Wooden furniture is loved for its enticing colors and patterns, offering at least a bit of a connection with Mother Nature. Also, if you look after of your wooden furniture then it can last you for many generations. Therefore regular maintenance is necessary otherwise it is not going to last at all.

Attention on a everyday basis

Every kind of wooden furniture starts with the same basic attention. Let’s start by making it perfectly clear that wood and humidity do NOT go together. Therefore, don’t use wet rags for cleaning, instead use a soft cloth or vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Keep the wooden furniture dry at all times by removing any wet patches or spills. Only ever place furniture in areas that have a reasonably stable temperature and where the humidity is neither high nor low. In the same vein, putting your antique table next to the heater is not the best idea.

After humidity, the sun is another big foe of wood. Color fading in wood is generally induced by exposure to uninterrupted sunlight. Although you won’t notice the damage right away, long term this damage is often permanent. Hot items can cause instantaneous damage, so avoid putting items such a hot crockery, lights and other such bits on it. Protection in the form of cork mats is something that your need to purchase – avoid mats made of plastic and rubber substances as these can ruin the surface. Scratches can appear from ornaments so place a mat beneath them, as well as using them to put under any hot items.

Different types of wood veneers

More detailed care has to be based on the type of veneer is used on your furniture, since every kind reacts in a different way. Usually, we can categorize three basic sorts of finishing – soft (oiled), hard (polyurethane, varnish, shellac or lacquer) or painted. Not all finishes on wood are clear to determine, though painted wood is very easy to perceive.

Happily, there is a clear test to help you: Lightly rub few drops of linseed into the surface (naturally, choose some discreet spot). An oiled or soft coating will soak up the linseed. If the wood doesnt soak up the linseed then try a little drop of acetone. While polyurethane casts off acetone like water, lacquer dissolves in seconds. If you see neither of these reactions and the acetone turns viscous then the finish is either a varnish or shellac. Varnish will respond much more sluggishly if a few drops of alcohol are deposited over the area, so determining whether the finish is varnish or shellac.

Look out for the next article in wood furniture maintenance where we will scrutinize these different types of finishes.

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