Source: Rebecca Pirouet via Pinterest

A question that I often hear from my clients is how to care for their wood furniture. Since I work with a wide variety of woods, my answer will naturally depend on which type of wood the furniture is made from. Today I would like to address how to care for oak furniture.

When commissioning a piece of wood furniture, many people will select oak as it not only offers good looks, but is extremely durable and will maintain its beauty for years to come. To get the most out of your oak furniture, here is how I would recommend caring for it:

Dust your oak furniture on a weekly basis using a soft cloth. It won’t take long to do this, and it will help to eliminate any heavy cleaning that would be required if you allowed dust and debris to buildup.

Take note of the type of finish that your oak furniture has as it will impact the way that you should care for it. If your furniture has a lacquer finish, you will want to avoid using commercial cleaners and instead wipe it down once a week using a clean, damp cloth. For a wax finish, you should use a furniture polish specifically intended for oak furniture several times throughout the year. If your oak furniture has an oil finish, you will need to use a specialist oil every three months during the furniture’s first year and then every six months after the first year.

To learn more about how to care for oak furniture, please contact me, Richard Oedel, Fine Furniture Master.