clean the dirt with a soft, damp cloth or with some absorbent paper, then wipe it again with another dry cloth.
2. Polished
The best way to protect wood items is that after cleaning, you should use soft wax. You apply a thin layer of wax to the wood surface according to the instructions for use. Wait about 5 minutes and gently wipe with a cloth or a shoe brush. Wait another 30 minutes to 60 minutes, then clean or brush again with a bit more force. You will see a shiny and beautiful wood surface. This polished surface layer can exist for several months.
3. Avoid sun exposure
The temperature of the summer sun, especially in the North, will “cook” furniture, causing them to spoil and fade. Your furniture will shrink and create cracks. The same thing happens if you place furniture near a heating area, stove, vent.
4. Quick fix
To quickly fix small errors in furniture, you can rely on a shoe polish box to cover the scratches, especially the marks on the furniture legs.
5. Humidity
Humidity from 40 to 45% is suitable for all kinds of furniture. Any moisture lower than this can cause wood cracking while high humidity will cause them to blister. It’s best to use a dehumidifier in humid weather like in the North.
6. Polishing metal parts
For wooden furniture that has metal (e.g., table legs), when you want shined this metal part, you should disassemble it. The best way is to take a picture before removing it to make sure you remember the original mounting position.
Use metal polish or wood polishing products to clean, then reassemble carefully to avoid scratching the wood surface. This job sometimes requires a lot of time and caution when doing it; you should not be too hot-headed to complete it in a short time.
7. Wood is not hungry
You do not need feedings wood. The ads say that oil and polish will help your furniture better and extend the shelf life, but when the woodwork has been finished, that means it is protected and “sealed.” Polishes and oils cannot penetrate anymore.
8. Remove white streaks
There are several ways to remove blurred white lines on the wood surface caused by leaving a cup of coffee or a hot plate of food. Use a toothpaste mixed with baking soda or cooking oil mixed with ash and rub it with your fingers or use a soft cloth if the white stain surface is wide.
Another very effective way is to use a soft towel to put on the white stain and take the iron to iron it for about 10 to 20 seconds with medium heat. Moving the table is continuous and checks the white spot’s degree of blurring.
9. Experience in buying furniture
When buying new furniture or antique furniture, look at the back, inside and below of the item and drawers. These positions can tell you the actual quality of the thing rather than what the seller shows.
10. Restore or renew antique furniture
Restoring antique furniture may seem like a good idea. But to do this, you should consult advice from people with real knowledge. You should only clean your valuables, and other works should be reserved for professionals.
11. Wipe dust regularly
Tiny dust particles look harmless, but when they accumulate enough, it can cause the furniture surface to be scratched. Therefore, you should clean the dust at least once a week with soft, moist, lint-free cloths. Avoid using dust polishing products as it may contain silicon that will seep into the wood and damage it.
Looking after furniture is not difficult if you know how to preserve it regularly in simple ways like in this article. Let’s try it now