When you purchase furniture, you want to make sure that your investment lasts for as long as possible. The more you take care of your furniture, the longer it is going to last and look brand new. Several things can affect the appearance and longevity of your furniture. Luckily, there are ways to limit the effect they have on your furniture.

Humidity and Solid Wood

Wood has a fickle relationship with moisture. If you were to keep it in damp areas (such as basements, attics, some garages), wood furniture can expand and break down. Which might begin to grow mold, which is a health hazard for you and your family. On the other hand, if there isn’t enough humidity, it can also cause your furniture to dry out, shrink, and crack. Humidity damage is harder to fix than most types of wood damage.

During the dry winter weather, it might be best to use a polish on your wood to refresh it and moisturize the surface. A humidifier with an automatic control system can help maintain a proper level of moisture in the air so that it isn’t too much or too little.

The optimal level to stick with is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% humidity to keep your wood furniture looking its best.

Direct Sunlight on Wood

Sunlight and UV rays are something you might not think about when it comes to your indoor furniture. But how often do we have tables near the windows? Have skylights that shine directly on dining rooms? The placement of your furniture can make a difference as to the preservation of its original look.

Over time, direct sunlight can cause your table’s colors to warp and fade. UV-resistant coatings can help to slow down this process, but it will continue to happen just the same. That amount of direct sunlight can also cause intense heat and could cause your wood furniture to dry out. In more severe cases, this means the wood could physically split. This could lead to repairs or having to replace the furniture altogether.

To avoid a sunlight problem, there are a few fixes:

1)  Keep the table out of sunlight from the windows
2)  Install blinds/curtains to block out the sun
3)  Use window films to lessen the sun’s effect

Water and Wooden Furniture

It’s a pretty common occurrence to get water or some liquid on furniture. Whether you have a spill or a water ring from condensation, it can sometimes be hard to avoid. This tends to stain the wood and leave patterns behind where the water damage took place. Lighter stains mean that the liquids haven’t penetrated very far, but darker water stains are more worrisome.

If you find you require something new, check out our website to get a solid wood table that can be customized for size, style, and stains.

“Art is the product of an imperfect world. In a perfect world, art would not exist.”

― Marty Rubin

Wormholes. Hairline cracks. Growth rings. These all sounds so lovely, don’t they?

The truth is, nothing makes your Farmhouse table stand out more than the imperfections in the wood which it’s crafted from. That’s because like a snowflake and fingerprint, no two boards of wood are the same, no matter what climate, forest, or tree they come from.

Each piece of wood has its own natural appeal and characteristics brought out by the grain, texture, and patterns. Its this special combination which makes your table uniquely beautiful.

Grain Beauty

When we talk about the grain in wood, we are actually talking about the way the wood cells are positioned. There are actually six variations of grain, all unique in their respective appearance.  These grain patterns accentuate the rustic look in your table and give it their one of a kind beauty.

Let’s look at them in greater detail.

• A straight grain pattern means the fibrous components, as well as the cells, run parallel to the tree trunk vertical plane
• Irregular wood grain mostly happens around knots, making the lines irregular and sporadic
• Diagonal grain, usually the result from the inability of the straight-grained log to be sawn parallel to the vertical axis
• Spiral grain which comes due to twisting of the fibers around the tree trunk
• Interlocked grains occur when different layer of the wood are moving in different directions
• A wavy grain will appear when happens when the direction of the fibers constantly change

Texture

The texture of wood also refers to the amount and variation in size of the cells in the wood.

If the cells are wide and large with many pores the texture is known as coarse-grained. If they are smaller cells with fewer pores, it’s known as fine-grained.

When a table is finished by the craftsman, they decide whether to fill in the pores or not.  Depending on how the table will be used, they may decide to keep it rough or open-grained, or more tight which is known as close-grained.

Figures, Patterns, and Character Marks

Different patterns occur when innate features of the wood interact. These include rays, irregular grain, growth rings, and color deposits. These patterns in turn result in what’s known as figures.

For example, irregular grain in burls and crotches cause either feather or plum-pudding figures. Interlocked grains cause Bird’s-eye and ribbon figures. Wavy grain creates tiger stripe or fiddleback figures which hold their own specific looks.

Character marks distinguish your table even further.  These include ingrown knots, tracks left by the insects that lived on the trees the wood was sourced from, as well as bird pecks.

When All Is Said and Done…

Imperfections are what bring out the inherent beauty in your real wood table.  These set your table apart from all the other cookie cutter choices out there, and will quickly become the most talked about piece of furniture in your home.

Your farmhouse table is the show piece of your dining area.  And while a solid wood table is sturdy and durable, it still needs some love and attention (don’t we all?) in order to look its best while maintaining its rustic appearance and character.

The good news is even the most basic forms of regular care will have your table lasting years.  With just a little upkeep, your table will be the place family and friends gather to share meals and socialize for generations to come.

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your table looking it best without much effort.

Start with prevention

The first thing to be mindful of is the room where your table will call its home.  If there are big swings in temperature and humidity, it could lead to the table warping, shrinking, splitting, or cracking. Keeping room temperature consistent is imperative to prevent the table from experiencing structural damage.

Avoid direct sunlight if possible. Drapery and shades will help mute the sunlight, just be sure there are no leaks where a sustained, direct beam hits the table for a prolonged period of time.

Also, keep your table away from direct heat sources such as radiators, wood stoves, or forced hot air vents.  This will go a long way in keeping excessive heat exposure away from your table.

Spills and Stains

Wood is absorptive, so therefore it is sensitive to many substances. Do you best to clean or blot all spills immediately as they can damage the finish if left to sit too long.

Here’s an article about removing stains if you don’t catch them quickly enough.

Don’t risk damage to your wood table by placing containers with chemicals like nail polish remover, paint thinner, or even an open paint can directly on the table.  Better yet, try to avoid it completely. It’s a dining table after all.

Using placemats for your place settings and silverware help prevent scratches and marks from the temperature of your dishes.  Place hot serving plates on trivets or potholders, never directly on the table.

Dusting

Routine dusting removes particles that settle on your table.  If this is let go for too long, a layer can build up leading to scratches on the surface. A clean, dry, soft cloth or feather duster can be effective as a first response against dust.

Best choices for dusting your rustic style wooden table include:

• Feather duster – ostrich feather duster for delicate wooden surfaces.
• Treated cloths – no scratch material that is treated to pick up and hold the dust.
• Microfiber cloth – for a soft, even dusting (you can also polish with it).
• Terry towel – remove moisture left if you use a wet cloth for dusting.
• Lint free cotton – cloths like clean t-shirts and baby nappies.

Now that your table is dusted, it’s time to give it a good cleaning.  Here are five things you should not do when cleaning your solid wood table:

1. Don’t use all-purpose cleaners as some contain bleach and other corrosive chemicals that corrode the solid wood stain finish.
2. Don’t use too much water on the solid farmhouse table since it will soak in and damage the wood or at the least, leave a water stain.
3. Don’t use a tough cloth or synthetic material that will grind the wood and cause small scratches.
4. Don’t use a tough brush as this might scratch the table. A soft toothbrush can be used for hard to reach underside corners.
5. Don’t lift the table on one side to reach the bottom as this weakens the base and leg joints.

Regular cleaning of your table will accentuate the wood’s look while protecting it from fading. To safely and caringly clean a solid wood table, follow these easy steps;

• Treat sticky spots or congealed dirt with a mild soap and water solution.
• Dampen a soft cloth in the soapy water and wring completely.
• Wipe the areas softly allowing for the soap to loosen the dirty spot.
• Rinse cloth in clean water and dry wipe the entire table.

Once your table is clean and dry, you can then proceed to polish it if you want. Pledge or Murphy’s Oil will be your best choices to get the job done right.

Just keep in mind, you don’t need to polish the table every time you clean it.

If your table isn’t used often (for example a dining room table only for holidays and family occasions) you may choose to just polish the table before get togethers. Even if it’s used more often, a quarterly polish may be all that’s needed.

Finally, waxing can be done once a year to provide a hard protective cover to the wood and keep it looking brand new.