Furniture Care Instructions

If you've recently bought one of our furniture, here are some care instructions about how to keep your furniture looking good for years to come. 

1. Our furniture is constructed from solid timber and are relatively hard wearing pieces of furniture. All it requires is some simple cleaning to protect it from the daily wear & tear.

2. Timber surfaces can be cleaned and protected with a spray on Furniture and Surface Polish. There are many good quality spray on furniture polishes available from your general hardware store but please be sure to test first on an inconspicuous area of the furniture before spraying on the visible faces and always follow the directions on the label.

3. Tougher marks on the timber surfaces can also be cleaned with mild cleaning products such as “Spray and Wipe”. Do not use abrasive products like Jiff or scourers on the furniture as they can scratch the surfaces. Loose dust on the surface can be removed with a soft, lint-free cloth, gently rubbed over the surface. Dust is an abrasive and can scratch the surface, so be careful. Uneven areas can be dusted with a clean, natural bristle paint or artist's brush. Again, do not try to dust a surface that is severely deteriorated. Cloth fibers can catch and tear away pieces of the finish, veneer or loose parts. Even rough edges can splinter. Carving, fretwork, and other delicate work can be dusted with a soft bristle brush, with a vacuum cleaner host held close enough to take in the dust one it is dislodged by the brush. Do not use feather dusters, as they can scratch and pull off loose fragments of veneer.

4. Fabric can be cleaned with mild soapy water and a damp cloth. Be cautious and use only enough water to wet the surface without saturating the fabric and foam of the seat. Brush the fabric in the direction of the fabric pattern to avoid distorting the fabric grain. All our fabric is suitable to be scotch-guarded so if you would like to prolong the longevity of your upholstery, we highly recommend scotch-guarding it with a quality product.

5. Clean any stains or spills as soon as it happens to prevent it from having time to stain the fabric or product surface or become water logged.

6. Be sure to use a heat resistant tray / mat or coaster if you're intending to place a hot pot direct from the stove onto your table.  Likewise, use a coaster whenever possible when serving chilled drinks on your table. Hot items, such as irons, coffee mugs, and steaming tureens can literally melt a finish away. Water from spills and condensation from vases and cold drink glasses can damage and deface coatings through "blooming," an effect that makes transparent coatings white or milky. Damage is even worse when the liquid itself stains the surface, such as when ink or coffee or tea is spilled, or if the coating is penetrated and the staining liquid enters the wood itself. Organic solvents, such as fingernail polish and remover, perfumes, and alcoholic drinks can behave as paint and varnish removers on many kinds of coatings. These problems are simple to address. Using coasters, oversized ashtrays, and writing pads can virtually eliminate the potential for damage.

7. Fungal damage, or rot, can only occur in areas of extreme dampness at moderate temperatures. Unless your furniture gets wet and stays wet, this type of damage is not normally a severe problem. However, if your furniture is stored in areas where water incursion is a common problem, such as basements or attics, these areas must be surveyed every time it rains or snows.

8. Before picking up a piece of furniture, make sure you know where the furniture is its strongest - generally along a major horizontal element - and try to carry it from these points. Protect the furniture to be moved with soft padding or wrap it in a blanket pad. Padding, which will provide extra insurance against bumping and gouging, is especially important if an item is going into storage. Before moving an item, make sure you know exactly where it goes next. Plan ahead to adjust the temperature and relative humidity in the new location so they are the same as where the furniture presently is. Extreme changes in temperature and humidity can cause splitting of joints and veneers. Never slide or drag furniture along the floor.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance. Enjoy your new furniture and we hope it brings you many happy years of functionality!