Wood Care Information

 

Caring for your furniture

Below we have compiled a general list of points on how best to care for your furniture that you have purchased from Oak Furniture Solutions. Please be aware that different finishes require different approaches to care and that these instructions are guidelines only. Should you require specific information on caring for items from particular Oak Furniture Solutions ranges, please contact us by email.

Where to place your furniture:

Avoid placing your furniture too close to radiators or other sources of heat, as extreme temperatures can trigger slight movement in the timber and dry the timber.
You should also avoid exposing the furniture to high humidity, and ensure that the furniture has adequate ventilation at all times.
Bright lights may also have an effect on the colour of the wood – this is perfectly normal, though we do recommend against placing your furniture under any very bright or hot lights.
We also suggest that lamps and other decorative items kept on the surface of the piece should be moved periodically to ensure that the entire surface remains in its optimum condition and to ensure that the colouration of the furniture matures evenly and uniformly.
Any spillages should be cleared up as quickly as possible, ensuring that the affected area is completely dry afterwards.
Do not drag the furniture to move it as this can cause damage to the timber. Please always ensure that you have somebody to help when lifting heavy furniture.

Maintaining the finish

If you are unsure of the finish of your furniture, please check with us prior to carrying out any of the maintainance guidelines below as these instructions are specific to the respective finishes and incorrect after-care may result in accidental damage to the finish of your furniture.

For items with an oil finish:

Contrary to popular belief, oil finishes are easy to care for, and can simply be wiped clean using a damp, lint-free cloth. Always wipe in the direction of the grain.

You should look to re-oil items with an oiled finish furniture periodically, around every three to six months as you see fit, as otherwise the colour may begin to look dull and the surface may become dry. The entire piece should be oiled, using the type of oil recommended for the particular range in question, applied with a dry lint-free cloth. Apply oil to the cloth and gently work the oil into the surface in the direction of the grain. Leave the item to stand for ten minutes and wipe the entire item down with a clean, dry lint-free cloth to remove any residual oil.

Oil finishes are water-resistant, but susceptible to staining from some oil-based products. As such all spillages should be wiped immediately using a damp, lint-free cloth until the spillage is entirely removed from the surface of the furniture.

If the surface becomes scratched or damaged on items with an oil finish this can be easily restored by gently removing the scratches using a piece of wire wool or very fine sandpaper, working in the direction of the grain. Then the entire item should then be re-oiled, applying oil more generously to the affected area.

 

For items with a lacquer finish:

 

Lacquer is the most common type of finish used for furniture due to the particular ease of care. All items with a lacquer finish can be cleaned easily by wiping with a damp, lint-free cloth. For polishing, we recommend that only silicon-free polishes are used, to be applied using a dry, lint-free cloth. Always wipe in the direction of the grain.

Should any item with a lacquer finish become scratched or mark, do NOT attempt to remedy the scratch yourself, but seek the advice of a professional polisher.

 

For items with a wax finish:

 

Items of furniture with a wax finish should be rewaxed periodically as you see fit. The entire piece should be waxed, using the type of wax recommended for the particular range in question, applied with a dry lint-free cloth. Apply the wax to the cloth and gently work the wax into the surface in the direction of the grain. Leave the item to stand for ten minutes and wipe the entire item down with a clean, dry lint-free cloth to remove any residual wax.

 

Please note that these are guidelines only. We recommend any customers who are unsure of how to care for their furniture purchased from Oak Furniture Solutions to contact us by email and we will happily provide range-specific care instructions as recommended by the manufacturer.

NB: Oak Furniture Solutions do not accept any responsibility for any damage caused to furniture by the following of these guidelines. These guidelines are provided as informed suggestions only and are written as general notes for customers. Customers seeking professional, specific after-care advice should either contact us directly or a professional polisher or furniture restorer.