Wax Furniture Care
Wax Furniture
There are few more traditional ways of making a piece of wooden furniture look better, not to mention giving it that vital extra layer of protection, than applying a wax finish. But while there's no question that wax furniture - such as that from our Mottisfont Waxed Pine collection - can cater for a very wide range of aesthetic and functional requirements, and seems to be a great match for pretty much any home décor scheme, this is also a type of furniture that has certain specific maintenance requirements.
It is the nature of wax furniture that the wood is left unsealed and can therefore ‘breathe', although the downside of this is that such furniture also easily attracts surrounding elements, such as smoke from an open fire. You'll also need to mop up any spillages quickly to prevent the wood absorbing the liquid, as well as - of course - guarding against liquid marks by placing food and drink on mats or coasters.
The re-waxing process
One of the most important things to do with any piece of wax furniture - such as the wardrobes and bedside cabinets of our Amalfi Waxed Pine collection - is re-wax it on a regular basis, either very six months or simply when it begins to look dry. That way, you can be assured of your furniture continuing to look rich in colour and smooth in appearance. You don't have to be too fussy about your exact choice of furniture wax, just as long as it is from a good manufacturer and you carefully follow the instructions, making sure that the way in which you use your wax is safe.
However, different types of wax furniture require different treatments as far as re-waxing is concerned, depending on the condition of the given furniture piece. That makes a monthly wax a good idea for a chest of drawers, for example, whereas if you own a wax table, you may be better off re-waxing it twice a month. Remember, too, that you don't necessarily need to re-wax the entire furniture piece this often. Instead, simply re-waxing the top should sufficient, with a re-waxing of the entire piece taking place once or twice a year.
This re-waxing process ensures that the wood remains hydrated and the colour sharp, so that the furniture doesn't fade or split over time.
Repairing damage to wax furniture
As is the case with any other kind of furniture - particularly wooden furniture - there are all kinds of marks and scratches that can be caused to wax furniture, despite the protection that a wax finish provides. In the event that such marks and scratches arise, then, you can simply use very fine steel wool or sandpaper to remove them. Make sure that you work gently with the grain, before re-waxing to finish the job - and bear in mind, too, that this last stage of the process may result in a temporary difference in colour.
