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Caring For Fine Furniture
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Common Sense:
The first category would be to apply common sense, is just what the name implies: please don't do anything that will cause the furniture to be abused or damaged. For example, be very careful during vacuuming the carpets not to hit the furniture bases or table legs or chairs. Don't set abrasive items such as cardboard boxes, grocery bags, ceramic lamps, ashtrays, etc. on a finished surface. Be careful when an item such as a plate is lifted from the table. A fork or knife falling from a plate can seriously dent or scratch the table top. Hot items, such as a dish or a pans just removed from the oven, can blister or darken the finish. Use a hotpad or a table pad under the tablecloth to prevent this. Don't wait to wipe up spills or to clean up after use.
Correct Environmental Conditions:
Second, correct environmental conditions will add longevity to the life of fine furniture. When wood furniture is placed in a damp or humid environment, the various parts will swell or warp slightly; conversely, when placed in a dry environment, the parts will shrink. Obviously then, very damp or very dry environments should be avoided. Cyclic changes in temperature, such as those found in an unheated warehouse (cool at night, warmer during the day) can cause small cracks to occur in the finish. Hot blasts of air, such as those from a central heating, should be avoided, because they cause extreme drying of the wood. Direct sunlight has a bleaching effect on wood and finishes, so it should be avoided either by placement of the furniture, or by the use of sunscreens, drapes, or blinds.
Cleaning with the Proper Techniques:
At Abella Living, multi-layers of high quality lacquer is used on our furniture. It resists most household liquids, yellowing or cracking, and does an excellent job of protecting the wood. If nothing is done to it (except dusting) the finish will, over a period of time, become dull looking. This is caused by minute scratches made by dirt particles and deposits which result from cooking fumes, fingerprints, etc. A solution of mild soap or oil soaps for wood and water may be used to wash your furniture. However, please avoid the solution to puddle on the surfaces. An easier method to clean and maintain furniture is to use furniture care products such as polish will enhance your furnitures for years to come. Please look for the products contain cleaners to remove most household soils, plus they deposit a wax finish on the surface which produces a pleasing shine. The best cloth to use to clean and polish furniture is soft cotton (or cotton blend) that has been washed several times to remove the lint.
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