Take Care
To ensure a beautiful and long-lasting life, solid wood furniture requires regular care and maintenance.
We often forget that wood is a living material, even after it is made into furniture, a living substance that continues to interact with its environment. For example, changing humidity levels have a direct impact on solid wood furniture, which swells and shrinks according to the season — in a dry winter climate wood shrinks and in a humid climate it can swell. Without careful treatment, these variations may cause permanent damage in the furniture. Likewise, patina is an essential part of the life cycle of wooden furniture, and much like our own skin, this ageing process can leave marks on the wood’s surface. However, with careful and regular maintenance, we can ensure that our wooden furniture will age gracefully, becoming even more beautiful over time.
The daily maintenance of wooden surfaces is done with a damp cloth and using organic cleaners. Especially after a spill, the surface should be wiped clean and dried immediately, ideally within 15 minutes.
Beyond daily care, solid wood furniture should also be given proper maintenance at least every two years. Nikari’s solid wood furniture is treated with natural, vegetable oil mixtures. As such, the surface should, first, be wiped lightly with a very fine, sandy cloth. Next, treat the surface with a natural matte wood oil or wax. Allow the treatment to absorb into the wood for 15-20 minutes and then wipe away any excess material. Finally, the surface should be polished with a clean cloth. Be sure to follow the instructions in the oil wax package for properly disposing of tools and waste materials.
Leather is also a living material. Time and attentive care will, likewise, ensure a beautiful patina in a high-quality vegetable tanned leather. First, remove dirt and stains from the leather with a clean natural sponge or soft cloth. Note that vegetable tanned leather cleaning products are usually divided into two types: surface cleaners that clean the surface of the leather and soaps that provide a deeper clean. By trying both types of cleaning products, you can find the most suitable cleaning method for your purpose. After cleaning the leather, it is important to apply a leather conditioner that will further protect the leather and help it maintain its natural moisture balance.
We often forget that wood is a living material, even after it is made into furniture, a living substance that continues to interact with its environment. For example, changing humidity levels have a direct impact on solid wood furniture, which swells and shrinks according to the season — in a dry winter climate wood shrinks and in a humid climate it can swell. Without careful treatment, these variations may cause permanent damage in the furniture.
Nikari’s outdoor furniture is treated with wood oil to help protect against the changing natural environment. Nevertheless, after becoming wet from a rain or snow shower, we highly recommended that you clean and dry all wooden surfaces as soon as possible. No matter how careful you are, however, outdoor furniture will usually require annual maintenance. The beginning of the summer season is a great time to give outdoor chairs and tables a little pampering care. After carefully cleaning and drying the surface, you can treat the wood with a suitable outdoor oil product. Gradually and naturally, Nikari’s outdoor wooden furniture will turn gray. Once the graying process has started, the surface of the wood may temporarily look odd and spotted, but the colour will, over time, even out to a spectacular, beautiful gray.
Furniture care and maintenance should be seen as a rewarding chore, which will ensure a beautiful and lasting end result. If you need more detailed instructions concerning furniture maintenance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@nikari.fi.