| With just a little Tender Loving Furniture | | | | is to rub with walnut or Brazil nut meat in |
| Care, genuine hardwood furniture will last | | | | the direction of the scratch. A child's |
| several lifetimes. Consider grandfather's | | | | crayon or felt-tipped marker can also be |
| roll-top desk - a valued treasure passed on | | | | used.Cherry Furniture - Fill the scratches |
| from generation to generation. Taking good | | | | with cordovan or reddish shoe polish that |
| care of your solid hardwood furniture ensures | | | | matches the wood, or apply darkened iodine |
| its continued longevity.Heat, Humidity and | | | | with a cotton swab or thin artist's |
| Hardwoods Did you know that up to half the | | | | brush.Light Wood or Stain - Fill the |
| weight of freshly sawn wood is water? | | | | scratches with a tan or natural shoe polish, |
| Furniture is crafted from wood that has been | | | | or apply darkened iodine diluted 50 percent |
| carefully dried, retaining just enough | | | | with denatured alcohol.Stain Removal Today's |
| moisture for the furniture to properly | | | | high-performance finishes demand special and |
| acclimate to the relative humidity in your | | | | careful attention when it comes to stain |
| home. The wood in wood furniture continues to | | | | removal. While there are countless remedies |
| exchange moisture with the air, shrinking and | | | | for stains, some may actually damage the |
| expanding in response to changes in relative | | | | furniture's finish. If you're at all unsure, |
| humidity.Like your own skin, solid hardwood | | | | you should call a |
| furniture's natural response to extremely dry | | | | |
| air is to lose moisture and shrink a bit. The | | | | professional refinisher.These common stains |
| halves of an extension table may part | | | | often can be treated with do-it-yourself |
| slightly or a few tiny openings may appear on | | | | furniture first aid. But bear in mind: always |
| a solid wood surface. This will correct | | | | test your remedy on a small area to see if it |
| itself as the relative humidity rises, and | | | | removes the stain without disturbing or |
| the wood furniture absorbs enough moisture to | | | | damaging the finish.Stain TreatmentWater |
| expand slightly.On the other hand, if you | | | | Marks and Rings - Often rings are in the |
| don't have an air conditioner or | | | | wax, not the finish. Cover the stain with a |
| dehumidifier, your home's relative humidity | | | | clean, thick blotter, press down with a warm |
| may get too high. Parts of your wood | | | | iron, and repeat. Or rub with salad oil, |
| furniture may absorb excess moisture from the | | | | mayonnaise or white toothpaste. Wipe dry and |
| air and expand, perhaps causing drawers to | | | | wax or polish.White Marks - Rub with a cloth |
| stick. Once again, this will correct itself | | | | dipped in a mixture of cigarette ashes and |
| as your home's relative humidity decreases. | | | | lemon juice or salad oil. Or rub with a cloth |
| The furniture's quality and sturdiness are | | | | dipped in lighter fluid, followed by a |
| not affected by these natural changes.Here | | | | mixture of |
| are some ways to ensure your solid hardwood | | | | |
| furniture's longevity: | | | | rottenstone and salad oil. Wipe dry and wax |
| | | | or polish.Milk or Alcohol - Use your fingers |
| For your comfort, as well as to provide | | | | to rub liquid or paste wax into the stain. Or |
| proper furniture care, use a humidifier in | | | | rub in a paste of boiled linseed oil and |
| the winter and an air conditioner in the | | | | rottenstone with the grain, substituting |
| summer to keep the relative humidity at 25 to | | | | pumice for dull finishes. Or rub with ammonia |
| 35 percent. Avoid placing furniture directly | | | | on a dampened cloth. Wipe dry and wax or |
| in front of radiators, heat ducts or | | | | polish.Other Home RemediesDuring everyday |
| fireplaces.Don't expose hardwood furniture, | | | | use, your hardwood furniture may be subjected |
| or any other wood furniture, to continuous | | | | to mishaps and spills which temporarily mar |
| direct sunlight. Draw the curtains | | | | its finish.Problem TreatmentCigarette Burns |
| occasionally.Store table leaves as close as | | | | (light) - Rub with scratch-concealing polish, |
| possible to the table. Keep them in an | | | | or with a paste of linseed oil and |
| upstairs closet rather than in a damp | | | | rottenstone, working with the grain until the |
| basement, so that the table leaves are | | | | burn mark disappears.Heat Marks - Rub gently |
| adjusting to the same relative humidity as | | | | along the grain, using a dry steel wool soap |
| the table they fit.Tender Loving Furniture | | | | pad or a cloth dampened with camphorated oil |
| Care It's surprisingly simple to protect and | | | | or mineral spirits, or rub gently along the |
| enhance hardwood's natural beauty. All that's | | | | grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe |
| needed is some tender loving care. Here are a | | | | clean and wax or polish.Nail Polish - Blot |
| few tips from the experts: | | | | the spill immediately, then rub with fine |
| | | | steel wool (0) dipped in wax. Wipe dry and |
| - Read the manufacturer's care directions | | | | wax or polish.Paint Marks - If fresh, remove |
| carefully and keep them handy for future | | | | latex paint with water and oil-based paint |
| reference. | | | | with mineral spirits. If dry, soak spot in |
| | | | boiled linseed oil, wait until paint softens |
| - Dust with a soft cloth by following the | | | | and lift carefully with a putty knife or wipe |
| grain pattern of the wood. Use an old | | | | with cloth dampened with boiled linseed |
| T-shirt, baby diaper or cheesecloth that's | | | | |
| been laundered to remove the sizing. Dust | | | | oil. Residue can be removed by rubbing along |
| often to remove everyday abrasive particles | | | | the grain with a paste of boiled linseed oil |
| from wood surfaces. Before dusting,moisten | | | | and rottenstone. Wipe dry and wax or |
| cloth lightly with a spray product. A dry | | | | polish.Sticking Paper - Dampen the paper |
| cloth can leave hairline scratches on the | | | | thoroughly with salad oil, wait five minutes |
| finish. | | | | and rub along the grain with extra-fine |
| | | | (0000) steel wool. Wipe dry and wax or |
| - Surfaces also can be cleaned with a mild | | | | polish.Wax or Gum - Harden the substance by |
| non-alkaline soap and water. Use the suds on | | | | holding an ice cube wrapped in cloth against |
| a damp sponge or cloth, but be sure to | | | | it, then use your fingernail or plastic |
| pretest the solution on an | | | | credit card to remove it. Rub the area with |
| out-of-sight-section to make sure it doesn't | | | | |
| damage the finish. Dry immediately with a | | | | extra-fine (0000) steel wool dipped in |
| soft cloth and buff lightly, following the | | | | mineral spirits. Wipe dry and wax or |
| grain. | | | | polish.Keep Your Furniture Looking Great |
| | | | Furniture is made to be used and enjoyed and |
| - Wood finishes benefit from an occasional | | | | accidents happen, especially when there are |
| waxing or polishing. A paste wax can be | | | | small children at home. Take the following |
| applied every six to twelve months. Remove | | | | steps to keep damage from everyday life to a |
| old wax first with a mild non-alkaline soap | | | | minimum.Unless your furniture has a new |
| and water solution. | | | | "super finish" to protect it, use coasters to |
| | | | prevent spills, stains and damage from hot |
| - Avoid waxing urethane-finished furniture. | | | | dishes. Blot all spills immediately. Keep |
| Waxing these surfaces causes them to gather | | | | solvents, alcohol, nail polish and polish |
| dust and dirt rather than repel it.Repairs | | | | removers away from your furniture |
| Made Simple Minor damage to solid hardwood | | | | surfaces.When dusting, always lift lamps and |
| furniture can be repaired quickly and | | | | other objects - don't slide then across the |
| effectively with the right materials, a bit | | | | furniture's surface. Always lift furniture to |
| of elbow grease, and some careful attention | | | | move it - don't drag it. Open and close |
| to detail. More complex repair or refinishing | | | | doors, drawers and |
| jobs are best left to the professionals, | | | | |
| especially if the piece has one of todays | | | | lids gently.Michael Domeck is a trainer and |
| "super finishes".Scratch and Nick First Aid | | | | a mentor working with students from all walks |
| When preparing to repair small nicks or | | | | of life. As a Mentor he has become very |
| scratches, always test an inconspicuous area | | | | astute with many different Niches as he has |
| of the furniture first to make certain the | | | | helped his students. As a trainer he has |
| mixture won't damage the finish.Finish | | | | worked with 100's of students helping them to |
| Treatment Dark Wood or stain - Fill the | | | | acheive their dreams. Visit for more tips |
| scratches with shoe polish that matches the | | | | on furniture. |
| lightest shade of the finish. Another method | | | | |