Care & Maintenance - backup
Thank you for purchasing a FURNISH piece of furniture for your home. To ensure the longevity for your furniture, please be sure to always follow our Care & Maintenance guidelines and tips:
PICK UPS
If you are picking up an item of furniture, please ensure you bring adequate help to assist in getting your furniture to and in your vehicle. Blankets and ties will help protect and fasten your furniture securely. Due to new Health & Safety laws we cannot offer FURNISH staff to assist with heavy lifting. Knowing this, you may wish to call us to book your goods for delivery for a small fee. Please feel free to call us to arrange over the phone.
STORAGE OF GOODS
While we don’t mind storing your furniture for a short period of time, if your build or renovation has been pushed out, we ask that you contribute to our warehousing costs and also request that the balance of your invoice be settled.
Please use our recommendations in order to help you keep your furniture in tip-top condition:
GENERAL CARE & MAINTENANCE
- Never drag furniture, always lift it carefully to reposition/move
- We recommend using floor protectors on the legs of furniture to protect floors from potential damage.
- Never stand on furniture or sit on the arms of chairs or sofas.
- Do not place indoor furniture near direct light (ie sunlight) or heat sources (ie fireplaces, heaters, air conditioning vents), as they can fade and crack the upholstery.
SOLID TIMBER & VENEER FURNITURE
Packaging materials such as polystyrene, can draw moisture from the furniture. Oak benefits from being oiled once the item is unpacked which will help rehydrate the oak. We sell a linseed based oil, perfect for this application.
Oak also benefits from being oiled every 3-6 months (depending on frequency of use). Oil provides moisture and will bring tired, dry oak back to life. This is especially so if your oak piece is in direct sunlight which can dehydrate your furniture.
Sometimes a light sand will be required if the furniture is very dry. Then an application of oil with a lint-free cloth will rejuvenate the oak. Wax can be applied once the oak has soaked in and is dry, but is not an essential step.
Always use placemats and trivets for hot dishes and everyday serving/meals. Don’t place wet items i.e. glasses with condensation, directly onto the oak as this can mark the surface.
- Always wipe up spills as soon as they happen, to avoid marking.
- Always use table runners, placemats and coasters to protect the surface of your furniture.
- Dust with a damp cloth weekly to remove dust and grime.
- Don’t place hot or wet items directly onto the furniture as these can permanently mark the surface.
- Avoid direct sunlight as this can damage your furniture.
LEATHER FURNITURE
A weekly clean with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water is the best (and easiest) way to maintain your leather furniture. Regular leather maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity of your upholstery leather. We sell leather care kits consisting of leather cleaners, conditioners and protective coatings. You should aim to clean and condition your leather furniture every 4-6 months. Enquire in store about the correct maintenance products for your particular leather.
- Wipe up any food or drink spills straight away, as the leather can absorb liquids, leaving permanent marks.
- Special care is required if you are on specific medications as these can pass through the skin and be absorbed by the leather. Please notify us if this is the case.
Vacuum regularly with an upholstery attachment. This will help remove dirt and grime which can discolour and act as an abrasive on your furniture.
- If you can, rotate and flip the cushions to ensure even wear.
- Enlist the services of a professional upholstery cleaning service once a year to clean your furniture.
HIGH-GLOSS FURNITURE
- Always wipe up spills as soon as they happen, to avoid marking.
- Always use table runners, placemats and coasters to protect the surface of your furniture.
- Streak marks and fingerprints may be removed with glass cleaner and a soft lint-free cloth.
- Don’t place hot or wet items directly onto the furniture as these can permanently mark the surface.
- Avoid direct sunlight as this can fade your furniture.
OUTDOOR FURNITURE
Kwila: Kwila furniture must be bled when new to allow the natural oils and tannins to leach out. This may require several applications of water by garden hose until no more colour comes out. Ensure this is carried out over a surface that won’t mark i.e. grass. You can leave the Kwila to “silver off “, or retain the colour once it’s stopped bleeding with the use of Kwila outdoor furniture oil.
Teak: There are 2 options with Teak furniture, it can be left untreated in which case it will silver naturally or you can apply a Teak Protector to help the teak keep its colour. We sell Teak Protector which comes with an application cloth for this purpose. Teak protector must be applied immediately after purchase and the timber must be completely dry of moisture and humidity.
Marine Grade Stainless: Maintain your stainless steel monthly with a wash down with your garden hose. The steel will benefit from a clean with special stainless steel cleaner approx. once a year. Buff the cleaner on with a dry, lint-free cloth.
Seat & Back Cushions: If your outdoor furniture has cushions made from Urecel Quickdry Foam and Sunbrella Fabric, the cushions have been constructed to withstand weather conditions but the life of your furniture will be prolonged if you bring the cushions in over winter/during heavy weather. Standing the cushions upright after heavy rain will help the water drain through and they will dry even quicker. Use of a soft brush will help remove dust from the cushions.
If you have any questions regarding the care of your furniture, please do not hesitate to contact us.
