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Ever gasped after a child inadvertently left a giant scratch in the surface
of your dining room table? Or cringed when a well-meaning adult accidentally
knocked over a drink onto your beautiful wood coffee table? Well, fear not.
One of the best attributes of wood furniture is that it is simple to touch
up or renew its original luster.
Small nicks and scratches can usually be disguised with the help of a
store-bought scratch cover product. For larger scratches, try using a felt
tip pen or shoe polish in a color closely matched to the finish of the
furniture piece. Shoe polish applicator bottles filled with the stain work
well for the cover-up job, as do Sharpie markers. Coloring in the scratch is
easy and surprisingly effective.
Remove or Disguise Scratches and Stains
Problem: Solution:
Nicks, Scratches Magic Marker or Shoe Polish
Water Spots Mayonnaise
Color Rings Sandpaper, Ashes and Oil
Wax Ice
An Ounce of Prevention, a Lifetime of Protection
Prevent serious damage to your wood furniture by taking care not to position
it in direct sunlight. Unless you are going for the weathered picnic table
look, shield all wood furniture from the drying influence of the sun. Also,
protect your dining room table’s finish using an inexpensive table pad when
the table is not in use.
When eating a meal or entertaining guests, use a tablecloth or placemats to
protect the finish of a wood table, especially when serving hot food. Place
hot serving dishes atop a hot pad and candle holders over a large felt
protector with a plastic top, since plastic prevents wax from running.
And what about candle wax, marring the beautiful finish of your wood
dining room table? Wait until the wax cools, then apply ice. Once the wax
becomes extremely hard and brittle, gently scrape it off with a plastic
spatula. Finally, polish the table with a rich cream polish, and buff away
any residue.
Use coasters beneath all glasses and mugs to protect your coffee table,
dining room table and wood dressers from unsightly rings and water spots.
Beware, because not all coasters are created equal. Metal coasters can sweat
onto the wood, and plastic coasters can react with certain finishes on some
wood furniture pieces. So consider choosing wooden coasters with felt
backing and a waterproof material on top to further ensure the longevity of
your wood table tops. The best coasters are those that taper up on the
sides, preventing leakage.
Make Your Own Polish and Cleaning Agents
Homemade Wood Furniture Polish = 1 part Lemon Oil + 3 parts Olive Oil
Homemade Wood Furniture Cleaner = Hand Soap + Water
Stay away from Alcohols and Ammonias
Now you are fully armed to properly care for your wood furniture. And don’t
be disheartened if you are unable to make a nick or small stain disappear
completely. Signs of use can add character to a piece of wood furniture, and
are often barely noticeable. Whether it is a dresser, coffee table,
bookshelf, desk, or dining room table, wood furniture is the perfect
addition to any home.
One of the most remarkable features of teak wood is its ability to change
color with age. When new, its color varies from light to dark brown and over
years becomes a light silver gray. The first “gray hair” in teak furniture
will be noticeable after three to four months of use, depending on how
contrasting the climate conditions are in your area. For example, if you
have cold nights and hot sunny days, teak patio furniture will turn to gray
faster.
Natural teak will become gray in about a year.
To preserve this beautiful taupe shade of gray, you can wash the teak patio
furniture every spring with mild detergent and water. To prevent dust
accumulation you may wash the furniture with your regular garden hose,
keeping the water pressure at low.
Even though teak wood does not splinter, it may develop small cracks with
time. Teak wood contains a high amount of natural wood oils, so it will not
develop deep structural cracks. There is no need to treat teak wood with any
kind of wood sprays or oils to protect it; however, the teak wood oil does
create a pretty surface sheen. You may apply oil when you plan to leave the
teak furniture outside for a long period of time, or when the wood starts to
show gray. As a general rule, when a spill occurs, it is important to clean the fabric
immediately. The longer a spot remains, the harder it is to remove. It may
even become permanent.
Blot, don’t rub. If the spill is still “fresh”, use a clean, dry and very
absorbent 100% cotton cloth. Should you have to use paper towels to blot out
spills, be sure the paper towel (or cloth) is white, as colors in the towel
may, when applied to a wet surface, fade onto the upholstery. Color from one
fabric can rub off onto another fabric, even when dry -- a process known in
the industry as “crocking”. If blotting with a dry cloth doesn’t quite
finish the job and you have cleaning directions from the furniture
manufacturer.
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