Caring for Stained Furniture
Although at home staining projects might involve one or two coats of stain and then a final coat of lacquer for additional protection, professionally purchased stained furniture often features many coats of stain to ensure the right finish and colour along with the correct tone in contours and texture. Once this has been completely finished then a manufacturer will often finish with a varnish or lacquer to ensure longevity and protection of the item in question.
Stained items of furniture are among our most popular sellers because they take the basic structure of a wooden surface, which we happen to think is stunning, before any work is done, and then enhance the colour to create a dynamic and alluring piece.
The key to keeping it as alluring and dynamic as possible is to ensure that it is properly cared for and there is scarce information on the regular care of stained furniture beyond re-staining. The truth is that stained furniture can be just as well cared for with a few simple pointers and doesn't require re-staining as much as you might imagine or dread.
Positioning
Consistently wet or hot temperatures will cause warping of the item of furniture and the stain which adorns it and with this in mind, it is essential to ensure that wherever you keep your item of furniture, it is away from direct sunlight and is not likely to become wet or damp. Wet towels should never be placed on stained furniture and anything which may drip on them or cause them to gather compensation can also be bad news.
Cleaning
The piece of furniture should be kept clean and whenever necessary (but not much more often than once a month) should be cleaned with a damp cloth and a solution of very mild detergent. Chemical cleaners should never be used as these can permanently damage the stain and mean that the entire piece has to be stripped back and re-stained (as you can imagine, this is a costly and laborious job indeed).
Any stains and spills should be immediately removed before they have chance to leave a permanent marking and should never be removed with an abrasive cleaner.
Refinishing
Having a stained item is one of the few areas where you can make any necessary repairs yourself. If you notice a blemish or scratch, you should be able to take action personally, but always call us if you're not sure. It's quite easy to sand down the area in question and simply re-stain that area to match the rest of the item.
