Impregnation and maintenance of wood furniture
Furniture made of natural raw materials delights with its unique structure and noble appearance but it also requires a special treatment. Maintenance of items made of wood is based on a few principles that are worth knowing before we choose our dream tabletop. How to maintain wood furniture to preserve its attractive design and to enjoy its functionality for a long time? We recommend that you read this post thanks to which the maintenance of a table or another piece of wood furniture will become easier.
Our wood furniture is properly preserved in our workshop with varnish or oil. The impregnation does not only perfectly protect against small damage to the structure but also emphasises the unique charm of this natural surface, highlights the grain, and gives a beautiful mirror effect.
Oil: pros and cons
The natural benefit of oil is the fact that it protects the wood from the inside, while providing a very natural effect. This highlights the texture and unique grain of wood. Despite penetrating the wood’s structure, oil does not clog its pores, thanks to which it can “breathe.” Oil also has anti-static properties and its ingredients do not include chemical substances.
Wooden oiled table top, gently brushed
Wooden oiled table top
It is worth pointing out that in case of damage to furniture made of oiled wood, we can conduct spot renovations on our own. However, one drawback is the manner of cleaning, as wood covered with oil requires regular impregnation and careful maintenance; it is also less resistant to spilled liquids.
Choose oil if you care about the natural effect and highlighted texture and grain. But remember that wood protected with oil has poor resistance to liquids and requires careful maintenance.
Varnish on wood: pros and cons
In case of varnished furniture, the preparation does not penetrate the board but creates a resistant finish on top of the board that protects it against mechanical factors—a huge advantage of the gloss varnish is its durability and a high resistance to spillage. Thanks to these qualities, varnished furniture is much easier to clean that oiled furniture and does not require the periodical impregnation.
Matt varnished table top
Lacquered glossy top
Unfortunately, gloss varnish also has its disadvantages—all scratches are very visible. They can be removed by polishing the table top with a polishing compound and a polisher—this service can be performed at e.g. a car paint shop or our carpentry shop. The disadvantage of lacquer is a lack of possibility of spot renovations and chemical substances in its composition. Some will be also bothered by a lack of sense of contact with natural wood, as the protective coating is thick and tight.
Varnish provides good protection against mechanical damage and spillage—varnished furniture is easier to maintain that oiled furniture. One drawback might be the lack of possibility of spot renovations and chemical substances in the composition.
What to choose: oil or varnish?
The answer to this question depends on our preferences, as well as on our lifestyle. If we do not want to take care of wood furniture ourselves, varnish will definitely be a better choice. On the other hand, if we care about authenticity and beautiful appearance, it is worth choosing oiled wood.
If after reading this comparison, you still do not know how to choose, contact us, we will gladly help you and explain any doubts you might have.
How to clean wood furniture without damage to its structure?
It is worth remembering that wood furniture should be cleaned with delicate agents and delicate fibres, e.g. with a soft microfibre cloth. If our furniture is heavily soiled, you must not use abrasive agents or other strong detergents. Choose products intended for wood maintenance and comply with the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging. The agent should not be spilled directly on the table top; put some of it on the material and gradually, with no rush, remove the soiling from the wooden surface.
Wood absorbs moisture quickly—if you see that a liquid got spilled on the surface, remove the soiling as soon as possible. In this case, it will be useful to use a microfibre cloth, as the microfibres will perfectly absorb the liquid.
Durable wood furniture: the key principles
There are also a few principles that are not entirely related to cleaning or maintenance but explain how to take care of wood furniture. It is worth remembering that the natural raw materials work all the time—they absorb the ambient temperature and moisture and can minimally shrink or even break due to rapid temperature changes. That is why they should not be placed near heat sources, such as a radiator or a fireplace, or near water vapour (an iron, a cooker). The interior temperature should not be more than 30°C.
Oiled table tops should particularly also be particularly protected against mechanical damage. The best way to do so will be to use coasters made of soft materials, such as felt. When choosing a wooden table, take care of its proper placing on an even ground, which will minimise the risk of deformation.
Wood maintenance is not complicated—we just need to comply with the above principles and, above all, choose agents intended for maintenance of this unique material. It is worth to take a minute to secure our table or chest of drawers, so we can enjoy its beauty for years to come.
Varnish in the mat