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Protect Your Wooden Furniture During the Holidays

Wooden furniture is a lovely investment for the comfort of your home. This time of year, you may want to show it off as you entertain your friends and family. However, a party at home can test your furniture as well as your nerves. However, while you may afford the luxury of relaxing and recuperating after the party, your furniture can’t do that. A little negligence on your part could lead to permanent disfiguring, discoloring, or other similar hazard to your wooden furniture collection. Possible mishaps include a spill, scratches, or a strain on the joints connecting the piece of wooden furniture if it is moved too roughly while rearranging the room for the event,. While you may easily be able to take care of the minor problems (such as accumulated dust) with a good dusting, the problems mentioned above may need immediate attention, and sometimes, even professional help.

The Post-Party Dangers

So, the celebrations are over. And you and your wooden furniture may have survived it all. But clean-up after the party is a good time to prepare the furniture for the next event, as you begin the day-to-day care of your furniture. Wooden furniture is especially sensitive to the environmental conditions- heat, light and humidity. The excess (and sometimes the lack) of any of these three components can cause permanent damage to wooden furniture. If you place your wooden furniture in a brightly lit area, the light will turn your light wooden furniture dark and will bleach the darker pieces. The other possible damages could be to the finish or the paint on your furniture. Humidity poses an even greater danger because it is not an easily controlled factor. Too much humidity causes the wood to swell up, and too little humidity causes the wood to dry out - resulting in splitting or cracking wood.

Other than the environmental factors, sheer negligence may cause irreparable damage to your furniture. Moving furniture in an improper fashion often causes scratches. Most people pick up furniture at its weakest point, e.g., top, back, or arms, or may even be careless enough to drag it – thus weakening the joints.

The Danger Signs

Careful observation can allow you to save your wooden furniture and prevent its further deterioration. Some tell –tale signs of trouble and what they could mean are given below:
Sawdust under a piece of furniture--insect infestation
Cloudy, white patches--water spills
Swelling in the wood--high moisture level
Growth of Mold--high humidity
Splits or cracks--low moisture level

What to Do When a Problem Is Discovered

A good dusting and a good stable environment may avoid most problems related to wooden furniture. In rare cases, you may have to consult an exterminator or conservator, especially if your furniture is found to be infested with insects, or it needs extensive repair. For a stable environment, the use of humidifiers and dehumidifiers is recommended to maintain an ideal RH level. Monitor the temperature with the use of a thermometer. Do not place the furniture in direct sunlight. If possible, apply a film to windows to screen the UV light.

Many dusters are available that are specially designed to clean wooden furniture (Fuller Brush # 153 Go Around Duster). If you prefer natural materials, purchase a lambs wool duster or an ostrich feather duster for your furniture. (Fuller Brush # 156 Lamdswool Duster, Fuller Brush #136 Ostrich Feather Duster). Mitts may also be used for this purpose (Fuller Brush #158 Polishing and Cleaning Mitt).

There are a number of commercially available polishing products to protect your furniture. Try one of the wax polishes. They protect the wood against moisture and pollution. Some of these products contain silicone that forms a barrier to dust and stains. Certain oils are also recommended as a preventive to keep your wooden furniture from drying and cracking (Stanley Potpourri Fine Furniture Oil). Also available are furniture creams that are used for the same purpose - nourishing the wood (Stanley Furniture Crème).

In conclusion, if you wish to keep your wooden furniture looking elegant, maintaining its original luster, then follow the guidelines mentioned above. That way, your wooden furniture will continue to add elegance, class, and beauty to your home for a long, long time.

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