How To Treat Your Custom Furniture

In our blogs, not only do we like to showcase our unique custom furniture, but often like to answer common questions. Though we have an FAQ page to answer many of them, today we’ll be discussing yet another one, how to treat your custom furniture. We stand by our table’s durability and resistance to damage, but like anything else there is a limit.

You’ve probably heard us refer to a table as a family’s workbench. There’s no need to pull out the felt gloves when using your table, but we like to tell people, common sense with a few other tips goes a long way.

CUSTOM FURNITURE AND THE CARE

Jumping right in, the best comparison for your table would be the hood of your car. You wouldn’t take an unfinished plate, vase, or box and drag it across the hood of your car would you? Though the finish on cars, like our tables, are made to withstand day to day use, they aren’t built to withstand carelessness. This brings up the question of what is the purpose of a finish, aka, top coat. Why do we use it?

1. For the wood: the finish protects against damage such as staining, seals wood from moisture, and prevents the need for re-oiling.

2. For the customer: the finish protects against bacteria, heat, chemicals, and makes for ease of use and cleanup.

Another factor to keep in mind is that when scratching or scuffing occurs it is not the wood that is being scratched, but rather the finish. Which in reality means the finish is doing its job, protecting the wood. If you have a table finished in satin and drag a heavy item across it, it will in turn dull the finish. In contrast, a flat finish will then become shinier due to that fact that both finishes have, in a sense, been “buffed.”

CUSTOM FURNITURE AND THE FINISH

What makes us different from most, if not all, is our top of the market finish. It’s a quality product we trust because of its strong chemical, water, and heat resistant. However, as we’ve said before there is a limit to all things. Something to consider is the hardness of a finish. The harder the finish, the better right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. There is a fine line between a hard, durable finish and one that is too hard. The reason for this is cracking. If you have a finish that is too hard it will crack when the natural fluctuations of the wood occur. Thus, the best balance is a mix of a tough finish and the rest, a general awareness and care of your custom furniture.

What’s the big takeaway? Strength, not invincibility. Our tables are tough, durable, and sturdy, but this can be mistaken as indestructibility. This is where mistakes happen. Some scratching is inevitable. Therefore, keeping in mind that unfinished objects or ones with small particles underneath them can and will act as sandpaper. The trade-off to an even harder finish would introduce another enemy, cracking. Thus, common sense while enjoying your table goes a long way!

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CUSTOM FURNITURE

While we’ve got your attention, here are a few quick pointers on cleaning your custom table. The cleaning process is quite simple. There are several options to choose from. Water with soap or vinegar is always an easy and efficient method. If you’re looking for something a bit stronger, common household cleaners, Windex, 409, etc. are “safe” products to use as well. Apply the product to the table and wipe up the residual leaving no excessive standing moisture. What you do NOT want to do is use Magic Erasers, scrubbing pads, etc. on your custom table. This acts as a low grit sandpaper and will dull your finish.

To find out more about our custom furniture click here. Our building doesn’t stop at tables. Check out our other furniture and take a look at our bookshelves, hutches, buffets, and more. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments!