Wood & Lacquer Care & Cleaning Tips

Quality wood furniture is a significant investment expected to last for generations. To maintain its beauty and help it last, wood furniture needs the right care.

Wood is porous and is disposed to to collecting dirt and grease. It also has an inclination of slowly losing its sheen due to wear or loss of polish. Wooden furniture can get easily stained as it absorbs oils and water, so should be cleaned regularly.

Furniture is also affected by humidity. Wood expands and contracts as the moisture in the air changes. The ideal range for relative humidity (RH) is between 45 and 55 percent. If a dramatic change occurs in the RH it is possible that furniture may experience shrinkage and warping. Finish and veneer detachment is also a possibility. Furniture exposed to high humidity levels for a prolonged period of time may experience mildew accumulation. Avoid placing or storing furniture in attics, basements or any area in the home that may experience extreme temperature or RH changes.

Wood products are generally finished with two to three coats of finish for extra depth and long-lasting durability. The sheen, or gloss, of the finish ranges from high to low, depending on the piece. The finish protects the wood and adds to its beauty. No finish is totally indestructible. But with regular care, the finish will last much longer.

TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR YOUR FURNITURE, WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:

• Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight, as sunlight causes fading.
• Avoid extreme changes in temperature by arranging furniture away from radiators, heat and air vents and air conditioning units.
• Avoid placing plastic or rubber materials (lamp bases, notebooks, placemats, etc.) on your furniture, as certain plastics contain ingredients that may damage the finish. To avoid these markings, place a strip of felt, leather or cork under accessories
• Periodically rotate accessories on furniture so they do not sit in the same spot all the time.
• Use pads, cloth or felt to protect the furniture surface from plastic, rubber, hot dishes, beverages, bookends, flowerpots and vases.
• Clean up spills immediately. Use a blotting rather than a wiping action. Water left over a long period of time will cause white spots in the finish. Alcohol, perfume, after-shave and medications can cause severe finish damage.
• Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen on the furniture surface.
• Lift and place objects rather than dragging them across the furniture surface.
• Remove household dust with a soft, clean cloth, dusting with the grain. The cloth may be dampened with a furniture dusting-aid product, or a furniture care. Avoid products that leave an oily film on the furniture since they may cause a clouding of the finish and have a tendency to collect dust.
• Over time, scratches from normal use may be noticed on furniture. These can be touched up with a scratch remover or special touch-up pens/sticks.

FINISHES

Wood comes in a variety of finishes. We have highlighted finishes below. If you are unsure of what your wood finish is we recommend you contact one of our locations to understand what your finish is and how best to care for it.

Lacquer

Lacquer is tough, resilient, easy to apply, relatively inexpensive and therefore by far the most common finish used on new furniture today. Lacquer is usually applied in a series of coats, and is sanded between each one.

It is very popular with furniture manufacturers because it dries very quickly, thereby allowing several coats to be applied in a matter of hours.

Lacquer, especially catalytic lacquer, is very resistant to water, alcohol and staining and requires little maintenance. An occasional waxing with a good quality paste wax will keep it looking great. Otherwise, the surface can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth. Remember to never use nail polish or nail polish remover near lacquer, as the strong solvents will dissolve the finish.

French Polish

Rarely used now because of its fragility, French polish is a labor-intensive finish achieved by applying linseed oil and shellac onto a wooden surface and then rubbing and rubbing and rubbing it in. This finish was often used on finer antiques made of walnut or mahogany.

The French polish will show white water marks if wet. When this finish dries out, it will literally disappear and dissolve into powder. To maintain this finish, you must wax regularly or treat with a furniture restorer of wax and oil.

Oil and Wax

Oil and wax finishes are the easiest and least expensive to apply but are also often the poorest quality. Usually the oil or wax is applied directly to the wood surface where it soaks in and dries.

While some oil finishes such as Tong Oil partially seal the wood, they do not provide a film or barrier to protect the wood the way other finishes do. As the wood dries out, more oil or wax must be applied. Because the wood is not completely sealed, the surface is unprotected and will absorb all the dust and dirt particles that come in contact with it. However, if you have a piece with either an oil or wax finish, apply wax when it appears to be dry. Wax can be applied to an oil finish because wax and oil are often used together in the initial finishing process. Wax finishes are also very susceptible to water stains which turn the wax white. To remove water stains, apply more wax with a cloth or very fine steel wool and then buff.

Varnish and Polyurethane

Varnish has been used for over a hundred years and is still the finish of choice for a few do-it-yourself cabinet makers. Varnish is tough and has a nice "feel of patina" to it. However, it is not nearly as popular as the new polyurethane finishes which are even tougher, dry much more quickly, and are now water based rather than mineral spirits based. Varnished furniture should be cleaned with mild soap and water and maintained with paste wax.