Wooden furniture gives your decoration a natural touch and can be easily combined with other materials. In addition, wood is a very valuable material. Because it lives, it grows into a very complex chemical and physical structure that makes each piece unique and full of character. Wood is a classic in furniture. Unfortunately, as an organic material, it is not immune to signs of time, wear and tear.
But don't worry, there are a few tips you can follow to help remedy and make your beautiful furniture look fresh again.
How to clean it
In general, you can dust painted, veneered and solid wooden surfaces with a dry cloth. If there is more dust on your painted furniture, use a soft cloth and a detergent slightly diluted in water. To avoid streaks, wipe with a damp cloth without product and dry the surface with a dry one. For veneered and solid wooden surfaces, use a slightly damp cloth with some product and then wipe it dry. Grainy surfaces such as stained oak or veneer should always be cleaned in the direction of the wood fiber so that no dirt is deposited in the pores.
cleaning supplies
Soapy or vinegar water can often do a good job if you don't soak the wood and just apply it to your cleaning cloth or sponge. Aggressive or abrasive products can attack the wood. Nitro thinners and synthetic resins damage the paint. While it appears obvious that a scouring pad is deteriorating the surface, this can also apply to microfiber fabrics, which can also leave traces of friction. Make sure you choose the right product.
treatment
In general, all wood can be treated in the same way. Types of wood such as walnut, pine or fir are softer than oak or beech. Therefore, make sure that there are no stains or scratches. Solid wood surfaces are more robust than veneered surfaces. Even if you have not paid attention to solid wood or have not properly cared for the surfaces, there is still the possibility to sand or use oil. If you are unsure of how to proceed, this useful guide to caring for solid wood will take a closer look at the details. The most important thing you should do and pay attention to is to maintain your surfaces regularly and carefully.
Dealing with stains
Dried stains can be removed with a soft, damp cloth and a little detergent. If the stain is persistent, try several times before using strong detergents and scouring pads. Always make sure to remove spilled material or sauces immediately. If the veneer is still stained, you can try to remove it with hard foam. Stains on solid wood surfaces can be cleaned with a neutral soap, a sponge and a little water. When the wax of a candle gets on the wood, gently heat it with a hair dryer. Once it's liquid, wipe it off with a cloth, blotting paper, or absorbent paper. The rest of the wax can be cleaned with a towel soaked in vinegar water. Finally, you can dry and oil the surface. Occasionally, originally matt surfaces can become shiny due to wear. In this case, you can simply oil your forest area with matt wood oil. However, the painted surfaces must be repainted by experts.
Dealing with scratches
The first step against scratches, whether with lacquered, veneered or solid wood, is to treat the surface with maintenance oil. Very deep scratches in solid wood surfaces can be sanded. Make sure you oil again afterwards. For veneered surfaces, there are hard waxes in wood tones that can fill in scratches. The paint would burst on solid wood after a while because it reacts differently than veneered or lacquered wood. In the event of unevenness, you can try to place a damp cloth and wipe an iron (not too hot) over it. Thanks to the moisture and heat, the wood fibers reposition themselves and roughly correct the dent.
Oil and care
The oil rate depends on the frequency of use of the furniture. You will often notice when a surface is very dry or looks brittle. It is advisable to oil every three to four months. Use wood oil from supermarkets or wax for harder surfaces. There is a lot to look out for if you want your wooden parts to last. Even the environment affects wood to change its properties! Although varnishes and oils contain UV protection agents, dark woods can sometimes discolor due to constant sun exposure. Walnut surfaces are particularly sensitive. These dark woods should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Unlike UV rays, heat generally creates dryness that can distort or break the wood. If there is only one thing to remember, it is that oiling and maintaining is always good for the wood.
