by Lilian Okello

Created on: July 09, 2008   Last Updated: July 11, 2008

CARING FOR YOUR WOODEN FURNITURE
Damage to wood-based furniture is easy to detect. It could be due to poor construction, but is usually the result of improper use or care. You don't have to be a specialist to treat furniture properly: all it takes is a basic understanding of the nature of the wood, combined with common sense.
Follow these basic pointers:

Protect wood surfaces from fire and excessive heat:

Sit only on structures designed for that purpose: and
Be careful about what you place on a piece of furniture.
Hot objects, such as iron, coffee mugs and steaming tureens can literally melt a wood finish away. Water from spills and condensation from vases and cold drink glasses can damage and deface coatings through blooming an effect that makes transparent coatings white or milky. Damage is even worse when the liquid itself stains the surface-such as ink, coffee or tea if spilled, and penetrate the coating to enter the wood itself. Solvents such as fingernail polish and remover, perfumes and alcoholic drinks can behave as paint and varnish removers on many kinds of coatings.
These problems are simple to address. Using coasters, oversized ashtrays and writing pads as a barrier can virtually eliminate the potential for damage.

HANDLING AND MOVING FURNITURE
It is important to handle furniture carefully. Safe handling and moving begins with a basic understanding of how a piece is constructed. The second step is plan carefully.
Before picking up a piece of furniture, determine how it is put together, to establish if any of its parts are removable or detachable. Make sure you know the strongest point of the furniture (generally along a major horizontal element) and carry it from these points. Then examine the room and the root to where the furniture is to be moved. Look around to make sure you know where everything is. Identify potential trouble: light fixtures that hang low, for example: or that extend out from the wall may be damaged or cause damage. Glass tabletops are also easily damaged if bumped. If necessary, clear the way by moving or removing fragile or obstructive items.
Protect the furniture to be moved with soft padding or wrap it in a blanket. Padding, which will provide extra insurance against bumping and gouging, is especially important if an item is going into storage. Plan ahead to shift when the temperature and relative humidity in the new location is conducive, so that they remain the same. Extreme changes in temperature and humidity can cause splitting

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