Furniture Care
In order to care for and extend the life of your beautiful new furniture, please review the following guidelines.
Furniture Placement
The placement of your furniture can affect its longevity. Placing your furniture in temperate spaces and avoiding excessive sunlight, heat, dryness, or moisture will prolong the life of your furniture. This might mean not placing your furniture in full direct sunlight, directly near a heat source such as a heater, fireplace or air-conditioner, in an overly cold or dry environment (such as directly underneath an air conditioning outlet), and in similar extremes of temperature or humidity. All of our items are designed for indoor use only.
Anchoring
To help prevent furniture tipping, which can lead to serious injury, we recommend anchoring pieces securely to a wall or another suitable surface, anchoring heavy items such as televisions placed on top of the item separately (so having an anchor point for each separate item), and using fixing points such as drawer locks to prevent children from climbing and changing the balance point of an item.
Daily Care
We recommend using a soft chamois, dust cloth, or feather duster on a daily basis to keep your furniture clean and dust free. Use place mats and coasters to protect items – if it is too hot or too cold to handle comfortably, it is too hot or too cold to place directly on furniture. Clean up any spills quickly with a clean cloth – although items are finished, water or other spills may change the finish if left on the surface. Use mild pH cleaners, such as mild soapy water and a clean cloth, rather than harsh multipurpose or abrasive cleaners, silicone based cleaners, or petroleum based cleaners. Some more specific recommendations for different types of furniture are shown below.
Timber
Timber is a natural product, and as such can move over time. Most timber will move over time with variations in air moisture and the moisture in the timber, and this is to be expected, particularly with solid timber furniture. Our timber products are naturally dried so large movement is not to be expected, but to further minimise natural timber movement we recommend placing timber furniture away from direct sources of heat and cold, such as strong direct sunlight or air conditioning outlets.
All timber items will come with minor variations such as knots, colour variations, and minor cracks/splits, which create the unique character of each piece and are not considered flaws – no two pieces are the same.
Any spills should be cleaned quickly with a clean cloth to protect the finish.
Hot and cold items should be placed on timber furniture only with protection such as coasters, appropriate thickness placemats, or similar.
The surface of timber furniture should also be protected from substances which are not pH neutral, such as store-bought cleaners, oils including essential oils, glue, plastic bases such as lamp bases – as some plastics can contain ingredients which can react with the finish on furniture items, and creams or polishes. Always clean your timber furniture with a pH neutral cleaner – mild soapy water is recommended – and a soft clean cloth for best results.
We also recommend protecting the surface of your timber furniture from mechanical pressure, so this might mean using a soft dry cloth to clean your timber furniture rather than an abrasive cloth or sponge, and using protective padding if you are using your timber furniture as a writing surface, particularly if you are writing with a pencil or ball-point pen.
We recommend applying a high-quality natural furniture wax every 3-6 months to help maintain your timber. Timber needs to be polished regularly to maintain optimum condition – polishing cleans and nourishes the wood, protects it and highlights its character. It can also help to minimise movement and protects the finish from minor spills. When polishing, work along the grain of the timber, rub in the polish well and buff immediately, making sure you polish out all scratches. Avoid applying too much polish or wax as this will build up long term. Please note that slight variations in color and an incomplete seal may occur with any sealant; Always test on an inconspicuous area first.
Painted Furniture
Painted furniture can be cared for by keeping clean and dust free with a duster or soft cloth, gently cleaning with a pH neutral cleaner when required, and drying the furniture with a clean, dry, soft cloth once cleaning has been completed. Painted furniture should also be protected from pressure, excessive heat and cold, and abrasion. We recommend adding felt bumpers to items placed on top of painted furniture, to protect the painted surfaces from indentation.
Cane and Rattan
Cane and rattan are natural products. Rattan can be easily cleaned using a clean dry soft to medium-bristle brush, and by spot cleaning with a pH neutral cleaner such as mild soapy water if required. If spot cleaning, the area should be cleaned again with a damp cloth, then dried quickly with a dry clean cloth, as rattan can take on excessive water which can affect the finish, although it is moisture resistant to some degree.
Fabric
Fabric furniture can fade over time, and this can be minimised by avoiding prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or daylight over a prolonged time. Pilling can also occur over time, and is a natural part of owning fabric furniture. Pilling can be professionally removed from time to time by an industry professional. If available, follow the care instructions on furniture labels, and always spot test before applying any cleaning or protective products such as scotch guard. Some shrinkage over time is also natural for fabric products. We recommend regular professional cleaning by an industry professional for fabric furniture for best results.
Leather
Leather can be protected by keeping it clean and dust free, and cleaning with a soft cloth. Protect leather furniture from strong light, heat and cold sources, and from substances such as oils, creams, and any substance which can affect the surface finish of the leather. Quickly remove spills and excess moisture by blotting dry with a clean dry cloth.
Leather can scratch if it comes into contact with keys, pocket studs, buckles, and even pets – we recommend protecting from surface scratches by treating your leather furniture with care. Always check labels before applying waxes or cleaners to your leather furniture, and engage the services of an industry professional if in doubt.
As leather is a natural product, each piece of leather furniture has its own unique characteristics, which gives the piece its individual charm and character.
Glass
Glass and mirrored furniture can be kept clean and dust free with a soft clean cloth or duster. We recommend using protective coasters and mats where appropriate to protect your glass and mirrored furniture from hot and cold items, and using felt bumpers on items that you are placing on top of your glass or mirrored furniture to protect the surface.
Stone
Stone and marble is naturally porous. Clean gently with neutral pH cleaners, avoid any substances which are not pH neutral, particularly acidic substances, having direct contact with the surface of your stone and marble furniture. Quickly clean any spills with a clean dry cloth to prevent staining. We recommend using coasters and protective layers so that items such as dishes and glasses are not placed directly onto a stone or marble surface. Use felt bumpers on items which are placed on top of stone and marble furniture, such as lamps, ginger jars, or prints. Protect the stone or marble surface with a suitable protective padding if using the item as a writing surface. If required, to further protect your item, have a suitable stone sealer applied by an industry professional for best results.
Metal
Metal items have their own individual characteristics. Rust and distressing may be present in some of the metal items, and forms the character and charm of each piece. Please keep your floors in mind, and use protective bumpers or sliders if required. Keep your metal furniture dry to prevent changes to the finish. Use pH neutral cleaners and soft, clean, dry cloths to clean. Damp clean cloths can be used from time to time, followed by a clean dry cloth to keep the metal surface dry. Protect from scratching or marking by not cutting or marking with hard or sharp items, and by using felt bumpers on any items placed on top of your metal furniture, such as lamps or mirrors. Do not apply abrasive cleaners or use abrasive cloths, and keep dust free with a chamois, dust cloth, or similar.