Wood
Wood is a natural material. This means that no two pieces of wooden furniture can ever be exactly the same. Visible graining, small knots and variations in colour and structure are part of the natural appearance of the wood and make each piece of furniture unique.
The colour of the wood changes over time as a result of the furniture being exposed to daylight. The biggest change in colour occurs in the first part of the furniture’s lifetime. In addition, vases, placemats, decorative objects or throws can leave shadows on the surface of the wood if they are left in the same place for a long period of time.
Be aware that steel and iron objects can cause permanent black stains on wooden furniture, as these metals react with the wood’s tannins.
To prevent the furniture drying out, we recommend that you do not place it in direct sunlight.
Wooden furniture does not tolerate water or other liquids in large quantities, as these can cause cracks in the wood and warping of the furniture.
The wood breathes, works and adapts to its environment. Therefore, wooden furniture should not be placed in rooms with fluctuating humidity levels. Large fluctuations in humidity can cause cracks in the wood and lead to loose joints. We recommend that you do not keep wooden furniture close to heat sources or in unheated rooms.
The best way to clean and maintain your wooden furniture depends on the surface treatment of the wood. See our recommendations for oiled wood furniture, soap-treated wood furniture and lacquered wood furniture below.
Choose material
Oiled wood
Day-to-day cleaning: Always clean wooden furniture as gently as possible. For day-to-day cleaning, we recommend using a clean, dry cloth. Do not use damp cloths on oil-treated surfaces if this can be avoided. If stains or other dirt cannot be removed with a dry cloth, try using a soft cloth dampened in lukewarm, clean water and then well wrung out. Wipe the surface with a dry cloth immediately afterwards. Wipe in the direction of the wood’s grain.
Never use any kind of strong cleaning agents or chemicals on wooden furniture. Never use scouring pads, steel wool or similar, as this will damage the surface.
Maintenance: If your wooden furniture is oiled, you can retreat it with furniture oil as needed.
In order to treat furniture with oil, you will need a clean cloth, a sanding sponge or fine sandpaper (180 or 240 grit) and furniture oil. Never use pure linseed oil for any maintenance of wooden furniture.
- First, clean the furniture with a clean cloth dampened in clean, warm water and wrung out.
- Then let the furniture dry. It is important that the furniture is completely clean and dry before starting the treatment.
- Lightly sand the surface of the furniture with a sanding sponge or fine sandpaper (180 or 240 grit) before applying the oil. It is important to sand in the direction of the wood’s grain. After sanding, wipe the furniture with a clean, dry cloth to remove dust residue. Then treat the furniture with oil as described below.
- Do not pour the oil directly onto the wood. Apply the oil with a clean white cloth or sponge.
- Apply the oil in the direction of the grain in a fine, even layer. It is important to treat the entire surface of the furniture.
- Allow the oil to dry for about two hours, then remove any excess oil with a clean, dry cloth.
- Allow the furniture to dry for a minimum of 12 hours and avoid placing anything on the furniture or covering the furniture until it is completely dry.
- PLEASE NOTE: Oily cloths can spontaneously combust and must therefore be disposed of properly. We recommend storing oily cloths in a closed plastic or metal container with a little water added.
Soap-treated wood
Day-to-day cleaning: Clean wooden furniture as gently as possible. We recommend regular cleaning with a clean, soft cloth dampened in lukewarm water and wrung out. Do not use any kind of strong cleaning agents or chemicals on wooden furniture. Never use scouring pads, steel wool or similar, as this will damage the surface.
Dirt and grease stains should be removed with a mild soap solution. Use ¼ dl of soap shavings to 1 litre of warm water. Once the stains have been removed, wipe the entire surface with the soap mixture. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth that has been well wrung out.
Maintenance: If your wooden furniture is soap-treated, you can retreat it as needed.
In order to treat furniture with soap, you will need: High-quality soap shavings mixed according to the product instructions and a sanding sponge or very fine sandpaper (180 or 240 grit).
- Lightly sand the surface of the furniture with a sanding sponge or very fine sandpaper (180 or 240 grit).
- Clean the furniture with a soft cloth dampened in warm water and wrung out. It is important that the furniture is completely clean before treatment.
- Boil a litre of water and mix it with a decilitre of soap shavings. Make sure all the soap shavings have dissolved.
- Cool the mixture to room temperature before use.
- Apply the soap solution with a dry cloth or sponge in the direction of the grain, covering the entire piece of furniture.
- Then wait about 10 minutes.
- Wipe off any excess soap with a clean sponge or cloth dampened in clean, warm water and wrung out.
- Leave the furniture to dry at room temperature.
The wood might rise after the first soap treatments. If this happens, use a sanding sponge or fine sandpaper (180 or 240 grit) to sand the entire piece of furniture. Always sand in the direction of the grain. After sanding the furniture, it is necessary to apply another soap treatment.
Lacquered wood
Day-to-day cleaning: Clean wooden furniture as gently as possible. We recommend regular cleaning with a clean, soft cloth dampened in lukewarm water and wrung out and possibly a neutral cleaning agent. Wipe with a clean cloth to remove any cleaning agent residue. Do not use any kind of strong cleaning agents or chemicals on wooden furniture. Never use scouring pads, steel wool or similar, as this will damage the surface.
Maintenance: If your wooden furniture is lacquered, regular maintenance is not necessary. Lacquering is equivalent to sealing the surface, making it difficult for dirt to penetrate the wood. This also means that once scratches or pressure marks appear on the lacquered surface, they cannot be removed.