Wood Care for Monsoon

Come rains and one needs to take extra special care of wooden furniture and products. Even though the monsoon is a season that we all look forward to, it does not bode well for wood and wood composites. Controlling moisture of utmost importance when it comes to wood as high moisture levels result in swelling of wood while low moisture levels result in split or cracked wood.

With respect to wood composites such as particle board or MDF products, their cross-sections or edges tend to attract moisture very easily. The side elevations/edges or exposed cross grains need to be covered. If the finish constitutes organic polish, one can seal the edges with oil. Alternatively for products without an organic finish, using lacquer and sealants to coat the product against moisture is an effective measure. In addition to lacquer, one should also use other protective coatings so that the moisture does not stand stationary on the product. MDF and other wood composites should be kept as far away from moisture as possible. At times, during monsoon, drawers and doors tend to get stuck – this is due to moisture, keeping drawers and kitchen cabinets well lubricated reduces the friction caused by the swelling of the wood. Ideally, the above measures should be taken before the onset of monsoon and serve as precautions. Ensuring that wood and wood composites are not exposed to the weather, and kept indoors, is the most basic precaution that one can take in this season.

Wooden products should not be in a wet or humid area. There is a misleading notion that sunlight is good for wooden furniture. In actuality, the combination of moisture and direct sunlight to one’s wooden products is not so good. Direct sunlight can turn light wood darker and tends to bleach dark wood. On the other hand, moisture plus a breeze takes the humidity out of the room/space and keeps one’s furniture maintained. Air movement dries the wood which is why a cross ventilated room with open windows is a good idea when it comes to ensuring proper care of wooden furniture. One should keep wardrobes and cupboards atleast six inches away from the walls since they tend to get damp. Placing camphor, naphthalene balls or neem leaves in the wardrobe keeps insects away.

High humidity can cause the growth of mould on wood; one can use a humidifier in the house so as to maintain the level of humidity. Depending on the species of the wood, certain products such as photo frames made out of sheesham or other small wood products tend to get deformations due to the increase in moisture content. If one can notice cracks or if the product feels a little heavier than usual or if the finish looks and feels a bit dull; it is advised to wrap these products and keep them in storage for about 2 odd months. When it comes to dusting of furniture, instead of using a damp cloth, one should use a soft cloth and feather.

There are three primary considerations when it comes to wood care for monsoon: Sealing, Ventilation and Covering. Another important aspect that should be mentioned is that it makes sense not to carry out any kind of renovations during this season.

The magical properties of the Neem Tree!

Azadirachtc Indica, or more commonly known as the Neem Tree is native to India and Burma and has become a treasure over the years for all of its medicinal properties. It is from the same family as Mahogany; and the most intriguing part about the neem tree is that every part of it is used to cure illnesses; from root to fruit!

Neem wood is now becoming a popular option for furniture manufacturers. The advantage of using this is that it is a strong wood making it durable and giving your furniture a long life. Secondly, due to the pest repelling aromatic properties of the wood; it is termite free and you would never have to be concerned about pests if your furniture is made out of neem wood; making it the best option for cabinets and cupboards to store clothes!

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.

‘Bring Home Good Vastu’ Seminar at Timbor Skillvarsity

Remove Clutter, Balance positive and negative energy says Dr. Amaresh Mehta during seminar on Vastu at Timbor Skillvarsity

TimborSkillvarsity organised a seminar, ‘Bring Home Good Vastu’ on the 8th of July, 2012. The seminar was held at the Timbor Home showroom with almost 100 attendees. Dr. Amaresh Mehta, the speaker, started off with an interesting thought. There are many individuals that change their doors, add walls, remove rooms, etc. according to vastu principles. But, explained Dr. Mehta, changing or moving things around cannot change what is meant to be. A person with a bathroom in the North East direction (not supposed to be good) will die one day, as will a person with a bathroom in another direction. The most important thing is balance. One does not need to renovate or refurbish an entire home – just use certain measures to balance out the positive and the negative energies.

Dr. Mehta spoke at length upon energy dynamics and the importance of de-cluttering. De-clutter your home and your mind! Many of us clean our entire house during Diwali or such festive occasions, but the waste is usually just hidden away in the attic. We should try and get rid of such clutter. While doing so, if one has elderly people or infants in the house; the clutter should be removed gradually as opposed to in one go since they are more in tune with energy and thus a sudden removal of clutter bringing in good energy could cause them disturbance. Case in point being be people that are used to drinking normal water, when exposed to purified water could get diarrhoea.

A small demonstration wherein a participants Chakras were checked with a machine had the audience entranced. Dr. Mehta even showed how, with chanting specific words, one could change the colour of that respective Chakra, albeit for a temporary period.

Many of the participants felt the seminar ended too soon and had innumerable questions. The discussion session was enlightening with some interesting points highlighted:

•  It is advised not to sleep with one’s head in the North. One would tend to sleep uneasily or wake up tired. The reason behind this can be related to magnets. A north and a north do not attract. Similarly, our head can be considered the North and when in the direction of the North, our body tends to work overtime. Instead of using the sleeping hours to rejuvenate, the body works on harmonizing internals.
• If one enters a house, and the dining table can be visible from the entrance – that indicates that one shall always have too many mouths to feed.
• A staircase right at the entrance of a home or office is not advisable as it takes all the energy out of the area. One can try and put two vases at the foot of the staircase or place wind-chimes above so as to stop the energy from going out of the space.
• It is not suggested to keep clocks/watches that do not work. This indicates stagnation in one’s life. Even if unused, watches need to have their batteries checked and should be working.
• An ideal wall clock would be one with a pendulum since the constant movement of the pendulum circulates energy in the house/office.
• Newly married couples should not have a bedroom above the kitchen. Neither should young adults – this can cause aggression.
• For those with Asthma, Plaster of Paris (POP) ceilings should be avoided – wood is one of the best options.
• The kitchen the most important part of the house and if one feels that there is strife or difficulty – keeping the kitchen clean and without clutter will improve things.
• While sleeping, laptops and mobile phones should not be near the bed. Avoid using the mobile as an alarm. If the phone/electronic needs to be charged, it should be done on a table that is not touching the bed.