How to Care for the Woodwork in Your House
Your kitchen was just redone, and it looks phenomenal, but now you’re terrified of destroying the place. Regardless of how many felt stickers you put on chair legs, or how diligent you are about keeping your cabinets and tables clean, your wooden surfaces will eventually begin to wear with time. When that time comes, don’t freak out! It’s absolutely normal for this to be the case. With that said, minimizing wear for as long as possible is a path worth pursuing, and as long as you follow these steps outlined, the wooden surfaces in your home should outlive your grandkid’s grandkids.
Prevention
The best offense is a good defense, so rather than going crazy with oils, varnishes and sandpaper right away, take the time now to familiarize yourself with some simple, key steps that will easily fit into your clean up routine. Not only will implementing these easy tips make your space look incredible at all times, but it will also ensure that you won’t need to do anything restorative for as long as possible. The golden rules for preventing wear on your wooden furniture are simple. They are:
Keep it dry - The number one enemy of woodwork is water. That’s why it’s important to keep all wooden surfaces as dry as possible. The most susceptible areas in your home are areas near sinks, dishwashers, windows, and heaters due to their proximity to humidity and moisture. Make sure to dry up any spills as they happen, and periodically wipe down the areas that may collect moisture due to humidity, regardless of if they feel wet to the touch.
Keep it clean - When wood stays dusty for an extended period of time, the dust may get ground into the wood, creating micro-scratches and light scarring. To counteract this, keep wood surfaces clean and free of grit by dusting them often with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using kitchen dishcloths because they may have harmful chemicals, crumbs, and other residues that could scratch or dry out the wood. When completing your normal counter washes, use a light soap and water on a separate cloth, rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
Maintenance
If you follow the previous steps well, you shouldn’t need to do these steps any time soon. With that said, mistakes happen, and eventually, you will have to step in to maintain or deep clean your furniture. When you find a stain or a weak area in the finish, get to it as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the less chance you will have on being able to solve the problem.
Removing light stains - When approaching stained woodworking, it is especially vital that you respond to it ASAP. The longer a mark has to set, the harder it will be to remove it. When you do, use a non-alkaline soap (a lighter dish soap should be fine), and scrub lightly with a clean microfiber cloth, making sure only to wipe with the grain of the wood. Once the stain has been removed, rinse well with water, and dry thoroughly.
Touching up paint or topcoat - When refinishing sections of your house’s woodworking, the key is product and colour matching. Inquire with your builder about what they used to treat the wood, or better yet, ask for a repair kit. If you are only able to use what you can find in the store, make sure to follow the instructions indicated on the label, and test the colour in an inconspicuous area first. It’s important to note that not all topcoats can be patched in well, and you may need to refinish the full surface to make sure the coating is even. For a breakdown on topcoats, click here.
Restoration
Sooner or later (hopefully later), your wood will be so scratched, stained and scarred that you will be unable to buff it out with a lint-free rag and some dish soap. When that time comes, we recommend that you consult a professional; they will know exactly what to use, how to do it, and how long it will take. Hiring a third party will grant you peace of mind, because nobody can guarantee success for your DIY project. With that said, for those of you who choose the “do it yourself” route for restoring your furniture, hardwood floors, or cabinetry, here are some tips to give you the best chance of success:
Clean Surface: Make sure to follow the steps in section #1 in order to ensure that your wood is prepped for treatment.
Strip surface: After carefully cleaning the surface you are restoring, it’s time to delicately strip the old treatment off of your wood. More often than not, this will entail putting a few drops of a solvent onto the wood, waiting a short period, then wiping it away. For a full breakdown of what solvent your wood finish needs, click here. Make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area before working with harmful chemicals.
Sand and Prime: Now that you have a bare wood surface, it’s time to sand the surface. Sanding with the grain, start with 120 grit sandpaper, and work your way up to 400 grit, or as high as you would like.
Re-finish and protect: once your surface is completely prepped, you may refinish your wood to the appropriate style that you like. When picking a finish, it’s important to choose one that will work best with your wood type. Click here for a full list of finishes and how to get the most out of each. After refinishing your surface, consider applying a protective layer, if applicable.
The beautiful woodworking in your spaces is a massive part of what makes your house a home. It can bring brightness, warmth or contrast to your spaces. Even though it may take a bit of extra work, the tools and techniques above will ensure that your precious surfaces will look incredible for years to come. The longer your furniture lasts, the more character they bring on, and the more stories they begin to tell. After a while, the piece stops being just furniture and becomes something you’re attached to and love; a member of the family.