Fine Wood Furniture Care Instructions

Fine wood furniture is an investment meant to last for generations. With proper care, you can preserve its beauty, strength, and structural integrity for years to come.

Furniture Care Instructions by Workshop

Tap or click the workshop names for instructions:

The furniture crafted by Vermont Furniture Designs benefits from being oiled once or twice a year. Furniture in drier climates may have to be oiled more than furniture in more humid climates. Vermont Woods Studios recommends using a natural danish linseed oil for re-oiling the furniture though any quality linseed oil should work.

Tung oil may be applied on Maple furniture only.To oil your furniture, first gently wipe off any dust or debris with a lint free cloth, lightly moistened with water. Using a soft, clean rag, wipe a thin coat of oil onto the furniture, gently rubbing it in until dry. If any bleed-back from oiling dries on the surface, smooth it out by rubbing fine (0000) steel wool in the direction of the grain over the rough area.

A liquid satin wax may also be applied to the furniture in these collections, if desired. The wax helps to keep the oil from drying out and lends an additional rich soft satin lustre to the wood. The wax and oil products we recommend are totally compatible with each other and can be applied in any combination over the life of your furniture.

Download VFD Furniture Care PDF ↓

Cherry and Walnut furniture crafted by Maple Corner Woodworks benefits from being oiled once or twice a year. Furniture in drier climates may have to be oiled more than furniture in more humid climates.

Vermont Woods Studios recommends using a natural danish linseed oil for re-oiling the furniture. For maple furniture as well as case tops and table tops in Cherry or Walnut can be maintained by gently wiping off any dust or debris with a lightly moistened cloth. They can also be oiled periodically.

To oil your furniture, first gently wipe off any dust or debris from the piece with a lint free cloth, lightly moistened with water. Using a soft, clean rag, wipe a thin coat of oil onto the piece, gently rubbing it in until the surface is dry. If any bleed-back from oiling dries on the surface, smooth it out by rubbing fine (0000) steel wool in the direction of the grain over the rough area. Do not use steel wool on the tops of case pieces, tables or maple furniture.

Download MCW Furniture Care PDF ↓

Lyndon furniture uses eco-friendly, low-sheen lacquers that are low maintenance and easy to clean. Dust and small messes should be wiped off with a clean, lint-free cloth that is lightly moistened to allow the dust to cling to the cloth, rather than rub on and dull the surface.

For grease and grime, a mild soap and some warm water will work best. Avoid commercial cleaning products, as they can leave a residue on your furniture. Never soak the surface of your wood furniture; a small amount of water or water and soap will yield the best results.

Download Lyndon Furniture Care PDF ↓

Copeland furniture uses eco-friendly, low-sheen lacquers that are low maintenance and easy to clean. Dust and small messes should be wiped off with a clean, lint-free cloth that is lightly moistened to allow the dust to cling to the cloth, rather than rub on and dull the surface. For grease and grime, a mild soap and some warm water will work best. Avoid commercial cleaning products, as they can leave a residue on your furniture. Never soak the surface of your wood furniture; a small amount of water or water and soap will yield the best results.

Download Copeland Furniture Care PDF ↓

Natural Wood Characteristics

Walnut dresser

Each piece of our furniture is crafted from natural solid hardwood, making every item unique—just like the trees it comes from. Variations in wood grain, including sapwood, heartwood, pitch pockets, and mineral deposits, are natural and add to the character of the piece. These natural markings have no impact on durability or strength.

Unlike mass-produced furniture made with low-quality wood or plastic veneers, often chemically processed to hide imperfections, we embrace the natural beauty of real wood. Knots and grain variations, much like the nubs in fine silk or linen, are true signs of genuine quality.

General Furniture Care Tips

Dusting

Dusting

To dust your furniture, use a clean, lint-free, soft cotton cloth. Moisten the cloth very lightly with water to allow the dust to adhere but not so much as to leave the surface of your table wet. Dust using gentle, oval motions along the grain of the wood. Turn or fold the dust cloth as soon as dirt is visible on any section. An old t-shirt, cotton diaper, cheesecloth, dishtowel, piece of flannel or chamois will all suffice so long as they are free of buttons, zippers, snaps or thick seams that could scratch furniture. Do not use a dust cloth that has hanging threads or unraveling edges, which could catch on wood slivers, molding, knobs or other loose pieces. Feather dusters are not recommended as dust is abrasive and feather quills could scratch the furniture. Improper or infrequent dusting may cause a buildup of dust that is difficult to remove and could ultimately dull the table.

Polishing

Polishing

Although it is not necessary, you may feel free to use commercial polishing products on furniture that has a lacquer finish. Furniture made by Lyndon and Copeland typically has a lacquer finish. If you are unsure, look at the construction details on your furniture’s product page. Furniture with an oil finish has special care recommendations. If you choose to use a polishing product on lacquered furniture, be sure to use the same type of polish consistently. If you interchange oil-based and wax-based polishes, your furniture finish may appear cloudy or streaky.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Avoid Direct Sunlight

The ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage a finish and bleach the wood underneath after prolonged exposure. Avoid putting your furniture outside or near a window that receives hours of strong, direct sunlight daily. Use window shades, drapes or blinds to protect furniture from the sun during the day. Table cloths and doilies can protect surfaces from direct sun temporarily, but they will not completely stop damage from occurring. Moderate, indirect sunlight, however, can beautifully ripen your table, so make sure the entire surface is exposed evenly. Occasionally move lamps, doilies and other objects so the wood ripens uniformly.

Water & Humidity

Water & Humidity

Water can be very damaging to wood. If possible, never allow your wood furniture to get wet or soaked. Use coasters, pads, cloths or runners to protect against spills and water rings and always keep your wood furniture indoors. If your furniture does get wet or damaged, see our damage section for tips to reduce the effects of water. Wood is also very sensitive to changes in relative humidity. As the weather changes, so does the relative humidity in your home and in the moisture content of the wood in your furniture. This means that furniture is constantly expanding and contracting; keeping your furniture in moderate heat and humidity conditions, however, can great reduce the chances of surface distortion. For best results, use a humidifier in winter and an air conditioner in summer and keep your furniture away from direct heat sources.

Sunlight & Cherry Wood

Sunlight & Cherry Wood

New cherry wood is light in color, similar to maple. When it reaches maturity, however, cherry furniture darkens to a rich red/brown hue. It is important to know the natural darkening of cherry wood is an oxidation process, catalyzed by sunlight. For this reason, objects placed on the surfaces of new cherry furniture will leave lighter areas when they are removed. For the first three months it is best to not place objects on cherry surfaces for prolonged periods of time. To correct these light areas, leave the spot uncovered and the color will “catch up” to the darker surroundings.

Heat

Heat

Placing hot items on furniture can cause a chemical change in the finish that results in white rings or spots. For placing warm dishes and other hot objects on your wood surfaces, we recommend the use of hot mats and coasters. Further, if you use a laptop computer at your desk or table, be sure it does not overheat. This could damage the computer as well as the finish on the desk. In extreme cases, prolonged over exposure to intense heat from a laptop computer could cause the desktop wood to split or crack. This would not be covered by our lifetime guarantee. Read more about heat exposure to wood furniture on our blog.

Chemicals

Chemicals

Keep solvents such as nail polish remover, alcohol and paint thinner away from wood furniture because they can harm the finish. Alcohol is contained in colognes, perfumes and medications as well as in wine, beer and liquor. When cleaning, never use products that contain ammonia as it will harm your finish. Several household objects have the potential to stain wooden surfaces if left on for too long. Plastic table cloths, appliance covers, placemats, toys, brightly colored felt, and plant and flower nectar, can all potentially damage table surfaces. Fingerprints, perspiration and body oils can also harm a finish over time, especially on chairs. Regular care of your furniture, including keeping strong chemicals away from surfaces and clearing them of household objects regularly, especially those that contain plastic, will prolong the life of your table and preserve your lifetime guarantee.

Sharp Objects

Sharp Objects

Avoid deep, difficult to repair scratches on your furniture by using felt bottoms on lamps and decorative objects and lifting, not sliding, objects when moving them. Firm writing on a finished surface can also cause indentations on the finish and wood, so be cautious when writing at your desk or table.

Products We Recommend

Linseed Oil
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