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Wood has been in use for furniture for centuries. It’s a robust material that is perfect for crafting a wide variety of different items. Additionally, wood is generally acknowledged as sustainable, making it an environmentally-friendly choice. This is why wood furniture is still widely in use after thousands of years and a favorite of many.
Some of the best pieces are older, using traditional styles and materials to create pieces that last for centuries with the right care. Or, in some cases, an expert in furniture restorations is your best course of action.
The good news is that most wood furniture lasts for a long time. That is, if you know the basics about cleaning, repairing, and even reconditioning your wood furniture. If this is something you want to know more about, continue reading for the three top tips for cleaning, repairing, and reconditioning your beautiful wood furniture.
How to Clean, Repair, and Recondition Your Wood Furniture
1. Cleaning Your Wood Furniture
The best way to look after your wood furniture to ensure it lasts for years is to clean it regularly. This removes any dust and debris that can damage the wood. What may surprise you is that cleaning the wood is as simple as using some soap and warm water. It is best not to use boiling water on the wood as it is likely to damage the finish.
Equally, you don’t want to use an excessive amount of water when cleaning. Mix the soap and water in a bowl, dip your sponge in and then wring it out before wiping all the surfaces of your furniture.
If you are dealing with glue that is stuck to the wood, then you can use hotter water and 2 tablespoons of gum turpentine to loosen and remove the glue or any other unwanted items. Then, dab the cleaned section with a little linseed oil to ensure the quality of the finish is retained.
2. Repairing your furniture.
In most cases repairing wooden furniture is surprisingly easy. First, you must sand the wood to remove the scratch. However, this also removes the protective top layer.
If the damage is related to a dent in the wood, then you must sand to eliminate the topcoat. Then, you add a wood filler to the dent and sand again. You might go through this step several times. The aim is to get the sanded section in perfect alignment with the rest of the wood.
After you sand it then, it is time to redo the finish. If you just removed a scratch, then a liberal coating of linseed oil perhaps followed by a clear varnish will make your item look like new.
However, if you fill a dent, you need a varnish that matches the color of the original wood. This is much harder, but still possible.
Once you apply this and get a color match, you can apply the linseed oil and clear varnish topcoat.
3. Reconditioning your furniture.
In most cases, the above will take care of your damage. But, if it doesn’t or the damage is extensive you may need to look at reconditioning the item.
This is generally much more difficult, and you are best to get professional help. This is especially true if you are looking at a piece with value. Of course, doing a reconditioning badly will reduce the value of the piece.
In conclusion.
It is our sincere wish that you use these tips for the most delightful wood furniture possible in your home. If you have any questions or suggestions, we always love to hear from you in the comments below. Also below are links to more interesting articles about ALL things DESIGN for your home or business.
Images Courtesy of Canva.
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About the Author: Ashley Edwards
