Home Furnishings > Wood Care

Moderate to serious damage of fine wood furniture requires the help of a professional. For simple everyday wear try these remedies:

• To remove cloudiness
  Rub surface with cloth dipped in solution of 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a quart of water. Rub with the grain until surface is completely dry. Follow with application of furniture oil or polish.
• To remove water rings
  Rub with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and cooking oil, rubbing with the grain.
• To remove heat marks
  Coat area with mayonnaise and let stand for one hour, then wipe off.
• To remove burns
  Rub affected area with the finest grade steel wool rubbing lightly with the grain until all burnt material is smoothed off. Follow with application of furniture oil or polish.
• To remove candle wax drippings
  Scrape excess wax off gently. Apply warm (not hot) iron, over white cloth to absorb residue. Follow with application of furniture oil or polish.
• To remove dents
  Wipe dent with warm water. Apply a compress of paper soaked in warm water to swell the wood fibers. Let sit for 30 minutes, then apply a warm (not hot) iron over cloth until dent is gone. Follow with application of furniture oil or polish.

Additional Tips

Keep furniture away from heating and air conditioning sources to prevent loss of moisture in wood and out of direct sunlight to avoid bleaching of wood.

To prevent gouging and scratching, use felt backing on lamps, ashtrays and accessories.

Always use place mats under plates and hot pads under serving dishes. Use coasters under hot and cold drinks.

Do not set synthetics, rubber or plastics directly on wood finishes since they might contain chemicals that will damage the finish.

Do not place newspapers and magazines on wood surfaces, since the ink will bleed into the finish and eventually damage the wood.