Have you ever wondered why wooden furniture looks so beautiful? It’s probably because of its rustic style but also its professional finish. This coating comes standard on most wooden pieces and makes them appear more vibrant and colourful, however, be warned, it is delicate. Harsh chemicals and standard surface cleaners can easily strip it away and once it’s gone, it’s very difficult to repair or replace. In this essential EZ Living Furniture care blog for wooden furniture, you’ll learn how to clean your items and prevent them from becoming dull and lifeless over time.
Learn About The Wood You Have
Knowledge is key, especially when it comes to wood. If you don’t do any prior research on the type of wood you own, you run the risk of using something that completely ruins the finish. To prevent this from happening, refer to the manual that has come with your item, the name of the wood you own is likely listed here. If, for whatever reason, you don’t have yours, there is another way to find this information either by searching for your item online or by contacting the retailer you purchased it from. Whether it’s a sideboard or dining table, it doesn’t matter, it’s the wood type that defines its individual cleaning method.
Should you still be unclear about the wood type you have, we have listed the characteristics of the two wood types below (hardwood and softwood) to help you visually determine which you own.
Wood is categorised into two groups, hardwood and softwood, and we’ve listed their characteristics and cleaning methods below.
Hardwood
Hardwood comes from trees that are typically slow-growing. Think, walnut, oak, maple, teak, and beech. While it is the more expensive of the two wood types, it’s incredibly strong and heavy and will last a lifetime if properly looked after. It has a high fire resistance, but only to a certain degree. Hardwood is different in that it does need to be oiled regularly to maintain it over time.
How To Clean Your Hardwood
1. Use a damp microfibre cloth for regular, everyday cleaning and spills. You must ensure that any cloth you use on the surface of your hardwood is lint-free as failure to do so could result in scratches and those annoying little fibres that cloths sometimes leave behind. Equally, the amount of water used is important. You must ensure that there isn’t enough water to leave a residue.
2. You can remove dust from your hardwood using the same method above i.e. a damp, lint-free cloth. The slightly damp cloth will remove dust from the wood’s surface without spreading it around the room or damaging it with harsh chemicals. When dust accumulates, it will become abrasive and can damage the wood, so you must remove it regularly.
3. Do not use paper towels on your hardwood as they could scratch your wood’s finish.
4. Do not use any household cleaners on your wood as it will damage the finish.
How To Maintain Your Hardwood Furniture
Hardwood does require occasional maintenance to keep it looking its best. You will need to oil it regularly with Danish Oil and doing so will stop it from drying out, cover any faint scratches, and add a water-repellant coating to the surface of the wood. Regular oiling will also add lustre and colour to the wood. This technique should be carried out 3-4 times a year.
Softwood
Softwood comes from trees that grow much faster than your typical hardwood tree. Pine, redwood, larch, fir, and cedar are just some examples. Softwood is usually less expensive than hardwood, but it won’t usually last as long and tends to have a lower fire resistance. You’ll be delighted to hear though that this wood type doesn’t require any maintenance if already lacquered and sealed.
How To Clean Your Softwood
1. The same cleaning techniques apply to softwood. For everyday cleaning, a damp lint-free cloth is sufficient to clean up spills.
2. Similarly, using a damp microfibre cloth will remove any dust that has accumulated on your wood’s surface.
3. Never use paper towels on your softwood as they could scratch your wood’s finish.
4. Do not use any household cleaners on your wood as it will damage the finish.
How To Maintain Your Softwood
Softwood usually comes lacquered/sealed and this coating is highly resistant to heat and water which is great news because it means that you won’t need to oil it at all! That’s right; there’s no real maintenance for a softwood piece of furniture.
EZ TIP: Some hardwoods and softwoods have a waxed finish. You should treat them like hardwood, but instead of regular oiling, you will need to use an appropriate wax to maintain its appearance.
Now that you are familiar with the various cleaning techniques required for certain types of wooden furniture, there should be no excuse for your items not looking their best in your home. To view our full range of furniture made from hardwood and softwood furniture, browse each category here.
Interesting Read: How To Spring Clean Your Furniture.
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