How to Properly Care for Your Wood Furniture

Good wood furniture can be a major investment. If you care for it properly, you can keep the finish looking like new and have great-looking furniture that lasts a lifetime.
Before getting into the basics of furniture care, you should understand what the common problems facing furniture are. Humidity can be a major problem. If it is too low, wood can shrink as it loses moisture; if it is too high, wood will swell. Extremes in either direction can lead to cracking, splitting and warping. Heat can create white spots in furniture finish through chemical changes. Be very careful to keep hot items away from your wood surfaces.
Liquids can likewise damage the finish, so be sure to always use coasters and immediately wipe away spills. Sunlight is another problem for wood furniture, causing finish to fade with too much exposure. Be sure to keep furniture protected by arranging it in areas out of direct sunlight and using drapes and blinds where necessary.
The next thing to consider when caring for your wood furniture is what kind of polish to use. A good polish protects the finish by providing a first line of defense against spills. It also enhances the natural sheen and luster of the wood and finish. There will be cleaning properties in polish that will remove dust and smudges when used. Different types of wood can benefit from different types of polish, so do a bit of research to find out what works best. The American Hardwood Information Center is an excellent source for this kind of information. Here are some tips for using furniture polish.
Spray the surface of the furniture evenly, then wipe with a soft cloth. This will clean off dust and smudges and remove any old polish. Be sure to buff until completely dry for a nice shine. It's easiest to dust trim by spraying the cloth first, then wiping. Be sure to use the same type of polish every time. If you alternate oil and water-based polishes, your finish will begin to look cloudy. Also make sure you use polish every time and never dry dust. Dry dusting can scratch the finish by scraping dust particles along the surface. For the same reason, you should change cloths often, so you are always using a clean one.
It is also important that you never use soap and water on your furniture. The detergents in soap can damage the finish, but the water can also penetrate it and raise the grain of the wood. Another thing you should be sure to never do is use rubber or plastic mats on wood. Most of these mats can soften or stain the finish. A good alternative, if you need to put something underneath an item on the wood surface is felt padding.
If you keep in mind some of the challenges that face wood furniture, and follow the simple instructions above to keep it cleaned and protected, you will enjoy your investment for many years to come.

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