Nowell's Furniture Care - Wood
Nowell's offers furniture in a variety of woods and finishes: teak, walnut, cherry, oak, rosewood, maple, beech, and more. Each have unique qualities, each are durable to varying degrees, but each can be damaged.
Accidents, of course, can happen (please ask about our Guardsman Gold Plan protection so you need not fear accident damage to your furniture). Fortunately, with wood, few accidents are so severe that wood cannot be repaired. The same cannot be said of glass or marble furniture--which is one reason wood is such a wonderful material for furniture construction.
We invite you to call or e-mail should any accidents occur, and you need assistance with repair. We will be happy to assist in any way we can, or refer you to a professional repair technician if necessary.
In addition to accidental stains and scratches, wood furniture is susceptible to environmental factors, such as light, humidity and dust.
Here are some tips you can use to provide a better environment, and routine care, for your wood furniture:
- Changes in the relative humidity – especially sudden changes – are the biggest concern for wood furniture. Experts suggest that the ideal range of home temperature for wood furniture is 70 to 72 degrees with humidity levels kept within a range between 40 and 60 percent. If exposed to relative humidity in excess of 70%, furniture and finishes can crack when the humidity level drops suddenly and the piece contracts.
- No amount of furniture oil will prevent wood furniture from drying out if the relative humidity remains below 30% for an extended period of time. Air conditioner use in the summer and humidifier use in heated homes during the winter will help control the environment greatly. Dehumidifiers should be used in rooms that are typically damp or during times of high humidity when an air conditioner is not in use.
- Keep table leaves near the table to which they belong when not in use so they are exposed to the same environment as the table and will expand and contract at the same rate.
- Keep wood furniture away from heat vents, radiators and fireplaces to prevent it from drying out. Use a shield or diverter on heat vents if necessary.
- If you need to store your wood furniture, it’s better to store it in an unheated space since humidity will not vary as much at lower temperature.
- Keep products containing alcohol and harsh chemicals away from your furniture’s finish, including those found in colognes, perfumes and nail polish remover.
- Dust is abrasive and accumulates in the “nooks and crannies” – carvings and grooves – and in any cracks in the surface of the furniture. As dust accumulates it gets more difficult to remove.
- Use caution when moving your furniture. Enlist enough help so you can lift the furniture instead of pushing it laterally, which can over stress joinery, especially at the legs. Lift tables by their apron or legs rather than by their top, which could detach or loosen. Lift chairs by their seat rails and not by their arms or crest (top back) rail.
- When transporting wood furniture in a vehicle, place the furniture on its back or top rather than its legs. Carefully detach marble tops and transport or store them on their edge, as you would a mirror.
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Dusting Your Wood Furniture
- Excessive accumulations of dust or not dusting properly can result in excess wear and may also dull the otherwise beautiful finish on your wood furniture. For new furniture, any care instructions provided by the manufacturer should override any other suggestions or ideas you might be tempted to try.
- Feather dusters are not recommended for use on wood furniture because they can’t be cleaned. Additionally, quill ends can become exposed and scratch the surface of your furniture.
- Use a soft cloth for dusting. An old (but clean) cotton T-shirt or similar cloth or chamois is ideal. Don’t use cloths that are frayed or unraveling as they can snag on your furniture and cause damage.
- Clean dusting cloths right after use so you won’t be tempted to use a dirty cloth on your furniture when it’s time to dust again. Keep plenty of clean dust cloths nearby when dusting so you won’t use a dust cloth any longer than you should.
- A lightly damp dusting cloth is ideal; do not use excessive water or dusting spray. Excessive amounts of water can warp or swell wood.
- Dust in the direction of the wood grain using an oval pattern and once your dusting cloth gets dirty, turn it over, fold it or replace it with a clean one.
- Lift lamps instead of sliding them across the furniture to prevent scratching the finish.
- Some woods, such as teak, require occasional oiling. Many commercially available furniture products contain linseed oil or other drying agents. When used repeatedly, they can create a gummy coating on the surface of the finish that darkens and hides the wood’s grain. We recommend that you use only a quality teak wood oil, such as Kemisk or Zinolin, available directly from Nowell's.
- Many commercial furniture sprays and polishes contain silicone. Initially, it makes the wood silky smooth and attractive, but over time, it attracts and traps dust. We recommend that you avoid any wood polishes containing silicone. Rather, use either a lightly damp cloth, or a moisturizing, silicone-free, wax-free dusting spray such as Guardsman, which is available directly from Nowell's (you may be noticing a pattern here).
- The ultraviolet rays of the sun will damage a finish and bleach the wood underneath. Although some wood bleaching may be desirable for its ability to soften and enrich tones, excessive light exposure is not generally good for wood furniture.
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the finish on wood furniture to crack. Clear finishes may also yellow or become opaque in response to excessive light. In severe cases, excessive exposure to light can cause the cell structure of wood to break down.
- Teak: Most of the teak in our furniture is plantation-grown in Thailand or the surrounding region. It has a very high natural oil content, giving it protection against stains and deterioration. This is why it has traditionally been the wood of choice for ship building. These same qualities make it excellent for furniture construction. Teak has a rich grain and color ranging from a honey gold to a chocolate brown. The grain and color come from the growth rings, and no two pieces will be exactly alike.
- Teak Oil extends the life and durability of teak furniture. It keeps the wood from drying out, inhibits staining, and protects it from ultraviolet light bleaching.