Furniture
Facts
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Topic: Genuine Harwood Furniture Care
Don't Accept Synthetic Substitutes
Solid hardwood tables have many synthetic substitutes, but don't accept them. Solid hardwoods have become the standard in top quality home furnishings, especially dining room tables. What you think may look like a solid hardwood table may very well be a cheap, synthetic substitute so be sure to ask questions. Take a critical look at all aspects of the table. Artificial wood substitutes will never look quite as authentic, won't hold screws as well nor will they bear the shocks, stresses, or loads of the daily life of your table.
Solid wood means that each part is made of genuine hardwood lumber and nothing else. "All wood" is often counterfeit and is the term used to describe thin slices of veneer bonded to composite boards or plywood.
Artificial laminates are surfaces made of plastic or other synthetic materials bonded to composite boards. Often, this veneer is printed with wood images.
Terms such as "Oak Finish" may refer to the color of the wood pattern printed on the artificial surface, but it does not mean that the table is authentic hardwood.
The beauty of solid hardwood is much more than "skin deep". Neither synthetic nor engineered, it comes from nature - the simplest and most reliable of origins.
Care of Solid Wood Tables
If cared for properly, your solid hardwood table can give you a lifetime of service and beauty. Here are several care tips that will enhance your solid hardwood table investment:
- Place your table away from radiators, fireplaces, and heating ducts.
- Position table out of direct sunlight or adjust blinds to avoid hour after hour of direct sunlight.
- Control humidity to 40-45%. In winter, use a humidifier and in summer, use a dehumidifier or air conditioner.
- Use coasters with non-scratching bottoms.
- Use padding under all sharp, hot, or cold objects.
- Store table leaves in close proximity to the table or in the same humidity - avoid storing leaves in damp basements where the leaves may swell.
- Avoid using nail polish remover, alcohol, and other solvents near or on the table.
- Ask your retailer about manufacturer-provided finishes that resist damage from harmful liquids and objects.
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Routine Cleaning and Care
DUST CAREFULLY with a soft cloth, following the grain pattern of the wood. Use an old t-shirt, baby diaper, or cheesecloth that has been laundered to remove the sizing.
DUST OFTEN to remove everyday abrasive particles from wood surfaces.
CONSIDER CLEANING with a mild non-alkaline soap and water. Use the suds in a damp sponge or cloth, but be sure to pre-test the solution on an out-of-sight section to make sure it doesn't damage the finish. Dry immediately with a soft cloth and buff lightly, remembering to follow the grain.
DON'T WAX or use any polish that contains any silicones. Catalyzed heat and moisture resistant finishes don't need additional polish, but if you want to use polish, we recommend Guardsman Furniture Polish.
Table First Aid
Here are some common problems and ways for you to correct them. With all of these solutions, try a small area first to assure that the remedy doesn't damage the finish.
WATER MARKS & RINGS. Rings are often in the wax, not the finish. Cover the stain with a clean, thick blotter, press down with a warm iron, and repeat. Or try rubbing with salad oil, mayonnaise, or white toothpaste. Then, wipe dry.
WHITE MARKS. Rub with a cloth dipped in a mixture of cigarette ashes and lemon juice or salad oil. Or rub with a cloth dipped in lighter fluid, followed by a mixture of rottenstone and salad oil. Wipe dry.
MILK OR ALCOHOL. Rub in a paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone with the grain, substituting pumice for dull finishes. Or rub with ammonia on a dampened cloth. Then, wipe dry.
CIGARETTE BURNS. Minor burns can be remedied by rubbing with scratch-concealing polish or with a paste of linseed oil and rottenstone, working with the grain until the burn mark disappears.
HEAT MARKS. Rub gently along the grain using a dry steel wool soap pad, extra fine (0000) steel wool, or a cloth dampened with camphorated oil or mineral spirits.
NAIL POLISH. Blot the spill immediately. Then, rub with fine steel wool (0) dipped in Guardsman Furniture Polish. Wipe dry.
PAINT MARKS. If fresh, remove latex paint with water and oil-based paint with mineral spirits. If dry, soak spot in boiled linseed oil, wait until paint softens and then, lift carefully with a putty knife or wipe with cloth dampened with boiled linseed oil. Residue can be removed by rubbing along the grain with a paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone. Wipe dry.
STICKING PAPER. Dampen the paper thoroughly with salad oil, wait five minutes, and then, rub along the grain with extra fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe dry.
WAX OR GUM. Harden the substance by holding an ice cube wrapped in a cloth against it. Pry off with a fingernail. Rub the area with extra fine (0000) steel wool dipped in mineral spirits. Wipe dry.
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