How to Care for Wood Furniture

Quality built wood furniture will never go out of style. From farmhouse to mid-century modern, wood furniture can be used in nearly every interior decorating style. Wood furniture can add a touch of warmth, elegance, and natural beauty to any living space. However, it is important to care for your wooden furniture properly to ensure it lasts a long time and retains its original beauty. Caring for wood furniture involves a combination of preventative and regular maintenance. We will discuss ways to provide continuous care for your wood furniture and how to prepare it for a move or long-term storage.

What Makes Wood Furniture Unique?

Let’s take this opportunity to discuss what makes wood furniture so unique. To begin with, no two pieces of wood are alike. From the grain, size, color, and the way it absorbs a stain or finish, each piece of wood is one of a kind. Wood furniture can be customized, it has outstanding durability, and is a sustainable resource.

Weekly Care for Wood Furniture

You definitely don’t have to deep clean your wood furniture daily, but you should keep up with some routine maintenance to protect your investment.

Dust: You can dust weekly with a microfiber cloth or duster.
Spills/Stains: Wipe up any spills or stains as soon as they happen.

Clean: Fingerprints, cooking fumes or other residue may build up from time to time. You can wipe your furniture with a dampened cloth with a mild soap solution or wax-free polish.

Preventative Care for Wood Furniture

Now that you know how to clean your furniture, here are some great preventative tips to keep your furniture looking showroom ready.

Cover Surfaces: Consider using tablecloths or coasters when eating or drinking. You can use felt pads under lamps or other heavy objects.

Climate Control: Wood can swell or shrink based on the humidity in your house. Depending on the climate you live in or the conditions you wood furniture might experience, add a humidifier/dehumidifier to help control the air in your house.
Don’t Bug Out: Bugs are rarely welcome in homes, follow any EPA or pesticide guidelines to prevent bugs from getting to your wood furniture.
Avoid Over-Exposure: Excessive exposure to sunlight can fade wood finishes. Use curtains or blinds to avoid extended periods of direct sunlight.

Preparing Your Wood Furniture for a Move

We covered the basics on how to care for your wood furniture at home, but let’s look at the steps to protect your furniture for an upcoming move. First, do a preliminary scan to inspect your furniture and note any prior imperfections. Next, make sure any loose pieces are removed or secured, this includes drawers and doors. Package and label any small items so they don’t get lost. Then, you should wrap and protect the furniture.

We recommend using cloths, linens or moving blankets around the surface of the wood, then plastic can be wrapped around the base layer. Avoid bubble wrap or other plastic wrapping directly touching your furniture as it can damage the wood surface. If possible, use a larger hard casing, box, or additional padding to prevent shock or damage during transport. When your furniture arrives at its destination, unwrap and check to see if everything looks the same as it did pre-move.

Storing Your Wood Furniture

At times during a move or remodel you must store your furniture until it is ready to be used again. You also might have wooden furniture pieces that you’re saving for your children or simply don’t have a place for. Here are some tips to keep your furniture in good condition while in long term storage.

Make sure you clean the furniture and consider a wax-free furniture polish to pre-treat your wood.
Secure loose pieces. Wrap and protect your wood furniture.
Control the climate. Avoid extreme temperatures and humidity.
Ensure you have enough space to store your furniture without the possibility of scratches or damage.

Lift from the base of the furniture, not the top, drawers or legs, to prevent damage.
Avoid stacking boxes or other furniture on top of your wood pieces.
If possible, store the furniture on risers, especially in a basement or storage facility in case of flooding.

Amish Elegance-Wood Furniture That Last Generations

At Amish Elegance, we know the importance of caring for your wood furniture to ensure it lasts for generations. Wood furniture is a beautiful and timeless addition to any home, but it does require proper care. Hopefully the tips we reviewed will help you take good care of your furniture.

We are proud to provide American made, hand crafted wood furniture. The Amish furniture industry has evolved over time to include a wide range of design styles from traditional to modern, many types of woods and stains to suit any decorating style. Visit our showroom to see in-stock items or let one of our furniture experts help you design a custom piece to fit the style of your home.