Three Tips For Caring For Finished Wood Furniture
Some of your most prized pieces of furniture may be made of finished high-quality woods. Due to the sizable value of these pieces of furniture, as well as the emotional attachment you may have to them, you will want to make sure that you are following these steps to ensure these items are properly maintained.
Clean The Wood Regularly
One of the most important things that you can do for any piece of wood furniture is to make sure that you clean it on a regular basis. Wood surfaces can accumulate sizable amounts of dirt, dust, and spills. These materials can gradually discolor the wood's finish, which can drastically alter the appearance of the furniture. When choosing a cleaning solution, you should make sure to choose one that is only designed for use on wood. Many standard cleaning solutions can be extremely harsh, which can damage the wood.
Protect Minor Chips Or Scratches
Wood surfaces can be prone to developing scratches and chips. This can be especially true for wood tables and other commonly used surfaces. While minor chips may not seem like they will be a serious issue, they can allow moisture damage to occur in the wood. If moisture is allowed to seep into the interior of the wood, it can cause mold and rot to develop. When you find that your wood furniture has developed chips and cracks, you should apply a protective wood sealant to the compromised area, as this will limit the ability of water to soak into the wood. When applying this sealant, you may need to gently sand the area that has been chipped so that the new sealant will be able to bond to the wood.
Know When To Have It Refinished
Eventually, the finish of your wood furniture will become too worn to offer effective protection. When this occurs, you will need to have the wood refinished. During this process, the entire exterior of the wood surface will be sanded so that any of the old finish is removed. Once this is done, the new layer of finish will be applied to the entire exterior of the wood, and it will need at least a full day to fully dry and bond to the surface of the wood. While this may seem like a lot of work, it can be a fairly affordable renovation, and this is particularly true if you are dealing with an expensive piece of furniture.
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