There are a handful of things as rewarding as the joy of decorating your home. From table lamps and wall accents to mirrors and decorative sculptures – you can use various products to dress up your living space. However, if there’s one thing that can immediately enhance your home’s visual appeal, it has to be wooden furniture.
Here’s the thing – furniture doesn’t always have to be functional. When judiciously used, it can be instrumental in giving your living space a makeover. Also, the quality and design of furniture can go a long way to boost your home’s curb appeal and resale value.
You can visit Only Oak Furniture’s website for more info on how your home’s furniture affects its valuation. Whether you want to attract prospective buyers to sell your home or just want to give it a revamp during spring cleaning, furniture and furnishings play a key role.
While you can choose from numerous types of furniture, wooden furniture continues to be a unanimous favorite. This isn’t surprising considering its elegance, versatility, and durability. In fact, wooden furniture pieces are often part of family heirlooms and passed on from one generation to the next.
But your wooden furniture will last you a lifetime and more only when you maintain it in the right way. With regular use, most furniture items are likely to accumulate a few stains, dents, bumps, and scratches. That’s why they need regular TLC to retain their effervescent charm and shine.
The good news is that maintaining wooden furniture in mint condition is pretty straightforward. In this blog, we’ve outlined a few simple and easy care tips to maintain your wooden furniture. Let’s take a look.
1. Check the Care Label
In most cases, your furniture will come with a care label that outlines basic instructions, such as what type of cleaner you should use and how often you should reapply wax or polish. The care label will also highlight any special instructions that you might need to watch out for while using your furniture.
That’s why it is always a good idea to thoroughly read the care label whenever you bring any piece of furniture home. If it doesn’t come with a label, you should check with the manufacturer or retailer for any specific care instructions. You can even check for the availability of a detailed instruction manual.
2. Watch Out for Sunlight
As a ground rule, you should always safeguard wooden furniture from direct sunlight. This means keeping your furniture away from large, transparent windows and doors. Otherwise, the harsh rays of the sun will take a toll on the color and sparkle of your furniture.
If you have to keep a piece of furniture near a window, make sure you regularly shift its position to prevent prolonged sun exposure. Also, you should consider using window films to filter harmful UV rays. It’s even a good idea to use ornate covers for larger furniture.
For instance, if your dining table inevitably gets exposed to sunlight every afternoon, it’s a good idea to cover it using a table cloth. Likewise, you can use covers on sofas and chairs to prevent damage.
3. Use It the Right Way
One of the simplest ways of maintaining wooden furniture is to use it with care. To begin with, make sure you use coasters and placemats for keeping cups, glasses, and plates on wooden tables.
It’ll go a long way to protect these surfaces from staining. Likewise, don’t forget to use trivets and potholders for keeping hot and cold utensils on the dining table.
4. Keep It Clean
Who enjoys watching a layer of dust accumulate on their furniture? Absolutely no one. It can make your furniture appear dull and old. The best way to avoid this is to frequently dust every piece of furniture using a soft cotton cloth or microfiber duster.
You could also consider using a lambswool duster for cleaning ornate carvings on vintage wooden furniture. Apart from dusting, you should also occasionally clean your furniture using a solution of mild dish soap mixed with water. This is particularly crucial if you notice any stains on your furniture.
Dip a cotton cloth in the solution and rinse it before using it to wipe wooden surfaces. Next, dampen a cloth with water and wipe every surface with it. Follow it up by wiping each surface with a dry cloth.
A piece of wooden furniture is more than just a showpiece for your home. If properly maintained, it can become a precious possession for future generations in your family. Use the aforementioned care tips to clean and maintain your wooden furniture in pristine condition.