Pine Furniture Care
Pine Furniture
Few choices of furniture materials offer the combination of style, functionality and affordability that pine does, and it's also possible to add durability to this list - particularly if you take the right steps in the care of your pine furniture to ensure that it lasts for many years to come.
Characteristics and colour
As a natural material, pine is much like a great number of other timbers in the sense that one piece will always differ from another in terms of its grain and colour. Although this certainly allows for a more unique appearance than is possible with painted furniture or that made from synthetic veneers, it does also mean that over time, and depending on the intensity of available daylight, the pine will become darker in colour. This mellowing process is entirely natural, with the most drastic changes being seen in the first two years before the furniture reaches eventual "maturity".
Caring for the pine furniture surface
Given the modern lacquer that is applied to pine furniture today, you shouldn't normally see any damage to your pine furniture as a result of careful, everyday use, which means that you shouldn't normally need to do much more than give the furniture a light dusting with a soft cloth every now and then. You should be able to remove any sticky marks that occur by lightly rubbing the area with diluted warm soapy water, before promptly and completely drying it.
Common sense protection tips
There are ways of preventing damage to your pine furniture, or at least minimising the likelihood. These include using mats and coasters for those occasions when you are using the furniture to serve food or drink, or casserole stand type mats in situations where you are using hot serving dishes. These mats prevent the hot item from directly touching the furniture, in addition to protecting it from the effects of hot liquids and condensation. And of course, you'll also want to ensure that any spillages are rapidly mopped up.
The placement of your pine furniture also needs to be carefully considered. You can prevent damage to your pine furniture by positioning it somewhere that is free from excessive sunlight or direct heat, so think carefully about the vicinity of your pine furniture to windows and radiators. When you are moving your furniture, you should be sure to do this carefully, keeping the corners and edges covered to prevent accidental damage. You are also advised to avoid dragging your pine furniture across the floor.
Finally, if your pine furniture incorporates such features as drawers and doors, you should be careful when you are using them, and should certainly not have to be forceful with them at any point - whether you have invested in something like our Amalfi 3 drawer bedside cabinet, or instead a furniture piece along the lines of the Provencal Planked Square Coffee Table.
