When you want your wood furniture to last, it’s important to protect it by following some practical care tips. Since the wood finish that is applied to your wood furniture is intended to protect it, it’s crucial to keep the finish intact in order to keep your furniture looking its best over time. With regular care, your wood finish will last much longer, and therefore your furniture can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Protecting Your Wood Furniture

• Avoid placing your furniture in front of windows. Direct sunlight can cause fading over time.

• Avoid placing furniture near sources of extreme temperature changes, such as heat and air vents, fireplaces, air conditioning units, wood-burning stoves, and radiators.

• Avoid placing plastic or rubber materials (lamp bases, decorative accessories, placemats, etc.) on your furniture for an extended period of time. Certain plastic and rubber materials contain harmful ingredients that could damage the finish.

• Avoid keeping tabletop items in the same position for extended periods of time. Rotate them on occasion to prevent spots or discolorations.

• Plastics, rubbers, hot dishes, beverages, and flower vases should be placed on the furniture’s surface using a protective pad, felt, or cloth barrier.

• Clean up spills immediately. Water and other liquids can leave marks when left on a wood surface for an extended period of time.

• Avoid writing directly on top of a piece of paper with permanent marker or ballpoint pen without a protective surface underneath.

• Avoid dragging items across the surface of your furniture. Similarly, lift your entire piece of furniture to move it across the floor rather than dragging it.

Cleaning & Polishing Your Wood Furniture

• For basic general care of your wood furniture, nothing beats regular dusting with a soft, clean, dry cloth. When you want to go a step further, clean or polish the surface by swiping in the same direction as the wood grain. Avoid rubbing too harshly or in all different directions. And always use a soft, clean cloth. Abrasive or dirty towels can cause damage or scratch the wood finish you’re trying so hard to protect.

• It’s also important to avoid cleaning your furniture with anything other than a wood polish. Window cleaning products and other harsh solutions not intended for wood can contain harmful ingredients, like ammonia, that will damage the finish. This is important to remember if you have wood furniture with a glass surface, as you will want to ensure the glass cleaner doesn’t come into contact with the wood.

• When you’re cleaning a wood dining table or kitchen tabletop surface, clean up spills immediately using a gentle blotting—not rubbing—motion. For greasy stains, combine a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. Test on a hidden spot first to ensure the solution will not cause any damage to the finish.

• For butcher block surfaces, treat regularly with food-grade mineral oil.