The Must Haves for Caring for Your Wood Furniture

So you've finally bought that solid wood dining room table that you've always wanted. Like anything of quality, it will only keep its value if it is proper care is taken. Unfortunately, there are countless products on the market today, each one claiming to be the best way to treat and clean your wood furniture. For the new furniture owner it can be very confusing. If you're not sure about what you need to keeps your furniture looking fantastic for years to come, keep reading.

Dusting is a Necessity

Like it or not, dusting is pretty much a requirement for keeping your wood furniture in tip top shape. Almost one third of the cost of the furniture has to do with how it is finished, or treated and colored. Therefore, protecting the finish, and therefore the wood underneath is extremely important. So, dusting on a regular basis is not only a good idea, but a necessary one as well.

So what should you use to do your weekly dusting? There are a lot of different choices out there, everything from a feather duster to ones that uses specialized cleaners or static to attract dust onto them. A feather duster is not a good idea; they simply allow the dust to move around, allowing it to redeposit on some other part of the furniture. And the newer dust locking dusters can lose their effectiveness over time, especially if there is a lot of wood furniture or overall dusting to do.

For the money, a simple lint free linen cloth is the best choice for dusting. Not only will the dust be attracted to the cloth, but it is washable, and won't leave lint behind to scratch the finish in the future.

So how do you maintain the finish of your furniture? Over time, the finish will start to fade and break down. The trick is to try and keep it as smooth as possible to prolong its effectiveness. In order to maintain the finish on your wood furniture, there are two basic tools: oils and waxes.

Keeping the Shine

Oil soaps or sprays are wonderful for giving your furniture a glistening sheen, but there are some inherent problems. For one, oil based materials will attract dust. It's a simple fact. Over time, the layer of oil and polish left by these soaps and sprays evaporate, leaving areas bare on the wood finish. This leads to a microscopic uneven surface, which allows dust to settle on the furniture. In addition, the smoothness of the finish is caused by the molecules of dusting spray adhering to one another. When some of these molecules leave, the remaining molecules start to adhere to the surrounding dust in the air and on the table.

Another problem with oil based sprays and soaps are that it is very difficult to prevent build up. Since most people use them much more than needed, most these sprays cause dirt, dust and grime to become trapped against the wood furniture over time. This can lead to an unnaturally darker finish over time.

If you go the wax route, which does have a few advantages, your best choice is a good paste wax. Liquid waxes are a little better than oils, since they do create a smoother surface, but they don't last as long as paste wax.

A good paste wax, one that has a little paraffin and a majority of carnauba wax or bees wax is the ideal way to maintain the finish of your wood furniture. For starters, you only need to apply it about once a year, or once every few months at the most. Wax paste is usually fairly stiff; so the best course of action is to pull out a small amount prior to working with it and knead it in the cloth that you will be using. Start with small circular motions, and don't be afraid to use a bit of elbow grease as well. In order to protect the wood, the wax has to be worked into the surface. And be sure to take your time. This is not a process that you want to rush, not for any reason.

Removing the Build Up of Time

There will be times however; that a waxy build up will occur. For those times, it's important to have something in your arsenal to remove it. One of the easiest and safest ways to remove build up on your wood furniture is by using mineral spirits or mineral oil. Although they are used for the same purpose, they are not the same thing.

Mineral spirits is a mild petroleum distillate most often found in different paint thinners on the market. Depending on how it's made, it can be highly flammable, contain chemicals that have been shown to be carcinogenic. That being said, it can be quite effective at removing waxy build up on the furniture. If you choose to use mineral spirits it is essential to make sure that you use proper protection such as gloves and protective eyewear. Also, working in a well ventilated area is a must.

Mineral oil is also a petroleum distillate, but it has a slightly different weight and composition than mineral spirits. It is usually not as caustic, and can be prepared for use as a make up remover, a laxative, and yes, even a furniture polish remover. It is important to remember though that it still is a petroleum based product, so the safety precautions mentioned above should still be followed. Many people use mineral oil as a gentler cousin to mineral spirits. If you use mineral oil, remember that it might not break up the waxy build up as quickly as mineral spirits, so don't be discouraged.

Believe it or not, that's about all you need to make sure that your wood furniture stays in top condition. A dust rag with a regular routine of dusting, an annual waxing with a good quality paste wax, and the occasional use of mineral spirits or mineral oil to remove waxy build up is all you need. Doesn't sound too hard, now does it?

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