Furniture Care
At Holmes Hill Furniture, we want to show you how to take care of your furniture to make it last longer. Visit our showroom in Lewes for more details.
How To Take Care Of Your Furniture
At Holmes Hill Furniture we sell five types of finish of oak furniture: lacquered, oiled, waxed, painted and Unfinished.
Below gives basic instructions to keep your furniture in great condition.
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Keep furniture out of direct sunlight.
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Wood furniture will, change colour, move and crack in a conservatory.
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We cannot accept responsibility for furniture in these types of rooms.
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Never drag furniture. Always lift using two or more people.
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Avoid placing furniture in front of or under windows.
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Place furniture away from heating and air conditioning vents.
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Blot up spills immediately. This is even more important if your furniture is waxed or oiled.
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Use coasters, place mats and tablecloths to protect furniture during use.
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Lift and place items instead of sliding across furniture surfaces.
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Rotate accessories on your furniture periodically.
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Avoid prolonged use of plastic and rubber items on your furniture.
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Dust your furniture regularly and polish every 4-6 months. If your furniture is waxed it will need waxing once in the first six months to build up a protective coating on top of the manufacturer finish.
About Finishing Oil
PERFORMANCE
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Nourishes and enhances the colour of wood
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Ideal for surfaces requiring a hard-wearing and water-resistant finish
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Water, heat, alcohol and food acid resistant (only for the time it takes to wipe clean with a damp, not wet cloth).
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Matt, satin or gloss finish depending upon the number of coats applied
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Suitable for all types of bare wood
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Ideal for kitchens and bathrooms
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Usage: interior
APPLICATION
Shake well before use. Apply a coat of finishing oil using a brush or lint-free cotton cloth. Allow the oil to penetrate for up to 10 minutes then wipe off all the excess with a clean lint-free cloth, before the surface dries enough to become sticky. Allow to dry for a minimum of 5 hours and apply more coats as required. We recommend a minimum of 3 coats. The more coats applied, the higher the sheen, and the more durable the finish will be. For best results gently rub with ultra fine steel wool between coats.
IMPORTANT
Oil finishes bring out the natural colours of timber. A wet surface will be an indication of the final colour. Always test product on a spare surface or inconspicuous area for colour, compatibility and end result.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Surfaces may be cleaned using a damp cloth and spills should be wiped up immediately. For stubborn stains a mild detergent can be used. Surfaces need to be re-oiled once a year or more, depending upon usage.
Waxed Furniture
All new waxed furniture will need to have the surface rewaxed once in the first six months to build up a resistant sheen.
Blot up spills immediately. This is even more important if your furniture is waxed. Anything like cleaning fluids is likely to take the protective wax coating off the surface and therefore damage the furniture. Use coasters, place mats and tablecloths to protect furniture during use.
1. Ensure all surfaces are clean and dry.
2. Take a soft cloth or brush and apply sparingly in small areas, following the direction of the grain where possible.
3. Wax is quick drying and can be buffed to the desired sheen level within a few minutes.
4. Additional applications will further improve the sheen level and durability.
It is better to use too little than too much wax. There are many colours of wax available, but with our extensive knowledge of furniture, we would recommend to use clear wax. The colour of furniture is in the staining process, and then a coloured wax applied. We would recommend the clear wax as it is more forgiving if you apply too much. We have unfortunately seen many instances of too much of a coloured wax being applied by customers, and the table is left streaky and ruined.
Lacquered Furniture And Painted Furniture
Just wipe with a damp cloth and use pledge to clean. Anything else will damage the surface.
Raw (ITW) Furniture
Do what you like with it, just don’t leave it raw.
Oak Grain Explained
Often called "Tiger Marks", they are found on all pieces of oak furniture and show that it has been produced from one of the best cuts of oak, using the superior quarter-sawn technique.
Why choose Quarter-Sawn Oak?
Quarter-sawn boards straight-line grains running the full length of the board. Not only does this produce a more structurally sound piece of wood than other cuts, but it also massively increases the chance of attaining the sought-after visual effects that the naturally occurring medullar rays bring to the piece.
Medullary Rays
Medullary rays are a characteristic found in wood, which allow sap to move throughout the tree. In quarter-sawn material, medullary rays often produce beautiful finishes such as silver grain, medullary spots, and more. When you visit our store, you will see for yourself these amazing natural features that are a hallmark of the superior craftmanship used in our oak furniture.