Move mouse over the furniture care tips on the left to view their description.
NEW FINISH:
A new finish will cure and harden over time, approximately two to four weeks after delivery, so wait a month or so before applying paste wax or putting anything heavy on top of the finished surface.
LIQUID SPILLS:
Liquids spills should be wiped up immediately. Mats or pads can absorb the spill but trap the moisture giving it a chance to work its way into the finish.
DIRECT HEAT:
Direct heat should be kept off the furniture finish. Even a hot cup of coffee may damage a fine lacquer finish.
WATER CLEANING:
Cleaning furniture with water is a bad idea if anything more than a damp cloth is used and it is wiped dry immediately.
COASTERS:
Use coasters, pads, and tablecloths, and apply felt padding to the bottom of artifacts (such as pottery) that will rest directly on top of the finished surface. And do not use a desk or table top as a writing surface without a protective pad or sheet of glass. A particularly hard finish (polyurethane, conversion varnish, etc.) is recommended for this type of use.
DIRECT SUNLIGHT:
Direct sunlight over very long periods of time can cause fading and deterioration of the finish. Avoid placing furniture in the path of bright sunlight whenever possible.
STORING FURNITURE:
Storing furniture in a very hot place is not cool. Heat accelerates oxidation which causes finishes to crack over time.
WAX:
Wax is a more protective product than polish.
POLISH LABELS:
Labels on some polishes claim this, but no, they do not replace natural oils in wood. Most common furniture woods do not really have natural oils to begin with, and there is no need to put oils into them. (Even certain exotic woods that have natural oils in them would be far better off, from a refinisher's perspective, to not have oils at all.)
DRAGGING:
Dragging furniture across the floor can only serve to loosen glue joints.. and it won't benefit your floors either.
DON'T ROCK:
Don't rock on non-rocking chairs.
CARRYING:
Carrying furniture by its top or non-structural members can put undue stress on fasteners and glue joints. Understand the structure of your furniture.
HUMIDITY:
Changes in humidity can loosen joints and cause veneer to pop up. Geography lesson: Furniture that has resided in one climate and then moved to another could undergo this kind of stress. Likewise, furniture stored in a damp basement, then moved upstairs may find the move difficult.
TAPE AND COVERS:
Tape and plastic covers left on furniture for long periods of time, can only mean trouble. Certain masking tapes may even lift a finish when removed.
KNOW YOUR MOVER:
Know your mover. About 1/3 of the touch-up and repair calls we get are the result of moving violations.
