The Wooden Horse’s Weblog

Dry. I’m too dry!

No, this not your skin crying out. It’s your wood furniture. To help your skin, you spread globs of cream or oil. Don’t do that to your fine furniture.

Wood continues to trade moisture with the air as it reacts to the dryness in your home. When moisture is lost, shrinkage occurs. In a season where the home furnace steals moisture, there are guidelines so that you can avoid the ‘no-no’s.

• Maintain a temperature of between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius, with a relative humidity between 35 and 40 percent. In the winter, a humidifier may be needed. Consider adding more plants which will increase the humidity in the room.
• Avoid placing furniture near heat outlets, fireplaces, or space heaters. Keep furniture out of direct sunlight or at least rotate them out of direct sunlight.
• Dryness in wood is not a result of a lack of oil, but a lack of moisture. Furniture oils will temporarily enhance the finish and appearance, but can contribute to the degradation of the finish.
• Spray polishes with silicone should be avoided.
• Moisten a cloth slightly with water, since a damp cloth cuts down on friction. Always wipe in the direction of the grain. Do not let any moisture remain. Avoid feather dusters or the ‘dry’ cloth dust picker uppers as they will leave scratches.
• The preferred method of maintaining a varnished finish is a coat of high quality paste wax. Furniture paste wax is stable and long lasting. It will provide protection from moisture and dust and is not permanent. Wax may not be appropriate for surfaces with a deteriorating finish
• When dusting, always pick up and replace your accessories gently. Rotate accessories or other items placed on the furniture.
• To repair minor scratches and nicks, purchase furniture touchup markers or crayons from your local hardware or ‘build-it’ centre. Minwax ^TM has an excellent range of colours.

With just these few tips, your furniture will remain like new for years to come.