Nautical Furniture Care: It’s a Shore Thing

Some people focus on ocean threats more than what this place can contribute to their health. Whether they may be thinking of algal blooms, floods or pollution, these people only see the harmful things that come out of the regal blue oceans. Yet the notion of living near a beach can make one feel and literally be healthy.

Once you have decided to embrace the nautical theme, there are many maintenance tips that you need to keep in mind. Here are some of the fundamental ones –

Learn How to Clean Wood Furniture

Quality wood furniture can actually last a lifetime for as long as you know how to take care of it. Wood is susceptible to abrasions, scratches and harsh weather especially when they are not properly cared for.

Ask for cleaning instructions once you purchase furniture. Apart from the cleaning instructions, you should also avoid heat damage and rings by not using coasters. Be sure to use decorative placemats as well as a tablecloth if you want to protect wood tables.

There are many other factors that can wreak havoc on wood such as heat, sunlight and rain. Never place wood furniture in front of any uncovered window, fireplace or vent. Dust, too, can eventually destroy furniture, too. Airborne particles can become a filmy layer that will scratch the wood eventually. Dusting more frequently will keep the buildup from becoming thicker. Use soft cloth such as cloth diaper, cotton T-shirt or any microfiber cloth to avoid wiping damage.

There are times, though, when dusting is no longer enough to clean wood furniture. Don’t ever use all-purpose solutions or cleaner as these can damage the finish.

A spot that has been heavily soiled can be cleaned with a cloth dipped in mild dish detergent. Wring out the solution then gently wipe the soiled area. Rinse with a damp cloth then wipe with soft dry cloth.

Damages that are too extensive need to be treated with touch up sticks or polishes. Overly dry wood can also be re-oiled. Begin by using cleaning soap, then the appropriate cleaner, and then prep the surface using steel wool.

Always work with the grain. Apply the furniture oil liberally then let it soak in the wood for no less than 15 minutes. If you want to apply protective coating, then be sure to set the furniture for about 24 hours before moving forward.

Depending on the furniture finish, the piece may have a protective wax coating. This is a piece that you need re-waxed as it ages. The re-waxing is a guarantee that the surface will be continually protected.

Remove Tough Stains

Despite your efforts, there are inevitable events that could lead to the staining of your wood furniture. Whatever stain you need to deal with, just be sure to clean it up quickly. Remember that the longer the stain stays, the more difficult it will be to remove.

Keep the Wood Smelling Awesome

There are wood furniture pieces that could develop an unpleasant odor later on. This is especially true when they have been stored. When this happens, just sprinkle some baking soda onto the wooden surface to remove the unpleasant odor. You can also place a pan of charcoal in the drawers so that the odor would stop emanating. You can also leave the piece in any shaded area during a dry day. This should remove any malodorous stench after a few hours of exposure.

Care for Weathering

Over time, your furniture will have attained a silvery-gray patina. This is when you can tell that this piece is starting to weather. It takes nine months for this process to become more serious. The more rain and sunlight the furniture is exposed to, the less time you have to save your furniture. Just find the appropriate cleaner and you should be fine.

Tags: caring for wood furniture, caring for wooden furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nautical, nautical design, nautical style, outdoors furniture care, wood furniture, wood furniture care, wood furniture maintenance, wooden furniture, wooden furniture maintenance, wooden furniture maintenance tips

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 30th, 2016 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.