Wood Care

If you have any questions regarding product care, please contact us.

Wood Characteristic

Each tree, piece of lumber and individual board of wood are unique.  As such, the natural grain variations and color will cause the wood to react differently to a finish.  It is common to have contrasts in the same piece of furniture, even when all the material came from a single plant.  Mineral streaks, pitch pockets, knots, small pits, etc. are natural and in no way affect the furniture’s durability or integrity and are not considered defects.  House Deco cannot guarantee boards free from these naturally occurring conditions.

The wood in furniture and throughout your house continues to exchange moisture with the air as it responds to climatic changes in your home.  It responds to extremely dry air by losing moisture and shrinking a bit.  This will correct itself as the relative humidity rises and the wood absorbs enough moisture to expand slightly.  Seasonal wood movement on solid wood products is normal and not considered a warranty issue.  These natural changes do not affect the furniture’s quality or sturdiness.

Wood furniture is best maintained at a temperature of between 20 and 23 degrees Celcius, with a relative humidity between 40 and 45 percent.  This may require the use of humidifiers, dehumidifiers and / or heating / air conditioning depending on the season.  Follow manufacturer’s recommendations when using these systems.  Avoid placing fine wood furniture near heating or air-conditioning outlets. If this is impractical, use a shield or guard to direct the air flow away.  Exposure to extreme temperature and / or humidity variations can damage any fine wood pieces, including variations caused by humidifiers, radiators, fireplaces, or space heaters.  Your furniture can best handle variations that happen gradually.  Abrupt changes increase the risk of potential damage.

Do not store furniture in damp basements, hot attics or other locations where conditions may deviate from those listed above.  Allow for plenty of air movement around the furniture and do not stack it or other items directly on its surface.   Do not stand pieces on their sides, ends or invert or leave covered for prolonged periods of time.  We recommend keeping the doors of your furniture closed when not in use.

Do not expose indoor furniture to continuous direct sunlight.  With extended exposure, ultraviolet rays can create hairline cracks in the finish or cause fading or darkening.  We recommend arranging furnishings away from direct sunlight and / or using window treatments to block the sun’s rays.  Uniformly expose surfaces to light.  Avoid only allowing light to hit part of the surface.  This may cause uneven fading.  Occasionally move lamps, doilies and other objects for more uniform exposure.  Please note that some wood species darken naturally with age.  Such darkening is not considered a quality defect.  This effect is particularly noticeable on light or painted finishes.

Don’t put anything hot or cold directly on wood furniture.

Don’t place handbags on wood surfaces for extended periods of time, whether natural leather or man-made materials.

Use non-synthetic doilies or felt pads under lamps and accessories.  Use a protective pad when writing and coasters ?under hot and cold beverages.

Protect the surface when working with items that could stain or damage the wood, such as crayons, markers and glue.

Nail polish remover, hair spray, perfume and potpourri (and any other products that contain solvents) can damage ?wood finishes.  Do not place these products directly on a wood surface and avoid using them near any wood furniture.

Avoid excessive scratching by lifting objects instead of dragging them across wood surfaces.  This is especially ?important with ceramics that have rough surfaces on the underside.

Be careful to avoid unnecessary or localized rubbing on matte or low-sheen finishes as this can cause uneven shine.  ?Through normal use, matte and low-sheen finishes tend to develop an overall increased sheen level.  This is not ?considered a quality defect.

Don’t leave newspapers or magazines on the surface as the ink can bleed into the finish.

Clean up spills immediately.  Use a blotting rather than a wiping action.

Dust is abrasive, so infrequent or improper dusting can create a worn, dull surface over time.  Dust will also accumulate in joints, cracks and grooves and become hard to remove.  We recommend weekly dusting.  Use a clean, soft, washable, lint-free cloth, such as an old white cotton T-shirt or cotton baby diaper.  Avoid sponges, dishcloths and fabrics with coarse stitching or embroidery.  Do not use feather dusters.  They are not washable and will rub trapped particles from past use.  Feathers easily break off letting exposed quills scratch the surface.

Moisten the cloth slightly by sprinkling with a few drops of water to help dust adhere to it.  This also reduces friction and is less likely to create scratches.  Do not let any moisture remain on the wood surface.  If you see traces of water after you wipe, your cloth is too damp.  Wipe using gentle strokes while following the direction of the grain.  Turn or fold the cloth as soon as dirt is visible on any section.  When dusting, always pick up and replace your accessories gently, do not slide.

Before using any product on your furniture, test a small, inconspicuous area to make sure that your finish won’t ?deteriorate or soften and the product yields the expects results.

Wipe polish or cleaners in the direction of the grain.

Avoid over-polishing.  We recommend no more than four times a year.

Do not use any products that contain silicone. Silicone can damage the finish by softening it, seep through cracks, ?joints, seams, etc. into the wood making repairs difficult or impossible without complete refinishing.  Spray polishes ?should be avoided.  Be aware that many products do not specifically state whether they contain silicone.  Do not use ?any products that can’t be verified to be silicone free.

Avoid products not labeled specifically for wood finish care.

House Deco does not manufacture or endorse any specific brand of furniture care product.  Follow manufacturer’s ?directions and ensure compatibility with any other products you are using.

Remove all knobs, casters, adjustable or loose shelves, accessories, etc. and wrap them separately.

Close and secure all drawers and doors and cover exterior surfaces with a mover’s pad or blanket and tie loosely.

Give corners, edges, projecting details, etc. extra protection with padding or foam.

Screw levelers all the way in before moving.

Lift all furniture.  Sliding and dragging can cause excessive side loading, damage floors, etc

Prepare your path before moving.  Check dimensions on doorway openings, stairs, hallways, elevators, etc.

Have plenty of help.  The size and shape of relatively light furniture can make moving it very awkward.  Heavy furniture ?compounds the problem.

Slowly acclimate your furniture to its new location by leaving it covered for several hours or overnight if possible.

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