How To Keep Your Wood Furniture in Good Shape

Wood furniture makes a timeless and charming addition to any room in the house. The natural beauty of wood instantly warms up a space and is versatile enough to go with any interior design style; even through different trends and evolving personal tastes, wood furniture will have a place in your home for decades—sometimes even generations!

To ensure the longevity of your wooden furniture and its ability to weather changes in style, layout, and housing, it must be properly maintained over time. Follow the guide below to help you keep your high-quality wood furniture in good shape so you can make the most of your investment!

Wood Furniture Maintenance

Wood furniture is fairly low-maintenance when it comes to regular care. One thing you do want to work into your regular cleaning routine, though, is dusting. Airborne dust, dirt, and debris that build up can scratch wood finishes over time. Prevent these unsightly and damaging marks by using a soft cloth to remove dust layers about once every or every other week.

Unless you dust every day, removing every speck of dirt or debris that lands on your wood furniture is impossible. Every so often (about once a month or less frequently if you keep up on your dusting), use warm water, mild dish detergent, and a soft cotton cloth to give wood furniture a deeper cleaning. Be sure to avoid all-purpose cleaners, which can damage the finish. Dampen your cloth in the soapy water and wring out most of the moisture. Once clean, gently rinse and dry completely with a soft cotton cloth.

Wood Furniture Protection

Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause wood furniture to dry out, crack, and fade. Keep wood furnishings out of direct sunlight and away from uncovered windows, vents, fireplaces, humidifiers, and other moisture or temperature sources to prevent damage.

It’s important to remember that placing hot or cold dishes on your wood furniture can cause the same type of damage as exposure to the elements. In addition, there is also a risk of staining whenever there is a spill. If you plan on eating or drinking on a wood surface, such as a dining or coffee table, it’s recommended to use coasters, decorative mats, or a tablecloth to prevent stains and moisture damage.

Wood Furniture Repair & Restoration

Remove Stains, Scratches, and Chips as Soon as You Notice Them

Despite your best efforts, sometimes life happens, and you end up with a water ring or dust scratches on your favourite wooden end table. Don’t worry, though; there are a few DIY tricks you can use to make your furniture look as good as new:

• For rings and other moisture stains—mix non-gel toothpaste with baking soda, use a clean rag to rub onto the stain until gone, wipe off and buff with a dry cloth; for darker moisture spots, try blotting with a vinegar-soaked cloth.
• For scratches—smaller scratches that have not penetrated wood can be removed with a coat of scratch cover (pigmented furniture polish), and larger or deeper scratches can be fixed using a touch-up marker; use a marker that matches the colour of your finish to fill in scratches, wipe away excess quickly and repeat until stained scratch is blended, let dry and apply a coat of wax.
• For chips—fill in small chips with a clear coat of nail polish, let dry, then sand them down until it is smooth with the original finish.

Rewax and Re-Oil as Needed

Most wood furniture has a layer of oil and wax that forms a protective coating to keep the wood from drying out and give it a natural-looking shine. Over the years, you may notice your wood furniture start to dull or appear dried out. If this happens, you can reapply the oil and wax coatings to restore your furnishings. Start by cleaning the furniture, then go over the surface with steel wool and wipe it with a soft cloth to make it as smooth as possible. Once prepared, coat the piece with the wax or oil (be sure to use products specifically made for wood furniture), wipe off any excess, and let it dry.

If you’re looking for new wood furniture to upgrade your space, head to Conway Furniture for an extensive selection of top-quality pieces! Our furniture collections span the living room, dining room, bedroom and more and include a variety of stylish wood pieces for you to choose from. 

Browse our furniture online and contact our team for more furniture care tips and tricks or information about our products today!