How To Keep Wooden Furniture Safe During Monsoons
It would break your heart to see any of your treasured wooden pieces get destroyed like that, wouldn’t it? But, how do you keep wooden furniture safe and looking like new? Should you clean with soap, dust it, or apply any wax? Here are all the tips you should keep in mind to make it look new again.
Wooden Furniture Cleaning Tips
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Dust ornate carvings and hard-to-reach corners using woollen dusters.
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Dust your wooden furniture every few days using a damp microfiber cloth or a soft cloth like an old T-shirt. Then remove excess moisture with a dry towel. Otherwise, dust and dirt will accumulate forming a thin layer that is tough to clean off. You could use a feather duster and lint-free cloths to clean wooden furniture.
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Avoid using any all-purpose cleaning spray that you normally use on your kitchen counter. Also, avoid pouring water to clean the surface of the wood.
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To treat a greasy spot, dip a lint-free cloth in soapy water and dislodge the dirt. Then clean it off with a damp cloth, wiping it dry soon after.
Waxing and Polishing Wooden Furniture
Vacuum Cleaning to Remove Mould
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To get rid of mould or mildew, start by vacuum cleaning the piece of wooden furniture using a soft brush attachment. Wipe down with a cloth dipped in soapy water. Rinse and clean with a dry cloth. After this, apply a layer of wax to protect the surface.
Getting Rid of Bad Odour from Wooden Furniture
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Keep a foul-smelling wooden piece in the sun, but away from direct sunlight.
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Smear talcum powder or baking soda to absorb odours.
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Another option is to keep it smelling fresh is by placing a tray of charcoal in one of the drawers.
How to Repair Scratches on Wood
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To repair surface-level scratches on wood, use a felt-tip touch-up pen or apply paste wax.
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Use a filler or a wax stick to fill deeper scratches. Pick a coloured wax stick and apply thin layers over one another trying to match the colour of your piece.
Get Rid of Pesticides with Camphor or Naphthalene Balls
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Naphthalene balls or mothballs help to drive away fibre-loving moths and pests. However, mothballs leave behind a strong chemical smell. How do you remove that? Air out the furniture to let the fumes dissipate. Use a hair-dryer on the furniture daily until the smell disappears. Be careful not to overheat the wood.
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Smearing baking soda or placing a tray of charcoal, as you’ve seen above, will also help in removing the strong smell.
Humidifier to Prevent the Wood from Drying Out
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Low humidity conditions can dry out your furniture. A humidifier is a great option to extend the life of your wooden furniture. It will increase the relative humidity levels in the air minimising any shrinkage cracks that develop in the wood.
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Ideally, keep the temperature and humidity at consistent levels all year round. Keep your furniture away from heat sources.
Avoid Placing Furniture Outside in Monsoon
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Wood rots if it remains wet all the time. You’ll soon see mould spores all over unless it is a fine-grained, dense wood like mahogany, oak, teak, or walnut.
