Furniture Care Tips for the Rainy Season

Furniture is an important investment in one’s home and is an item that goes through a lot of daily wear and tear. Regular maintenance ensures that one’s home does not look grubby or worn out and guarantees a long life for one’s furniture too.

The following are a few considerations one should be aware of when it comes to wooden furniture:

• With respect to wooden furniture, direct exposure to sunlight for extended periods makes the finish fade while damp spaces or a place with excess moisture is not good for furniture either.

• There are special finishes available in the market specific to whether it is indoor or outdoor furniture since the latter is usually what is exposed to the elements.

• Cleaning and polishing should be done regularly.

• Using a soft cloth to clean furniture such as sofa sets, tables, chairs, etc. every day reduces dust accumulation. Dust attracts moisture which can build up and soften the finish on one’s furniture.

• In order to remove scratches and abrasions from furniture one needs to touch up or polish the particular piece. Using wax would highlight the shine (finish) on the furniture.

• For wooden furniture cleaning, polishing (varnishing) and waxing are the primary methods of maintenance.

• When it comes to laminates such as a study desk, cupboard, shutter or door – using soap and water removes marks and makes the product look bright and clean.

• Glass is a bit tricky as one needs to first clean with liquid soap and then dry/wipe with a soft dry cloth and polish with a newspaper. This makes glass/mirrors looks crystal clear.

• One needs to remember that there are innumerable finishes and materials used in furniture. For example, an oil top wood dining table would need to be polished with oil such as linseed and not polish.

• For a table with a walnut finish, using walnut polish when it looks a bit faded is the right option. Repolishing makes sense when the furniture is faded or scratched as it covers all the marks and gives the product a newly finished look. At times, just using wax on the furniture is all that is needed, especially if there is not much wear and tear.

• A wooden bed with a PO matte finish just needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth. For scratches and wear and tear, repolish the product. Using wax is optional, depending on one’s preference towards the type of finish.