We’re kicking off a new series here at The Home Know-It-All, aimed at keeping your furniture in tip-top shape. This week we’re diving into wood furniture maintenance, and if you know what’s good for your furniture, you’ll come back soon to learn how to care for the rest of it.
Wood furniture can have a few different finishes—namely oil, wax, varnish, and paint. Care regimens vary for each, so follow these guidelines for the best results.
Oil
Oil finish is rubbed directly into the wood furniture with no other type of sealer applied over it. The grain is left exposed, and it lacks sheen. Although oil-finished wood furniture is easily damaged by water, it’s also easy to care for. Simply reapply a layer of oil. Try Danish oil, a mix of polymerized linseed oil, or Watco Stain Oil. Tung oil also works nicely. Because the oil soaks into the wood, you can apply as many layers as necessary.
Wax
Usually put over an oil finish, wax makes your wood furniture shine and improves durability by taking the brunt of water spots. If the wax layer is damaged, you can easily remove it and apply another coat. Don’t know how? Visit Real Simple to see how it’s done. Even if there’s no water spots or scratches it’s often good to apply a new coat of wax once a year to remove the dirt and dust of daily life. Use a buffing cloth to give your furniture a good shine in the meantime.
Varnish
A varnished piece of wood furniture is the most waterproof and often the most resilient. But it’s also the hardest to repair. If after a few dents and dings your piece of furniture needs repaired, strip and reapply the varnish, sanding between coats. For a complete tutorial, check out this site.
Paint
Thoroughly clean your painted wood furniture with soap and water on a regular basis. If the paint begins to chip significantly, you can sand it and repaint. Be sure to apply one or two layers of primer before painting.
Want more information on how to care for your wood furniture? Check out what Lowe’s has to say. And be sure to visit Better Homes & Gardens for advice on dusting and cleaning.
Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All
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