Keeping Your Oak Furniture Healthy

If you ask people why they like oak furniture, one of the main reasons many people cite is the fact that it will last a long time. While it is true that oak is a durable material that has the potential to last for generations, it does require some maintenance.

With very little care, you can keep your oak furniture in good shape and ensure that it will last not only for your lifetime, but also for future generations of your family. In this post, we are going to look at some of the basics that go into keeping oak furniture healthy.

Dust Regularly

As simple as it is, dusting is one of the most important parts of maintaining oak furniture. When dust is allowed to sit on a piece of wood furniture, it can create a film that is hard to remove. If you want to keep your oak furniture healthy, you should try to dust it about once a week. This is an easy chore that can be done by wiping the piece down with a dusting cloth and it will go a long way toward maintaining your oak furniture.

Proper Cleaning

Cleaning is another important part of maintaining oak furniture. All you need to do is wipe the piece down with a damp cloth to get oak furniture clean. You should not use regular household cleansers and you do not want to use too much water when cleaning oak furniture. If the piece is especially dirty and water does not get the job done, use wood soap to clean your oak furniture.

Room Conditions

While oak is tougher than most other woods, it can still have problems when exposed to extreme conditions. You do not want to leave oak furniture in places with very high temperatures. Along with that, you should also try to manage the humidity. High humidity can be bad for wood furniture and if a room is exceptionally dry, that can also be bad for a piece of oak. Another thing to consider is extreme temperature changes. If the temperature changes rapidly from one extreme to the other, it can cause problems for your oak furniture.

Sun Exposure

You should also take steps to protect your oak furniture from sun exposure. When left to sit in the sun for a long time, UV radiation can cause the piece to fade. If you can, avoid placing oak furniture in direct sunlight.

Protect Against Water

Compared to other woods, oak does tend to stand up better to moisture. That said, water can still damage the finish. For that reason, you should take steps to protect oak furniture from water damage. The key is to never let water sit on the furniture. If it is a table, you should always use coasters with your drinks. If anything does spill on the surface, it should get cleaned up right away. Whenever you clean your furniture, you should also be careful not to leave any water sitting on the surface. Get a dry cloth to remove any excess water whenever you finish cleaning oak furniture.