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