Furniture care tips

If you invest a little time in caring for your wooden furniture, you will enjoy it for a long time.

Wood oiled or leached
Oiled natural wood surfaces are protected against dirt and liquids by their sealant. This "open-pored" sealant soaks into the wood or evaporates over time, which is why it needs to be reapplied regularly. For maintenance, wipe the surface with damp cotton cloths. Reapply a suitable oil about every 6 months and then polish with a lint-free cloth. Oils penetrate quickly and leave the pores of the natural material open, refreshing both the colour and the grain. Particularly suitable are natural resin oil impregnations and paraffin oil, but also rapeseed, olive and walnut oil, which, when applied regularly, ensure a permanently beautiful and shiny surface. Wax (a mixture of carnauba wax and beeswax) has also proven very effective, as it also provides a high level of abrasion protection. Surfaces treated with linseed oil mixtures get a lasting shine as well as water-repelling properties. For cleaning, wipe the surfaces with soapy water. If liquids spill, dry the wet areas immediately with a cloth or kitchen paper. Occasionally rub a natural resin oil impregnation or paraffin oil into heavily stressed surfaces, allow to act for 5-10 minutes and then remove any excess with a clean, lint-free linen cloth and polish the area. Gently remove heavy soiling, scratches, and stains with 280 grit sandpaper, then treat with vegetable soap, allow to dry and re-oil. Clean damaged and heavily worn areas with plant soap. After each treatment, the area should be thinly re-oiled: Apply the oil once and let it soak in. Apply oil again, let it work for 10 minutes and remove any excess with a clean, lint-free linen cloth. Simply heat candle wax on a table surface with a hair dryer. As soon as it becomes soft and begins to melt, it can be wiped off with a paper towel. A subsequent treatment with vinegar water will make the stain disappear.

Waxed wood
Waxed wood is very sensitive to moisture and should only be wiped with a white, damp cotton cloth and then immediately rubbed dry. Immediately dab off leaking liquids with a dry cloth or kitchen paper. Clean with soapy water and then rub dry.

Solid wood furniture
Dust should be removed from the furniture surface before care. A soft, dry, or damp cloth is recommended for care, always wiping the surface in the direction of the grain. The cloth should be slightly damp and never wet and should be used with light pressure to prevent the surface from swelling. Coarse-pored wood types are best only dry so that dust cannot settle in the pores. Furniture polish can be used once a year. Apply a little polish to a soft cloth and carefully rub the furniture. After the specified exposure time, remove the polish residue to prevent stains. Waxing occasionally with a beeswax care emulsion and then polishing gives the surfaces a new shine and also makes dull spots shine again, although in this case the wax layer should be wafer-thin. For stains and heavy soiling, a special wax balm cleaner is recommended. Then apply a very thin layer of beeswax and polish after drying. Sand off larger damages carefully with 280 grit sandpaper, treat the raw wood with a natural resin oil impregnation and re-wax.

Untreated wood
Care and cleaning of untreated wood surfaces is the same as for "Waxed wood". Remove stubborn stains carefully with 280 grit sandpaper. Treat larger dents and scratches on matte, untreated wooden furniture with hot water: To do this, apply the water to the damaged area, creating a swelling effect. Alternatively, wood putty in a matching colour can be applied to the wood with a spatula brought up to temperature. After drying, remove the excess putty residue with a brush or cloth and level the surface. If necessary, the area can be carefully sanded afterwards.