Care & Maintenance of Wood Furniture
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Keep the wood clean. Dust your furniture with a lint-free cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Do this often as dust if left can have an abrasive effect on your furniture
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Use a dab of mild/diluted oil soap on your cloth when tackling more stubborn marks caused by food and drink. Make sure you dry the surface well afterwards. Followed by an application of Howard Feed-N-Wax or Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax.
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Spills should be immediately wiped up with a damp cloth. If left on a wood veneer, liquids can seep through and loosen the glue from the surface. Don’t use a sponge as this will spread the liquid. Instead, use a paper towel or a clean dishcloth.
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Twice a year, apply a good quality furniture polish with a soft cloth. Do not use aerosol-powered cleaners, polishes or any kind of abrasive cleanser or cloth
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Only apply oil when the product looks dry, solid woods can be polished a couple of times a year or when you feel the furniture is dry and needs it. We suggest a dab of Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax or Howard Feed-N-Wax. It is an easy-to-use beeswax and orange oil mixture that helps maintain the luster the oil finish produces. Use sparingly, a little goes a long way.
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Tip: An old rule of thumb to attain the richest and longest lasting sheen is to apply your polish or oil (including Howard Feed-N-Wax) once a day for a week, then once a week for a month, then once a month for a year, then once a year for life!
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Do not use wax polishes on your furniture surfaces that are sealed with high-quality lacquers through which wax will not penetrate. To clean, merely wipe with a soft, damp cloth. For stubborn marks, use a mixture of one part vinegar and two parts water.
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Always use coasters, hot pads, placemats, saucers, etc. under anything placed on a surface. Especially if the object is warm or wet. Wipe up any spills immediately.
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If exposed to direct sunlight over long periods of time, the colour of your wood furniture can fade a little.
General Care:
Teak oil finished pieces need to be re-oiled to replenish drying wood, which brings life back to your piece. Oil as often as you'd like, but typically every few months. If it looks dry, oil her up! We use Danish Oil on most of our pieces, 0000 Steel wool, and a good cloth or industrial paper towels.
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Apply the Danish oil or linseed oil with the steel wool. To do this pour some of the oil onto the piece and lightly spread with the steel wool. Do not rub too hard, or try to force the oil into the wood, it should be applied in a smooth motion WITH the grain to avoid any scratching.
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Leave the oil on the piece for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. DO NOT DO THIS IN THE SUN. The oil should not get tacky to the touch, if it does you will have to clean it off with Mineral Spirits and start the process again.
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Completely wipe the piece down so there is no oil to the touch left. Afterwards, you may see some spotting or sweating which is the oil coming out of the wood simply wipe it down again to get rid of it
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About Our Refinishing Process:
Refinishing the furniture we buy is an important facet of our business.
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Every piece in our inventory is given a full inspection and refurbished, and ultimately delivered to the customer in the same condition we would want the piece to stand in our own home.
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PROCESS DETAILS:
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Sanding
Nearly all the furniture gets a full sanding to remove old finish, minor to moderate surface imperfections, and general build-up from several decades of use.
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Repairs
After sanding or stripping, we make any necessary repairs. This includes cleaning out and re-gluing any loose joints, repairing veneer chips, ensuring all moving parts function smoothly.
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Finish
Finally, we apply multiple coats of high quality oil-based finish to the furniture to re-saturate the wood. We prefer not to use any stains in the refinishing process.
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This furniture has been around for more than 40 years, so some minor wear is to be expected. And if anything stands out to us during our initial inventory intake, we take photos of the worn areas, note the wear in the item description, and price the piece accordingly. However, this is not typical for our inventory. Each piece of furniture that passes through our workshop will function properly and look great for many decades to come, and likely forever.
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FURNITURE CARE:
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Maintenance:
The furniture should be lightly dusted now and then. The sheen can be preserved with application of a product called Howard Feed N Wax or Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax. It can be applied as frequently as you feel necessary, but we use it 3-4 times a year in our home. You simply wipe it on, wait 20 minutes, and wipe away the excess.
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Protection:
Always use coasters, placemats, trivets, etc. Do not drag anything across the wood.
Protect the wood from heat, liquids, and abrasion.
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Treat it well and it will last you a lifetime!
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