Keep your hardwood furniture looking great

Hardwood furniture is made to be used and enjoyed and accidents happen, especially when there are small children at home. Take these steps to keep damage from everyday life to a minimum:

* Unless your hardwood furniture has a new "super finish" to protect it, use coasters to prevent spills, stains and damage from hot dishes.
* Blot all spills immediately. Keep solvents, alcohol, nail polish and polish removers away from your hardwood furniture surfaces.
* When dusting, always lift lamps and other objects - don't slide them across the surface.
* Always lift lamps and other objects - don't slide them across the furniture's surface.
* Always lift hardwood furniture to move it - don't drag it. * Open and close doors, drawers and lids gently
* Avoid placing hardwood furniture directly in front of radiators, heat runs or fireplaces.
* Don't expose hardwood furniture to continuous direct sunlight. Draw the curtains occasionally. If some lightening of the stain occurs, simply re-apply wax stain to bring the item back to life.
* Store table leaves as close as possible to the table. Keep them in an upstairs closet rather than in a damp basement, so that the table leaves are adjusting to the same relative humidity

Heat, humidity and hardwoods

Did you know that up to half the weight of freshly sawn wood is water? Hard wood furniture is crafted from wood that is carefully dried, retaining just enough moisture for the furniture to properly acclimatise to the relative humidity in your home. The wood in furniture continues to exchange moisture with the air, shrinking and expanding in response to changes in relative humidity.

Like your own skin, solid hardwood furniture's natural response to extremely dry air is to lose moisture and shrink a bit. The halves of an extension table may part slightly or a few tiny openings may appear on a solid wood surface. This will correct itself as the relative humidity rises, and the hardwood absorbs enough moisture to expand slightly.

Parts of your hardwood furniture may absorb excess moisture from the air and expand, perhaps causing drawers to stick. Once again, this will correct itself as your home's relative humidity decreases. The quality and sturdiness of your hardwood furniture are not affected by these natural changes.