Care Guides

Care Guide

People who take care choosing their furniture want to do everything they can to care for the pieces that they choose in order to be able to enjoy them to their full and in order to ensure they last for generations.

We want to help customers keep their furniture looking as beautiful as it did on the day they first fell in love with it, but if you have any further questions, please ring us on 01799 520056.

Assembly & Moving

  • The first stage of care takes place during the assembly process. It is important, for instance, always to lift furniture when moving it rather than dragging it and putting unnecessary stress on the legs and joints.
  • We recommend that each piece is assembled and installed by at least two people, who can ensure that the units are squared up so that doors and drawers open and close smoothly.
  • Nuts and bolts inevitably work loose over time, so in order to maintain the strength and shape of the furniture it is wise to re-tighten them when required.
  • Any item containing glass needs particularly careful handling and damaged glass can sometimes spontaneously shatter if it is later subjected to stress or extremes of temperature. It is important not to drop items containing glass during the assembly process, and also to always close glass doors with care.
  • It is important to adjust the fifth leg under the large cabinets, dressers and buffets until it touches the floor, in order to provide extra support and prevent any bowing that might later cause difficulty with the opening and closing of drawers.
  • Drawers should be in balance when opened or closed and it is always a good idea to use two hands and both handles when operating the wider ones.
  • It is often tempting to tip back on two legs when sitting in a chair. Not only does this risk the sitter falling backwards and hurting themselves, it also puts great stress on the chair’s joints.
  • Just as it is important to always lift items while assembling them, they also need to be handled respectfully when being used. It is never a good idea to drag tables or cabinets, and chairs should not be slid when people are sitting on them as it places undue stress on the legs and joints.

WOODEN FURNITURE

General Care & Use

  • We recommend that mats or coasters are always used under plates, cups and glasses, whether they are hot or cold.
  • To ensure a spotless finish it is good to wipe over the insides of all wardrobes and drawers with a soft, damp, lint free cloth, and then again with a dry lint free cloth.
  • It is also advisable to wipe up spillages on surfaces immediately with a soft, dry cloth in order to avoid marks or stains, and the same with cushions.
  • It is always a good idea to ensure that the hot wax from candles does not fall onto the surface of tables since removing it can cause damage.
  • Hot cooking oil can also damage a wooden surface, so special care needs to be taken in kitchens.
  • If you are pressing on a wooden surface in order to write something, a useful tip is to place a mat of some sort underneath the paper in order to avoid the pen leaving unsightly indentations.

Cleaning & Maintenance

  • When it comes to cleaning wooden furniture it is wise to brush off loose dirt and dust when dry and to avoid using bleaches.
  • A great deal of research has gone into creating the best finishes possible for our furniture and using any acetone, solvents, bleaching agents or silicon born products may cause irreparable damage.
  • Lacquered Furniture – A lacquered coat offers hard wearing protection from scratches, moisture and heat, and also provides the furniture with a glossy finish. Little maintenance is required: simply dust regularly with a dry cloth.
  • Waxed – A wax finish provides light protection to your furniture. We recommend that your furniture is re-waxed, generally every 2-3 months, but this does depend wildly upon your environment and use. Usually the surface will loose its sheen and colour – then you know it needs re-waxing. Simply apply a good quality wax (we use, and sell Fiddes – click here) according to their instructions. Avoid spray cans and use natural products wherever possible.
  • Oiled – A light oil finish will preserve the wood and enhance its natural characteristics and appearance. Your oiled furniture will generally need oiling every 3-4 months, but this does depend wildly upon your environment and use. We recommend using very fine (no less than 220 grit) sandpaper to lightly sand the surface and remove any small marks and stains. Use a lint-free cloth to wipe any dust away. Then apply the oil, sparingly, in at least 2 coats, to maintain its natural form. Follow the manufacturers instructions, or if in doubt, please ask us.
  • Untreated – Untreated wood showcases the material in its most natural form. Without protection, unfinished furniture is more susceptible to staining. We recommend that you regularly dust your furniture with a damp cloth.
  • Painted – A painted finish will provide your furniture with a good degree of protection. Dust regularly with a slightly damp cloth. Make sure water spots aren’t left as this could permanently stain the furniture. Generally painted furniture doesn’t require much up-keep, but do take care not to apply anything to the surface which could damage or mark it.

Environment

  • Direct sunlight pouring into a room can be very pleasant for humans but normally causes problems with natural materials such as wood! We strongly advise that all wooden furniture is NOT placed in direct sunlight and that is kept in a moderate climate with good ventilation.
  • It is also wise not to expose wooden furniture to unnecessary extremes of temperature by placing it close to radiators, AC units and open fires.
  • In some climates it is important to fumigate houses regularly in order to prevent insects from causing damage to wood and soft furnishings.
  • Most of these suggestions are just common sense and by following these simple steps you will be able to enjoy your furniture for many generations, confident that it will look as good in fifty years as it does on the day you bought it!

 

UPHOLSTERY

Cleaning & Maintenance

Soft upholstered furniture gets just as dusty and dirty as cabinet furniture – the difference is you can’t always see it. Upholstery should be viewed in a similar way to clothing, ie. it needs regular cleaning, ideally by a reputable cleaning company.

  • Try to keep pets off the upholstery and be careful of sharp objects such as belt buckles, toys and watch straps snagging the fabric. If snags do occur, carefully cut off the loose ends with scissors or tuck back in – do not pull them under any circumstances.
  • Discourage lively children from using your new suite as a climbing frame if you want to prolong its life span.
  • Use protective arm caps where possible as this is the area most likely to show wear.
  • Reversible seat and back cushions should be turned regularly and plumped up to maintain their shape. As a guide these cushions should be attended to at least on a weekly basis, but may require daily attention dependant upon type of filling and usage.
  • Upholstery can be lightly vacuumed or gently brushed to remove dust.
  • Strong sunlight can cause fabrics to fade.
  • Certain non-colourfast clothing such as denim can stain light coloured fabric if it comes into regular contact.
  • Sitting on the front edges of cushions or on the arms of furniture may cause distortion or damage.
  • Wood or decorative facings require minimal maintenance, and should be occasionally wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust.
  • Do not use spray polishes or solvent cleaners, as these can have a damaging effect on both the facings and adjoining fabric.
  • Fringes and ruching should be treated with care, especially when vacuuming.
  • Caster cups are useful to reduce indentations on carpets and wood flooring.

Cushion Interiors

  • It is common that interiors will lose at least 10% of their density in the first 3 months, increasing to 20-30% over time. To prolong the life span of interiors where possible cushions should be rotated or seating positions changed regularly.
  • Where fixed seat models are chosen, particular care is needed to avoid ‘side sitting’ (lying or sitting on their edge of interiors) as this can cause excessive dipping of the interior.
  • Daily maintaining is required by vigorously plumping cushions to offer maximum performance, particularly fibre and feather interiors.

Spills & Stains

  • To avoid damaging your upholstery, if you spill something on it, simply act quickly and mop up excess liquid with a clean white cloth.
  • Do not rub and do not use detergents.
  • Vacuum or brush clean your upholstery weekly to remove accumulated dirt, which can cause colours to look faded or dull, but take care if vacuuming delicate fringe and braid details.
  • Plump the cushions at the end of every day of use, particularly those filled with feather or fibre, and also smooth out the surface to prevent permanent creases being formed. Where you can, turn the cushions regularly to equalise wear.
  • Always follow your manufacturer’s cleaning and care label instructions. Clean your upholstery regularly and before soiling becomes ingrained.
  • Clean all parts of a suite together as slight colour changes can sometimes occur.

Motion & Reclining Furniture

  • Motion furniture has many different designs and functions, and it is very important that the manufacturer’s operating and care instructions are correctly followed.