Hardwood Furniture | Cleaning and Care
How Do I Take Care Of My New Table Set?
That's probably the number one question we get asked after delivery. The short answer is "just use common sense." That includes:
- Avoiding harsh chemicals
- Using a damp or soapy cloth to wipe clean
- Polishing ONLY occasionally to avoid wax buildup
- Using trivets or mats that will not collect moisture for hot pans and pizza boxes
General Wood Furniture Maintenance
- Coasters - not needed, but will extend the life of the lacquer finish. You don't have to be crazy about a coaster, but hot coffee and ice cold glasses that sweat will wear on the finish over extended periods of time.
- Writing - do not write directly on a piece of paper in contact with the wood. Softer woods or woods that are clear and free of grain will show heavy pen marking. Use some sort of buffer, especially on cherry, ambrosia maple, and walnut wood.
- Place away from heating vents and fireplaces. The dry heat can cause seasonal splits.
- Sunlight and light in general causes aging. Aging is when the inherent wood tone comes out, and it can show through the stain. This can change or darken the color and undertone of your furniture. NO need to panic. You aren't going to wake up one day and be blown away by the change in color. Besides not all aging is noticeable, and it happens gradually. Cherry wood is most affected by aging.
- Because of aging - Do not leave table runners, place mats, or any kind of table decor on cherry tables for long periods of time. The area not covered will continue to age, while the covered area will not - not pretty!
Help - I didn't follow the rules above, or have and old table to refinish
Anyone who has one of our tables, and they want to know the best way to repair it should contact their local Sherwin Williams store. Tell them your issue, and that we use their oil based stains, and their pre-catalyzed lacquer. They should recommend compatible touch up techniques.
The only sure way we know to repair a table is to sand and refinish it, and/or split and re-glue it. Short of that, here are some great online resources for common repair issues. Note: I have not tried these myself, but I wanted to help you get a start!
- White rings - https://www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/cleaning-and-disinfectants/furniture-polish/1369651
- Scratches - https://www.thisoldhouse.com/furniture/21017996/how-to-fix-a-furniture-finish
- Products - https://artltdmag.com/best-furniture-touch-up-markers/
Fell free to share your favorite repair hack, and let everyone know what worked for you in the comments!