Furniture Care

The Right Choice

Congratulations! You have made the right choice by purchasing one of the finest pieces of furniture for your home by Oxford Home Furniture. We offer these furniture care tips so that you can enjoy the lasting beauty and performance of your new furniture. This useful information contained herein will help you better understand how wood behaves under different weather conditions and how best you can care for your furniture to maintain its looks and preserve its structural integrity.

Nature of Wood

When first cut, wood contains more than 50% water. Moisture content is then brought down to 8-10% when it is prepared for furniture construction. Wood is porous and reacts to its environment. In high humidity, it will absorb moisture and expand. When the humidity is low, it will lose moisture and contract. It is essential that humidity levels in the room be controlled for the wood to remain as stable as possible.

The ideal temperature for any fine wood furniture is between 65 and 70 degrees. And a relative humidity between 35-40%. Wood placed outside of these limits can and will shrink or expand. Over time it may develop small cracks which are not manufacturing or structural defects. These are the signs that wood is adjusting to its environment.

Furniture Cleaning

Always dust before you clean and clean before you polish. Dusting is as important as polishing. Dust particles are much like cut glass. They have many sides, are sharp, and can damage finishes. Dusting should be done weekly, more often when windows are open.

Dust frequently with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. DO NOT use commercial waxes or polishes. To remove accumulated dust or old furniture wax build-up, use a soft, lint-free cloth which has been dampened in a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Dry thoroughly using a clean, lint-free cloth and then apply furniture polish. Do not spray the cleaner directly on the wood surface. Apply cleaner to a cloth and then rub back and forth along the grain. We recommend polishes that do NOT contain silicone or wax.

Most furniture retailers, home improvement chains, home specialty stores, and some supermarkets offer these products.