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