Tips in Making Your Wooden Furniture in its Prime Shape

Wooden furniture adds glamour to otherwise boring home set-up. But because it is wood, natural cracks and decay is inevitable. Nevertheless, proper care of your wooden furniture should last you a lifetime. Here are some tips in ensuring that it retains its form, sheen and shape.

• Here’s the real deal: It is OK to clean your wooden furniture with water—as long as you don’t soak it.  You should also use warm water and mild soap as well as tool toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas.  Wipe the dirt off with soft clean cloths and gently dry it off with a soft and dry cloth.
• To maintain its sheen and finish, use a good quality soft past wax. Apply it as directed in the label and wait five minutes before you buff it with a cloth or shoe brush. Again, wait for another 30 to 60 minutes before you brush it again thoroughly. The result will be shiner furniture that should last for months.
• Wooden furniture should be kept out of the sun, unless the manufacturer intended it for outside use. The hot summer sun can cook the finish and can dry out and shrink the wood which, eventually can cause cracks.
• Don’t place your wooden furniture near heating vents because dry heat will cause it to shrink overtime. In drier months, use a humidifier to increase the moisture level.
• If you want to polish metal hardware, take it off the furniture first but remember where it belongs. Use a good quality metal polish to buff it.
• Frustrated with coffee stains on your wooden furniture? Don’t be. The easiest way to remove it is to rub it with mild abrasive like a non-gel toothpaste combined with baking soda or cooking oil mixed with ashes. Rub it in the furniture with your finger or a soft cloth.
• For new furniture, Sydney Cheap Storage recommends that you leave the drawers empty and open it for at least 24 hours so that the oil will dry completely and the remaining odor form the oil to dissipate. Let the furniture breath.
• When moving heavy furniture, LIFT it. DO NOT DRAG it as it only not cause damage to the joints but to your floor as well.
• Older or antique wooden pieces should be handled with care. Consult with your local antiques handler so that they can clean it properly. Additionally, any extensive work should be left to the professionals.

Please remember that furniture cleaning depends on type of furnishing and material. Some methods may not be applicable to your fittings. SCS is available for storage concerns. Call us for assessment and other storage concerns.