Maintenance tips for your wooden furniture and decor

Learning how to maintain your wooden furniture and decor is essential for ensuring your favourite pieces last a lifetime. There is a vast number of wood cleaners, polishes, and waxes out there, so it can seem incredibly overwhelming when trying find out how to care for your furniture. Caring for wood is simple once you know what type of wood you are working with, and maintaining it takes very little time and effort. At French Knot, we have compiled our most important tips for cleaning, maintaining, and protecting your wooden furniture and decor, so they will remain as beautiful as the day you bought them.

Cleaning Wooden Furniture and Decor

One of the easiest steps in taking care of your wooden furniture and decor is regularly dusting to prevent the build-up of a layer of film. Over time, dust particles can scratch the surface of wood and make them appear dull. Dust at least once a week with a soft, dry cloth or feather duster, always working in the direction of the grain of the wood. Never use all-purpose cleaning sprays on wood unless the furniture has a coating of plastic. For dirtier surfaces, soak a soft cloth in a solution of water and mild dish detergent, wring until almost dry, and wipe down the surface. Be sure to follow this with a cloth dampened with only water to rinse. For built-up grime in hard-to-reach places, gently scrub with a toothbrush. If the furniture or decor piece is waxed or has ornate carvings, use a lambswool duster as this attracts dust very effectively.

Once a year, clean wooden furniture and decor with oil soap that is diluted according to the product label. Apply with a clean cotton cloth, working with the grain. Wipe down after with a dry cloth to remove any leftover moisture.

If your wood furniture or decor has mould growing on it, first remove loose spores with a vacuum cleaner and brush attachment. Then, wipe with a cloth dipped in a solution of water and mild soap or detergent and wrung almost dry.

Occasionally, if left in storage for too long, wood furniture can gain an unpleasant smell. Leave the furniture outside on a warm, dry day, or sprinkle the surface with baking soda to remove bad odours.

Maintaining Your Wooden Furniture and Decor

Wood furniture that is not painted is coated with a layer of wax or polish, to act as a barrier and to reduce surface scratches. Polish evaporates over a shorter time duration, so need to be applied more frequently than wax. Apply the polish to a soft cloth never directly to the surface and rub it into the wood thoroughly. Wax provides a protective coating over the furniture and acts as a moisture barrier. Apply the wax in light coats, rubbing into the surface with the wood grain. If you decide to use polish on your wood pieces, it will need to be reapplied every six weeks. If you are using wax instead, reapply every six months.

For minor nicks and scratches, apply a scratch cover product as soon as possible. Over time, the colour of wood will fade due to factors such as sun exposure. When you notice that the finish of the wood needs to be restored, use a finish-restoring product to restore the original colour and lustre to the wood finish.

Preventing Damage to Wooden Furniture and Decor

The best way to care for your wooden furniture and decor is by preventing any future damage. Avoid placing these pieces in direct sunlight or heat, or in places where it can get wet, as this will degrade the wood over time. Use coasters for glasses and a tablecloth to protect surfaces from stains. Wipe spills as soon as they occur, and repair chips or scratches as quickly as possible, to keep your wood decor and furniture looking new for years to come.

By using these tips, caring for and maintaining your wooden furniture and decor pieces will become a simple and worry-free process, and will leave you with beautiful wooden pieces that truly last. Discover French Knots range of Furniture for more design inspiration.