| Maintaining the wood in your home |
By: Bruce Morgan
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Homes come in many different sizes and shapes but one thing that they all have in common is wood. Cabinets, furniture, doors and trim can be a struggle to maintain. The following tips can help maintain the beauty of the wood in your home.
1) Keep your hands off the wood! Oils and acids on your skin, particularly if you’re taking medicine or prescription drugs, tend to break down the finish on wood furniture and cabinets. It is best to have handles or knobs on your cabinetry to help maintain your finish.
2) Clean all food spills from the wood surfaces immediately as many foods – particularly high acid foods such as orange juice, coffee and tea – can damage wood finishes eventually.
3) When cleaning cabinetry, use lint free cloths. Use water sparingly as water can permanently raise the grain of the wood if allowed to penetrate through the finish. Use a mild dish soap as a degreaser to break down problem grease spots. Always remember to rinse your cloth frequently and wipe any soap residue from the wood.
4) Polish rather than wax wood. A fine furniture cream polish should be applied quarterly rather than a wax build-up product. Wax attracts dust, dirt and grease that can build up under multiple layers of wax.
5) Open your home often to fresh air, allowing wood to breath. Natural humidity is good for wood. Conversely, a controlled environment can dry out wood quickly causing premature cracking and splitting if not cared for on a regular basis.
6) Use a ventilation fan when cooking. It removes the majority of airborne smoke and grease which otherwise would be absorbed by wood cabinetry.
Bruce Morgan is the owner of Kitchen Tune-Up, a national franchise that specializes in kitchen cabinet restoration, refacing and new cabinet. He can be reached by calling 719-522-1022. |
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