Wood is a natural and durable material; it’s still alive even after it has been turned into furniture. It’s sensitive to temperature changes and humidity. Wood draws us in with its authenticity; making each piece of furniture unique with its knots, grains, textures and finishes. So to maintain and care for it, as well as get rid of those awful stains before your Airbnb & co guests arrive, here are some good care methods to adopt. List of age-old tips and homemade recipes…

 

Short Reminder:

  • To avoid ruining the wood’s finish, you should try not to expose wood and veneer furniture to direct sunlight. If the setup in your room doesn’t allow for that, don’t have any objects on the surface for the first two months to avoid leaving marks.
  • Try using plate mats and coasters for hot objects. However, we don’t recommend using cork coasters because they let humidity pass through.
  • Avoid covering your wood furniture for over 12 hours straight with airtight materials like plastic or wax cloth. Wood needs to breathe.
  • Never place wet objects on your wood furniture. Water is its enemy, so make sure to clean spilled liquids up immediately.

 

Varnished Wood Furniture

  • For regular care, dust with a soft cloth, or with a duster. If the furniture is too dusty, go over it with a non-abrasive damp sponge and dry it off with dry lint free cloth.
  • Every two months, lightly clean it with a cloth dipped in soapy water, and quickly wipe it off with a dry cloth.
  • To remove surface stains, rub the stain in the direction of the grain with a cloth dipped in mineral essence.
  • To remove a white stain left by a hot object, mix ashes (fireplace, cigarette, etc.) with olive oil and rub it in with a cloth in a circular motion. A mix of olive oil and rubbing alcohol could also do the trick.
  • For a coffee or alcohol stain, dab it with a cloth dipped in a mixture of one tablespoon of olive oil, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and one teaspoon of turpentine. Polish with a microfiber or silk cloth.
  • For oil stains, rub with a soft cloth dipped in cold tea or turpentine essence. You can also use some special soap "savon de Marseille."
  • For ink stains, rub with a slice of lemon and wipe off with a damp cloth.
  • For melted candle wax, remove the excess with a spatula and rub with a cloth dipped in hot water or
  • If your furniture has a satin or gloss varnish, restore luster with a silicon-based aerosol cleaning product.

Living room with dark furniture in wood and a white sofa© Maisons du monde

 

Painted or Lacquered Wood

  • For regular care, dust with a damp cloth, followed by a dry cloth, soft and lint free.
  • Avoid using anything abrasive that could scratch the paint or the lacquer.
  • To remove stains from modern lacquered wood, use a cloth dipped in soapy water and rub in a circular motion. You can also use a pencil eraser.
  • For old lacquered wood remove stubborn stains with a cloth dipped in a paste made of 1/3 linseed oil, 1/3 turpentine essence and 1/3 flour, rubbing it in a circular motion. For super stubborn stains, use a cloth dampened with cleaning clay.

Tv furniture in white lacquered wood© Alinea

 

Polished Wood Furniture

  • For regular care, dust with a dry cloth. Once or twice a week, you can do a more thorough dusting with an aerosol cleaning product.
  • Once or twice a year, wax the furniture with a mix of beeswax. Let it dry and rub it with a dry wool cloth to make it shine.
  • When the wood has been waxed too many times, it becomes slightly greasy to the touch. To remove the grease, apply some turpentine essence with a cork, for example. When that’s finished, wax the wood again.
  • For alcohol, coffee or tea stains, start by using soapy cold water. If that doesn’t work, you have to sand it down, dust it off, polish it and wax it.
  • For oil stains, use a mixture of China clay and White-Spirit. Dry and brush.

Polished wood sideboard with a lamp and a painting© Maisons du monde

 

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