Furniture care
Quality Deserves Great Care
With just a little care, genuine Amish hardwood furniture will last a lifetime—several lifetimes. Taking good care of your solid wood furniture ensures that it will be beautiful and useful for years to come. It's surprisingly simple to protect and enhance hardwood's natural beauty. Here are some tips to be sure you get the most from your Amish Furniture.
Dusting Your Amish-Made Furniture
Dusting often removes everyday abrasive particles from wood surfaces. Before dusting, lightly moisten a soft cloth (old T-shirt, baby diaper, or cheesecloth that's been laundered) with a few drops of water or furniture cleaner. A dry cloth can leave hairline scratches on the finish. The trick is to slightly moisten the material just enough to make dust adhere to it. The fabric should not be so damp that it wets the wood. Dust by following the grain pattern of the wood. When dusting, always lift lamps and other objects; don't slide them across the furniture's surface.
Polishing Hardwood Furniture
Wood finishes benefit from occasional polishing. Polish with a non-silicone and wax-free polish, approximately once a month.
We don’t recommend waxing since it does not do much to protect the wood. Remove old residue with a mild non-alkaline soap and water solution.
Care Tips for Everyday Use
Amish furniture is made to be used and enjoyed, and accidents happen, especially when small children are at home. Take these steps to keep damage from everyday life to a minimum.
Lift and place objects. Do not drag them across the furniture surface
Use pads, cloth, or coasters to prevent spills, stains, and damage
Use coasters and trivets with non-scratching bottoms underneath glasses and serving dishes
Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen
Protect your finish by using felt under all accessories
Blot all spills immediately
Avoid placing plastic or rubber objects on the wood finish, as their ingredients react with those of the finish
Avoid the use of solvents, alcohol, nail polish, and polish removers near your furniture surfaces
Always lift furniture to move it; don't drag it
Open and close doors, drawers, and lids gently
Avoid placing sharp objects directly on a table or furniture surface
Heat, Humidity, and Hardwoods
Half the weight of freshly sawn wood is water. Furniture is crafted from wood that is carefully dried, retaining just enough moisture for the table to acclimate to the relative humidity in your home correctly. The wood in furniture continues to exchange water with the air, shrinking and expanding in response to heat and humidity changes. Here are some ways to ensure your solid hardwood furniture's longevity:
Avoid drastic humidity changes. Use a humidifier in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer to keep the relative humidity at 25 to 45 percent to prevent warping and cracking.
Keep out of reach of direct continued sunlight and away from heat sources such as furnace ducts, radiators, and fireplaces.
Store table leaves as close as possible to the table so that the table leaves are adjusting to the same relative humidity as the table. Be sure not to store them in a damp basement or garage.