How to Care for Your Bespoke Furniture
Bespoke wooden furniture is a great investment. Not only does it fulfil your specific needs and tastes, but it also has terrific durability. Treated correctly it can last a lifetime - and even many generations beyond.
In this article, we outline the best ways to keep your handmade furniture in optimum condition. And if damage does occur, what to do about it.
We focus on six areas: position, protection, dusting, cleaning, polishing and repairing.
Let’s look at each one in turn.
1. Position
Where you choose to position your bespoke furniture in a room can have a significant bearing on its longevity and condition.
The main enemies are light and heat.
If you can, avoid placing items in direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure can result in fading, drying out and even cracking.
Sunlight can bleach the fibres of wood, as well as separating the finish from the timber.
Heat can cause real problems for solid wood furniture, so keep it as far away as is practical from radiators, vents and open fires.
Excessive heat can cause furniture to expand, rack and even split, depending on the materials and methods of construction. Sudden changes in room temperature can have a similar effect.
Clearly there is a balance to be struck between protecting your furniture and enjoying its benefits. But giving some thought to its position – and regularly monitoring its condition – should ensure a lifetime of use.
2. Protection
Prevention is always better than cure. Treating bespoke furniture with care and attention will make a huge difference to its lifespan.
Always use coasters and mats for glasses and dishes. For dining tables, consider using a tablecloth during meal times.
Hot mugs placed directly on solid wood surfaces is a real no-no.
Unlike a lot of factory-finished, mass-produced furniture, bespoke furniture is often protected with more sympathetic finishes such as oils or waxes.
This helps accentuate the grain and better enhance the natural beauty of the wood. It does, however, mean that compared with a lacquer or heavy-duty varnish it will be more susceptible to heat burns and ring marks.
Don’t misuse furniture.
Beds are not designed for jumping on. Coffee tables are not made for dancing on. Side tables are not intended for sitting on.
Use a piece of furniture in the way it was intended for and it will be strong enough for generations to come.
If you intend moving furniture – say, as part of a spring clean – move one piece at a time. Use two people if it’s a medium to large item. Always lift from the lowest solid part, and remove detachable pieces – such as glass mirrors – before starting.
3. Dusting
With your bespoke furniture correctly positioned and adequate protection in place, a regular weekly dust is the mainstay of keeping it in the best condition possible.
Regular dusting prevents a layer of grime building up on the surfaces, which can eventually result in scratches and a premature worn look.
The best approach to dusting is to keep it simple. Do it often and lightly. Avoid using spray ‘polish’ as this can be full of chemicals - usually petroleum or silicon oil – and will inevitably lead to a build-up of residue over time.
All you need is two lint free cloths – microfibre cloths are a good bet. Dampen one cloth very lightly and dust the wood in the direction of the grain being careful not to apply too much pressure.
The slightly dampened cloth ensures the dust sticks to the cloth and is not merely moved into the air and on to another surface. Follow immediately with the dry cloth. You do not want moisture in contact with the wood for any longer than necessary.
If your bespoke furniture has ornate edging or carved features, use a natural bristle brush to sweep the dust into the nozzle attachment of your vacuum cleaner. This minimises the amount of airborne dust.
4. Cleaning
The first three steps in caring for your bespoke furniture – position, protect and dust – is something that you, the owner, can do quite happily and successfully.
The next three – clean, polish and repair – require some consideration. If you do decide to tackle one, two or all three of these, please follow these guidelines:
make sure that any cleaning, waxing or repair you use is suitable for wood surfaces
start with the gentlest cleaning method first
If using for the first time, try the cleaning, waxing or repair product on a small inconspicuous area of the furniture, such as the back, underneath or inside of the furniture.
If in any doubt, contact your local bespoke furniture maker for advice and assistance.
You will find lots of advice on the internet about how to clean wooden furniture. Most of it should be ignored.
Never use household cleaning products such as kitchen or bathroom cleaner. They contain harsh chemicals and abrasive and will corrode the finish from your furniture and probably damage the wood underneath.
Some sources may suggest washing up liquid or a mild detergent, others baking soda and even toothpaste. You may even come across tips on using white spirit.
Our advice would be to avoid these approaches. Anything which introduces chemicals and water solutions risks leaving permanent damage on your furniture.
A slightly damp cloth and mild pressure is the only safe way to remove spills or residue. If this doesn’t work contact a professional.
5. Polishing
Once you’ve given your bespoke furniture a light clean, an annual polish should be enough to revive the wood and protect it for another year.
Not only will this seal the wood a little better to prevent the effects of moisture, but it will also make for a lustrous finish.
Use an appropriate, high-quality furniture wax – preferably one recommended by your local maker – and follow the instructions careful.
Do not use spray polishes, as the solvents in them can leave a residue, harm the finish and the wood (aerosol waxes are only really suitable for synthetic surfaces).
Apply a small amount of the wax using a soft, lint-free cloth or microfibre cloth. Do this in the direction of the grain wherever possible. And press lightly.
Many waxes will say to leave for 20-30 minutes, but this can result in stubborn marks and it will make the polishing that much harder.
In our experience it is better to buff off after only a few minutes – or even as soon as it has been applied. Wax on. Wax off.
Buff until it is smooth to the touch. The surface should now have a pleasing smear-free shine.
6. Repairing
For most owners of bespoke furniture, making repairs is something that should really be left to an expert.
You have probably spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds on your dream piece of furniture. If the worst happens and you damage the wood, don’t compound this with attempting your own repairs.
Yes, there are lots of products on the markets – fillers, wax crayons, touch up marker pens, etc. – but they are not always appropriate.
The mark of a professional furniture maker and/or restorer is knowing what to use, how to use it, and when to use it.
If you have a cheap piece of furniture that you are on the verge of throwing out, by all means have a go and making your own repair. But for bespoke, fine furniture, always get in touch with your local furniture maker for help
Tender, loving care
Taking good care of your bespoke furniture isn’t difficult.
From the start, being mindful about its position in the room and its proper use will go a long way.
Regular dusting, the occasional clean and an annual wax will ensure it retains much of its original glory.
And knowing when to leave alone and consult a professional should guarantee years of pleasure for you and the generations which follow.