caring for your furniture
Congratulations on your purchase - we hope you will enjoy using it in your home. It only requires a little attention to keep it looking good for many years to come. On a regular basis dusting with a soft dry cloth is sufficient.
As a natural material each piece of solid timber is unique in colour, grain patterns and other quirks. This is reflected in the finished piece and you may notice some of the differences that makes your piece unique.
Even after planing, sawing and sanding, wood retains its natural characteristics and can be affected by external conditions. We recommend keeping it out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources that may dry the wood, causing cracking or splitting. However don’t be alarmed if small cracks appear - it is part of the natural process.
Our furniture has a natural protective finish of oil/wax, however this is not stain repellent and we would recommend using coasters or mats to avoid heat or water marks. If a liquid is spilt blot it up quickly until the area is dry. A coat of natural furniture wax over the surface can help restore the finish.
To continue protection and to nourish the wood apply a natural wax finish every 6 months or so. Dust thoroughly and then apply the wax with a soft cloth, buffing along the direction of the grain.
Over time every dent or scratch becomes part of its history but you may want to restore its condition. This can be done using a 180 followed by 240 grit sandpaper but only in the direction of the grain to remove the old finish before reapplying a Wax/Oil finish. Wipe clean after sanding before applying oil. Do talk to us if you need any assistance with this.
We use and recommend The Natural House Co, Motueka, NZ for their Classic Resin Oil and Wax.
Platters and Board Care
After using a chopping board or sharing platter either wipe it with a wrung out hot soapy cloth or, if very messy a good rub with the same. Dry it with a clean cloth and allow to dry thoroughly.
Do not be tempted to use anything with chemicals in as this may damage the wood. Wood has been shown to be naturally resistant to bacterial growth although we wouldn’t recommend putting/cutting raw meat on our boards.
If you are tough on your board, then a clean with half a lemon and some coarse salt will help. Sprinkle some salt over the board and use the half lemon (cut side down) to work over the board. Leave for 5 minutes then scrape off the residue. Wipe down with a damp clean cloth and dry as before.
After a tough clean or as required apply a food safe finishing oil/wax to all surfaces. Apply plenty and leave to soak in and nourish the wood. Leave for at least an hour or even better, overnight. Buff off excess with a clean cloth until it doesn’t feel sticky or damp.
Vegetable oils are often used but if not cleaned off and reapplied they can become rancid. Avoiding nut based oils makes a heap of sense for any one with nut allergies who may come into contact with it.
We are pleased to be able to offer our own blend of food safe Nourishing Cream. Click here for details >>